Copyright Page
2018 by Brittany Rust
Published by Chosen Books
11400 Hampshire Avenue South
Bloomington, Minnesota 55438
www.chosenbooks.com
Chosen Books is a division of
Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan
www.bakerpublishinggroup.com
Ebook edition created 2018
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meansfor example, electronic, photocopy, recordingwithout the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
ISBN 978-1-4934-1462-8
The story about Sgt. Timothy Gilboe in chapter 9 is taken from Shot at Point Blank Range by Lisa Ferdinando and used by permission of the U.S. Army News Service.
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2011
Scripture quotations identified M ESSAGE are from THE MESSAGE. Copyright by Eugene H. Peterson 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
Scripture quotations identified NASB are from the New American Standard Bible, copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)
Scripture quotations identified NET are from the NET Bible, copyright 19962006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations identified NIV are from the Holy Bible, New International Version. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com
Scripture quotations identified NLT are from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Personal stories of individuals in this book are used by permission. Identifying details of certain individuals have been changed to protect their privacy.
Cover design by Emily Weigel
Author is represented by The Steve Laube Agency.
Endorsements
In Untouchable , Brittany takes Ernest Hemingways idea, to write hard and clear about what hurts, to the limit. In doing so, she exposes her greatest struggles as a harbinger so others can avoid the traps of ignorance and unpreparednessand instead experience Gods unflinching protection, grace and love.
Kirk Noonan, chief visioneer, Left Field Innovation Lab
I am honored to know Brittany and to have had the privilege of being a part of this beautiful story of hope and redemption. As she opens up the secret places of her heart to touch yours, the rawness and honesty of her words will captivate your attention. The message of this book is so needed, not only for those who are experiencing the pain and consequences of sexual sin, but for those who desire to keep from experiencing that pain. I believe Brittanys story and her dynamic biblical insight offer a fresh and much-needed perspective on failure and restoration that everyone needs to hear!
Debbie Lindell, lead pastor, James River Church; author, She Believes
I love courageous people! I (probably like most of you) am a sucker for stories of unbridled courage. As Ive gotten older and have become a passionate student of human behavior, Ive come to this conclusion about courage: The highest form of courage is vulnerability. Untouchable is a beautiful and courageous cautionary tale of how easy it is to fall, precisely when you think you are standing firm. Brittanys vulnerability about her own struggle and weakness is refreshing. Its a cup of cold water to a dry and weary soul. Read it. You wont regret it.
Chad Bruegman, directional leader and teaching pastor, Red Rocks Church
Dedication
No one has captivated my heart like You have.
No one has been as good to me as You have.
And no one has faithfully stood by my side as You have.
You didnt give up on me, even when I gave up on You.
You loved me even when I didnt love myself.
Your love and great sacrifice are the most beautiful gifts
I could ever receive, and I am eternally grateful.
You made redemption possible and brought me to it
entirely because You decided before time began
that You would love Your daughter
in spite of her reckless attempt to do life on her own.
Truly nobody has my heart like You do,
and this is all for You.
If any change or impact is made
in peoples hearts, it is Your doing.
Thank You for allowing me to be a part of it.
Contents
Cover
Title Page
Copyright Page
Endorsements
Dedication
Foreword
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Part 1: The Origin of the Myth
1. Bright-Eyed and Untouchable
2. Then Comes the Fall
3. The Untouchable Connection
Part 2: The Truth about the Myth
4. The Rooster Crows
5. Living in Denial
6. A Hindrance
Part 3: The Death of the Myth
7. The What, Why and How
8. Flourishing by Admitting Weakness
10. Establishing Guardrails
Part 4: Recovering from the Myth
11. What If?
12. Moving Forward
Afterword: Confronting Sin
A Note from Ryan Rust
About the Author
Back Cover
Foreword
Life is messy.
Trust me, I know. I have seen it from the dark underbelly of global human trafficking to the streets of the hood where I grew up. But somehow, in this messy world, there is a haventhe world of church . And once we enter this haven, many of us believe we will leave the messy behind.
The fact is, that is simply not true, and I think deep down we all know it. And yet havent many of us fallen for the myth that if we are active in church and loving God, we cannot be touched by the sins of this world?
This is exactly the topic my friend Brittany is bravely tackling in this book, and I could not be more excited about it.
Because, lets be real. There is an enemy on the prowl, and he would love to see the people of God fall into the trap that they are impervious to temptation. Or even worse: If they do have a moral failing, he would love for Gods children to think that their Father is no longer pleased with them.
Brittany has walked through the fire to discover the great need for believers to strategize, prepare and set up boundaries in order to fight this onslaught of the enemy. With courage and vulnerability, she couples her own story with insight from Scripture, weaving a battle plan for all of us to follow as we walk as disciples of Jesus in a fallen world. She also unwraps the incredible hope for healing that is offered to those of us who have found ourselves in the clutches of a moral failure.
There is messy in these pages, but it is the exact kind of messy we need in our generation: the real, messy uncovering of the real, messy temptations we face every day and the way we fight against them.
I cannot wait for you to dive into this message.
Bianca Juarez Olthoff, founder, In the Name of Love Ministries
Acknowledgments
T o my handsome husband, Ryan, this story is not my own. It is yours as well, and you have always given me permission and grace to share it. Thank you for being my biggest cheerleader and loving me through it all. Not only have you given me space to share and dream, but you have also provided the encouragement to be the best version of myself. I truly couldnt have done this without you.