Abuse in the churches

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Subhumanoidal

Well-known member
Sep 17, 2018
4,049
3,154
113
#2
Well you can ask and get a lot of peoples opinions on how horrible churches are, or you could start making calls to churches and asking them directly.
Though I do agree it's a subject that should be acknowledged. But I'm sure we could make a huge list of things that should he covered. More than a years worth.
 

maxwel

Senior Member
Apr 18, 2013
9,526
2,608
113
#3
Why don’t many churches speak about domestic violence
Maybe because there's not much to say?

Christians all know it's wrong.
Christians all know that nobody should do it.

So... what exactly do churches need to say?

...
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
25,366
13,728
113
#4
Standard (snarky) response: How would you know what "many" churches teach or don't teach? Have you reviewed the last five years' teaching in most of them?

Specific response: Treating one's spouse or child violently is sinful... as is an extremely long list of other behaviours. Instead of preaching about domestic violence (or any other particular evil), I'd recommend that churches teach how Jesus can set us free from unhealthy patterns of relating, negotiating, and expressing ourselves. Help people get set free and the violence will end.

Related note: I sincerely hope that anyone reading this thread recognizes that domestic violence victims can be male or female. If you don't believe me, spend some time with Karen Straughan (language warning) or Erin Pizzey on YouTube.
 

maxwel

Senior Member
Apr 18, 2013
9,526
2,608
113
#5
Standard (snarky) response: How would you know what "many" churches teach or don't teach? Have you reviewed the last five years' teaching in most of them?

Specific response: Treating one's spouse or child violently is sinful... as is an extremely long list of other behaviours. Instead of preaching about domestic violence (or any other particular evil), I'd recommend that churches teach how Jesus can set us free from unhealthy patterns of relating, negotiating, and expressing ourselves. Help people get set free and the violence will end.

Related note: I sincerely hope that anyone reading this thread recognizes that domestic violence victims can be male or female. If you don't believe me, spend some time with Karen Straughan (language warning) or Erin Pizzey on YouTube.

Let me get this straight, that was just a "hypothetical" snark, and not an actual snark?

I really feel let down.

...
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
25,366
13,728
113
#6
Let me get this straight, that was just a "hypothetical" snark, and not an actual snark?

I really feel let down.

...
Hypothetical only. The OP is new. Can't go beating on the newbies too hard; they get offended and don't come back.
 

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
Aug 13, 2014
27,183
9,267
113
#7
I dunno... when a new member starts a thread on a topic that sparks a lot of complaining about churches, and starts it with just a short OP, and never says anything else in the thread... I get the mental image of a guy running past a building, throwing a grenade in the window and running away.
 

Oncefallen

Idiot in Chief
Staff member
Jan 15, 2011
6,061
3,404
113
#8
Let's see here, scripture tends to deal with a lot of topics in the affirmative (what we should be doing) rather than the negative (what we shouldn't be doing). If a husband is loving his wife as Christ loved the church (Eph 5:25) then he sure as heck isn't going to be beating her.
 

Socreta93

Senior Member
Jul 28, 2015
2,299
361
83
#9
I know my church has talked about it. My church has different departments, Mens, Women and Youth and when they do conferences on lets say, relationships, it gets talked about. There is a department in our church that deals with married couples, and they've done marriage conferences, I'm sure it has been brought up. The one time actual domestic violence has been brought up in terms of a testimony was a lady who's ex used to be in the army. He came back with severe PTSD and attacked her and almost killed her. The reason she said this was because it was Veterans day, we decided to pray for any ex or current members of the military, and she basically said to pray for the soldiers that they can return home with their sanity. IDK for other churches, my denomination is Assemblies Of God and we are known to tackle any sort of issue no matter what it is.
 

Deror

Senior Member
Mar 30, 2018
303
147
43
#12
It might be because believers are concerned about DV putting The Church, The Body of Christ in a bad light, like it’s kinda like a bad testimony and they don’t want people to be put off Christianity or The Church.
I can understand that, and His Body needs to be honoured, but not to the point where someone could be suffering in silence, invalidated, denied, minimised or even blamed. Where’s the balance then??? (Thinking out loud...)
Yet Jesus is very very near to the broken-hearted, He deeply cares for the wounded. He carried our sorrows ! He can bind up wounds ! He Cares for the oppressed! He came to set captives free. He’s also given us the ministry of reconciliation... and guides us on marriage, how that should be lived out by both parties...

It is indeed a sensitive topic.. there are some ministries out there for people affected by DV in The Church, sadly it does happens.... some may not like to face the fact that DV happens, but I pray awareness, education improves... that it can be handled well so the wounded aren’t re-traumatised by abuse by being alienated from others, or getting help / support / sound ministry.
God knows, and deeply cares for anyone out there getting hurt in this way. I pray as a Church, we get better at handling this delicate issue... For the sake of Jesus’ body and for people being hurt.

Prompted to request prayer .... for domestic violence going on behind closed doors... for all parties to receive help from God, and believers to be educated, properly trained to handle delicate situations, to not gossip about it, to find balance in being a support to peeps ..... June Hunt is a great resource to start with. Jesus Bless the OP. Joyful pic :):):) just my ten bobs worth... feel passionate about this, sorry if I ranted or came across preachy, didn’t mean to... there’s a lot I’d like to share on the subject ... God Bless
 

proverbs35

Senior Member
Nov 10, 2012
827
239
43
#14
LifeWay Research conducted a study called In church, a taboo topic: Religious leaders try to break silence about domestic violence on abuse among flock.

http://res.dallasnews.com/interactives/2014_deadlyaffection/part8/

I think this article could shed some light on the reasons why so many churches fail to address domestic violence, although domestic violence is an epidemic.