Responding As A Church Community

Many victims feel the church can be a roadblock for them seeking help. They feel they must stay in their marriages. Some victims feel it is their cross to bear. Unfortunately, some clergy have suggested victims must stay in their marriages. Sometimes victims are even blamed for the violence. The verses in the bible most used to justify domestic violence is Ephesians 5:22 “ Wives should be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord”. Verse 24” As the church is subordinate to Christ, so wives should be subordinate to their husbands in everything.” What is often not shared is the rest of the verses. Starting with verse 21 “Be subordinate to one another out of reverence for Christ” and verse 25 & 26 “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and handed himself over for her to sanctify her, cleansing her by the bath of water with the word.” It goes on to say in verse 28 “So husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.”