Scriptures that may be misused to harm those victimized by abuse: Malachi 2:16: For I hate divorce, says the Lord, the God of Israel... Sometimes this verse is quoted as God hates divorce and used to scare people, even when the reason for a marriage break up is the lack of safety and other harm caused by abusive behaviours of a spouse. The verse actually continues ...and I hate a mans covering himself with violence... This is written in the context of admonishing leaders to behave with more morality and justice. In the cultural context of that time, a man could divorce his wife at will, without giving a just reason, whereas women had no ability to divorce their husbands, even when they were experiencing abuse. Read in its entirety, this verse actually speaks out against abusive, unjust behaviours. Verse 15 speaks of God admonishing men not to be unfaithful to the wife of your youth. Ephesians 5:21-32: Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, be subject to your husbands as you are to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife just as Christ is the head of the church, the body of which he is the Saviour.... (an excerpt of this passage) Too often this text is used against women in various ways. It is helpful to note that if the above text is read in its entirety, there are 9 verses in this passage that are instructive to men and only 3 that are instructive to women. The emphasis of this text is its instruction for husbands to care for and respect their wives as Christ did the church, to the point of absolute self-sacrificial love. This text leaves no room for a husbands abusive behaviours towards his wife. Neither does it obligate women to stay and tolerate abuse; no teachings in Scripture say this. This text also draws a parallel between the headship of a husband in relationship with his wife and the relationship between Christ and the church. Often this concept of headship is used to argue superiority and a controlling authority over women. However, the Greek word used for head is kephale, a word which is also used to describe the life source of a river. In Scripture, Christ models relationships which are life giving and empowering to the church and with everyone he met. Christ loved selflessly and this is the type of love relationship this passage teaches for marriage partners.
Posted on: Thu, 24 Oct 2013 13:33:40 +0000
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