October - Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Domestic violence is a significant issue, but it is not a subject that has a particular bible verse referencing it. Christians, believers, people of God, church members/attendees-however we want to describe ourselves, are reluctant to discuss the subject of domestic violence because it is not the nature of God and we do not always believe it occurs among our church families. We believe that God is love, 1 John 4:7-12 -English Standard Version, (ESV) ‘7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one
another. 12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.’ Embarrassment keeps domestic violence issues among the people of God silent. We do not want to talk about it,
until it is too late. We cannot be passive about it because domestic violence can kill and separate families. We should strive to live like Jesus commanded us to live in Matthew 22:36-40 - New International Version (NIV) 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Domestic violence is a learned pattern of abusive and threatening behavior by one family member against another. A family member continues this abuse by maintaining control over a victim.
In Arkansas, 1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men have reported incidents of domestic violence. Some people who are victims of domestic violence have been injured and or killed by a domestic partner. Children in these
relationships may suffer from post-traumatic stress syndrome and may learn to become abusers themselves later in life. Loving our neighbor as ourselves can combat domestic violence whether it is physical abuse, verbal abuse,
sexual abuse, emotional abuse, financial abuse, child abuse, dating violence, and more. The bible admonishes us to:
- Live peaceably with everyone as much as possible, Romans 12:18 (ESV).
- Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them, Colossians 3:19 (ESV)
- Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord, Ephesians 5:22 (ESV)
- Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord, Ephesians 6:4 (ESV)
- Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouth, but only such as is good building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear, Ephesians 4:29 (ESV).
Many scriptures promote love towards people and not violence for anyone. Please read the scriptures above to help process what love is and how Jesus told Nicodemus, ‘For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son,
that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life,’ John 3:16. We are to love and not hate or violate others. Domestic violence is violating others and their rights to live without fear. If you are in a violent
relationship, get out! Seek help to protect yourself and any children with you. Remember, God loves you.
About the Author: Christene Franklin Long is an active member of St. John Missionary Baptist Church. She is a child of God; a wife; a mother; a grandmother; a great grandmother; an aunt; a cousin; a friend; a student; a
member of the Women’s Missionary Union; a member of the Music Ministry and other musical groups; a member of the Health and Wellness Ministry and Chronic Illness Support Group; and a Girl Scout Troop Leader; just to
name a few memberships. Christene is blessed to be ‘a woman Jesus can teach.’