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First...be
assured,
"There is
No Excuse for
abuse"
There
are many
passages in the
Bible that speak
out on the issue
of violence.
Let's see what
God's attitude
toward violence
is...
Psalms
11:5 The
Lord trieth the
righteous: but
the wicked and
him that loveth
violence his
soul hateth.
Zephaniah
1:9 In
the same day
also wil I
punish all those
that leap on the
threshold, which
fill their
masters' houses
with violence
and deceit.
Psalms
37:9 For
evildoers shall
be cut off: but
those that wait
upon the Lord,
they shall
inherit the
earth.
Malachi
2:16-17 For
the Lord, the
God of Israel,
saith that he
hateth putting
away: for one
covereth
violence with
his garment,
saith the Lord
of hosts:
therefore take
heed to your
spirit, that ye
deal not
treacherously.
Ye have wearied
the Lord with
your words.
Yet ye say,
Wherein have we
wearied him?
When ye say,
Every one that
doeth evil is
good in the
sight of the
Lord, and
he delighteth in
them: or, Where
is the God of
judgement?
Very
similarly,
'wrath' or anger
is condemned as
being sinful,
as is
sexual abuse...
James
1:19-20 Wherefore,
my beloved
brethren, let
every man be
swift to hear,
slow to speak,
slow to wrath:
For the wrath of
man worketh not
the
righteousness of
God.
Ephesians
5:3-5 But
fornication
(sexual
immorality,
including sexual
abuse), and all
uncleanness, or
covetousness,
let is not be
once named among
you, as becometh
saints; Neither
filthiness, nor
foolish talking,
nor jesting,
which are not
convenient: but
rather giving of
thanks. For this
ye know, that no
whoremonger, nor
unclean person,
nor covetous
man, who is an
idolater, hath
any inheritance
in the kingdom
of Christ and of
God.
As
followers of
Christ we are
encouraged to
consider
everything we
say to one
another.
The Bible also
show us that the
very words we
speak can be
considered as a
form of
violence...verbal
abuse..
Proverbs
10:6 Blessings
are upon the
head of the
just; but
violence
covereth the
mouth of the
wicked.
Proverbs
10:11 The
mouth of a
righteous man is
a well of life:
but violence
covereth the
mouth of the
wicked.
Matthew
5:21-22 Ye
have heard that
is was said by
them of old
time, Thou shalt
not kill; and
whosoever shall
kill shall be in
danger of the
judgement;
But I say unto
you, That
whosoever is
angry with his
brother without
a cause shall be
in danger of the
judgement;
and whosoever
shall say to his
brother, Raca,
shall be in
danger of the
council; but
whosoever shall
say, Thou fool,
shall be in
danger of hell
fire.
Ephesians
4:29 Let no
corrupt
communication
proceed out of
your mouth, but
that which is
good to the use
of edifying,
that it may
minister grace
unto the
hearers.
James
1:26 If any
man among you
seem to be
religious, and
bridleth not his
his tongue, but
deceiveth his
own heart, this
man's religion
is vain.
James
3:10 Out of
the same mouth
proceedeth
blessing and
cursing.
My brethren,
these things
ought not so to
be.
Ephesians
4:31 Let all
bitterness, and
wrath, and
anger, and
clamour, and
evil speaking,
be put away from
you, with all
malice:
Does
the Lord hear
our prayers and
cries for help.
Yes He does! He
cares for us,
and is there to
comfort,
guide and heal
us.
Psalms
18:48 He
delivereth me
from mine
enemies: yea,
thou liftest me
up above those
that rise up
against me: thou
hast delivered
me from the
violent man.
2
Samuel 22:28 And
the afflicted
people thou wilt
save: but thine
eyes are upon
the haughty,
that thou mayest
bring them down.
Psalms
22:24 For he
hath not
despised nor
abhorred the
affliction of
the afflicted,
and the right of
the poor.
Psalms
72:14 He
shall redeem
their soul from
deceit and
violence: and
precious shall
their blood be
in his sight.
Psalms
9:9 The Lord
also will be a
refuge for the
oppressed, a
refuge in times
of trouble.
Psalms
103:6 The
Lord executeth
righteousness
and judgement
for all that are
oppressed.
Psalms
146:7 Which
executeth
judgement for
the oppressed:
which giveth
food to the
hungry.
The Lord looseth
the prisoners:
If
someone comes to
the Church or to
a child of God
and ask for help
or comfort, we
have a
responsibility
to offer comfort
and help to
those who are
oppressed by
their partner,
those that are
needy, weak and
in distress
because of the
abuse.
Galatians
6:2 Bear ye
one another's
burdens, and so
fulfil the law
of Christ.
Hebrews
13:3 Remember
them that are in
bonds, as bound
with them; and
them which
suffer
adversity, as
being yourselves
also in the
body.
Isaiah
35:3-4 Strengthen
ye the weak
hands, and
confirm the
feeble knees.
Say to them that
are of a fearful
heart, Be
strong, fear
not: behold,
your God will
come with
vengence, even
God with a
recompence; he
will come and
save you.
We
also as a Church
have the
responsibility
to hold the
abuser
accountable, to
admonish him,
and also to
encourage the
abuser to change
his or her ways.
1
Thessalonians
5:14 Now we
exhort you,
brethren, warn
them that are
unruly, comfort
the
feebleminded,
support the
weak, be patient
toward all men.
Ezekiel
3:17-19 Son
of man, I have
made thee a
watchman unto
the house of
Israel:
therefore hear
the word at my
mouth, and give
them warning
from me.
When I say unto
the wicked, Thou
shalt surely
die; and thou
givest him not
warning, nor
speakest to warn
the wicked from
his wicked way,
to save his
life, the same
wicked man shall
die in his
iniquity; but
his blood will I
require at thine
hand. Yet
if thou warn the
wicked, and he
turn not from
his wickedness,
nor from his
wicked way, he
shall die in his
iniquity; but
thou hast
delivered thy
soul.
2
Thessalonians
3:15 Yet
count him not as
an enemy, but
admonish him as
a brother.
We
can try to show
an erring
brother or
sister their
seriousness of
their sins and
try to lead them
to repent and
change their
ways, but
in reality until
the abuser is
ready to repent
and change,
we can only try
and pray. After
several
admonishings and
the abuser still
refuses to
change their
ways, they
are to be 'put
away' until they
do repent and
realize they
need to change.
2
Thessalonians
3:6 Now we
command you,
brethren, in the
name of our Lord
Jesus Christ,
that ye withdraw
yourselves from
every brother
that walketh
disorderly, and
not after the
tradition which
he received of
us.
1
Corinthians
5:9-13 I
wrote unto you
in an epistle
not to company
with
fornicators: Yet
not altogether
with the
fornicators of
this world, or
with the
covetous, or
extortioners, or
with idolaters;
for then must ye
needs go out of
the world.
But now I have
written unto you
not to keep
company, if any
man that is
called brother
be a fornicator,
or covetous, or
an idolater, or
a railer, or a
drunkard, or an
extortioner;
with such an one
no one not to
eat. For
what have I to
do to judge them
also that are
without?
do not ye judge
them that are
within? But them
that are without
God judgeth.
Therefore put
away from among
yourselves that
wicked person.
Just
keep praying for
those that are
not willing yet
to repent,
for they are the
lost sheep, and
it is not the
will of our
Father that one
of these little
ones should
perish.
Christ
has called us to
love not to
abuse, he
called us unto
peace, not
fear. He has
called us to
follow His
example of
serving one
another,
not trying to
dominate each
other. We
are called to
truth, not
deceit and
hypocrisy.
Romans
12:10 Be
kindly
affectioned one
to another with
brotherly love;
in honour
preferring one
another.
1
John 3:18 My
little children,
let us not love
in word, neither
in
tongue; but in
deed and in
truth.
Romans
14:19 Let us
therefore follow
after the things
which make for
peace, and
things wherewith
one may edify
another.
2
Corinthians
13:11 Finally,
brethren,
farewell. Be
perfect, be of
good comfort, be
of one mind,
live in peace,
and the God of
love and peace
shall be with
you.
What
are some of the
symptoms of
abuse:
Your
partner putting
you down
Your partner
making you feel
bad about
yourself
calling names
playing mind
games
humiliating you
treating you as
a servant
taking your
income
not allowing you
access or
knowledge of the
family income
making and
carrying out
threats
smashing things
abusing pets
displaying
weapons
using children,
threatening to
take away
trying to
control,
minimizing,
denying,
blaming,
jealousy
Where
can you go for
help?
Friends,
family, your
Church, pastor,
an elder or
deacon.
If
in a crisis
situation (in
the states) dial
911
The National
Domestic
Violence Agency
: 1-800-799-7233
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