I read an article yesterday that really shook me as an advocate and a Christian. The article is about a study by LifeWay research that shows that almost half of pastors do not preach on domestic violence. As the article suggests, and something I agree with, is that pastors are really missing or denying a serious problem in our communities by not preaching on domestic & sexual violence. Too often women (and sometimes men) are sitting in our churches each week maybe alone, maybe next to the person abusing them, hurting and broken but are too ashamed or embarrassed to share this trauma in their life. When churches do not speak out against a problem, that adds to the feeling of shamefulness that surrounds the issue. In some churches women have it so pressed into them to submit to their husbands and not to divorce that they feel they must live with this abuse. As Christians we must stand up for these victims. These victims needs to be told that while the Bible does say that God hates divorce, God also hates abuse. We need to show them it is okay to share their struggle with someone.
Until the 70's and 80's most victims just lived through the abuse, until it started being seen as something that was not okay and grassroots efforts started to stand up for these victims and create shelters, services, and policies to protect and rescue victims. I am proud to work at an agency that came from those grassroots begins 35 years ago. As a Church here we are 40 or so years later still not addressing this issue to the extent that we should. The article mentions it as the "pro-life issue they almost never talk about." Pastors surveyed for the study admitted that they believe domestic violence is a problem in their community and even in their church, but they rarely preach on it or gain training on how to work with victims of abuse. I challenge my friends and readers that are pastors, youth pastors, and leaders in your churches to start talking about this issue. I also challenge you if it is a topic you are uncomfortable with or feel uneducated about, get educated. Seek out training on working with victims of domestic violence. Bring victims the freedom they need to be able to disclose this chaos in their home that hurts them and their children. I challenge those of you who are not in those positions to bring this idea to your churches. Educate yourself on the red flags of domestic violence and sexual assault. If you think you know someone in your church that might be a victim, be a friend to them. You don't have to bring the topic up directly, just show them that you care and can be trusted. Hopefully, when they are ready they will share with you.
Start by checking out the article and research:
http://www.lifewayresearch.com/2014/06/27/pastors-seldom-preach-about-domestic-violence/
Until the 70's and 80's most victims just lived through the abuse, until it started being seen as something that was not okay and grassroots efforts started to stand up for these victims and create shelters, services, and policies to protect and rescue victims. I am proud to work at an agency that came from those grassroots begins 35 years ago. As a Church here we are 40 or so years later still not addressing this issue to the extent that we should. The article mentions it as the "pro-life issue they almost never talk about." Pastors surveyed for the study admitted that they believe domestic violence is a problem in their community and even in their church, but they rarely preach on it or gain training on how to work with victims of abuse. I challenge my friends and readers that are pastors, youth pastors, and leaders in your churches to start talking about this issue. I also challenge you if it is a topic you are uncomfortable with or feel uneducated about, get educated. Seek out training on working with victims of domestic violence. Bring victims the freedom they need to be able to disclose this chaos in their home that hurts them and their children. I challenge those of you who are not in those positions to bring this idea to your churches. Educate yourself on the red flags of domestic violence and sexual assault. If you think you know someone in your church that might be a victim, be a friend to them. You don't have to bring the topic up directly, just show them that you care and can be trusted. Hopefully, when they are ready they will share with you.
Start by checking out the article and research:
http://www.lifewayresearch.com/2014/06/27/pastors-seldom-preach-about-domestic-violence/