Results 1 - 2 of 2
|
|
|||||
Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Judgement does not heal abuse. | Jer 5:31 | Hatshepsut | 86523 | ||
This is a note to Scribe. Your comment concerning the church and abuse seemed pretty judgemental. Actually, that is part of the problem. Abuse is not a denominational or sectarian issue. It is not even an issue of whether or not a person is born again. You are throwing out the baby with the bath water. We are born of the spirit( Genesis 1:26,27; John 3:1-5). We are also clothed in our physical bodies (Genesis 2:7;John 3:6). If we are honest with ourselves, we will admit that, though our spirits are redeemed, our souls are in a continual state of redemption. The Bible says that we must "work out our own soul's salvation". Romans tells us to be renewed (born again) in our minds, not our spirits. None of us is guiltless, even those who have been saved by grace. While neither I nor God condone my husband's former behavior or my pastor's negligence, their salvation is not in question. Scribe, of all the churches you were in, I'm sure you do not know how many women were frightened into silence. Do you know the signs of an abusive relationship? Do you know that 1 in every 6 women in communities of faith is abused? Do you know that out of those 6, 4 of them are physically abused? Do you have any idea of the long term psychologically trauma caused by verbal abuse? Do you know that bruises may heal but the fear factor goes on for years, even for the life of the person abused? My pastor preached against abuse. She had been a victim of it herself. We disagreed on how she handled my particular case. Was she called to minister? Yes. I belonged to that congregation for fourteen years and grew tremendously under her teaching. I would not have even known enough to fight my abuser if it hadn't been for the word she had taught me. I have learned that pastors are human beings just like us and we are in sin when we put them on pedestals and dare them to make mistakes. My trust is in God, not humans. When I acknowledged this, I was able to forgive and move on. Judgement does not bring healing. All of us are guilty of foolishness at one time or many times. Does that mean we are not saved? No. It means we are hewn men. It means we are unlearned, undeveloped or underdeveloped in that area. I no longer live with my husband but I continue to pray for him. He is a man of great revelation. He was a good provider and he did the best he could with what he had. Unfortuneately for him, he was raised and nurtured in an atmosphere of violence. That is not an excuse since at any time he could have made a choice to change. Change is difficult, especially when you have to face yourself and admit your own sin. You said we don't need a movement. You claim that it is a losing game. In a society that teaches men that "head of household" means ruler and dictator, and wife means "one who serves", someone must bring about the balance. God is depending on the church to do that but first we must clean up our own house. After all, doesn't God's judgement start with us? Statistically one in every three women has been abused by someone they love. (These are only the reported cases.) Yes, a movement is needed. Over 1,000 women every three minutes dies at the hands of a loved one. Yes, a movement is needed. Women are at a 50-100 percent greater risk of fatality once they leave their abusers. Yes, a movement is needed. There were no shelters or aide in existence for families fleeing domestic violence until around 1969 or 79 and even now there are only 1,000 in the United States. You do the math. A movement by the body of Christ is definitely needed. An educated movement that works in co-existence with the social movement, not against it. Movement equals growth. Anything that doesn't grow dies, no matter what it is wombed from. Scribe, often times with us hewn men, the Spirit is indeed willing, but the flesh is weak. We are not to condemn those who sin, but to forgive and to help them. I help by continuing to love, forgive and pray for those who have abused or neglected me. The Bible tells me that when I do this, I am blessed. And so it is. Be Blessed. |
||||||
2 | Judgement does not heal abuse. | Jer 5:31 | Scribe | 86546 | ||
Part 1 of 2 Dear Hatshepsut, Please forgive me if I wrote in such a way that made me come across as judging others, I am not passing judgment on you, your husband or your pastor. I think with a nick name like Scribe I may need to take extra precautions when I speak of these kind of things. However my church and the churches I have fellowshipped with do not believe that the bible teaches that a man can be a flagrant wife beater and go to heaven or be called saved. We do not believe that this is the correct understanding of the doctrine of salvation. I am sorry that there are churches that would say that the wife beater is still going to heaven. I hope to see the day when all churches will wake up to the fact that this scripture is really true. Hebrews 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: 1 John 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. Can a person fall into sin.. and repent and still be saved.. Of Course.. but that is not what we call a continuous habit of beating women, that is beyond falling into a lust of the flesh. I may sound judgmental to you, but that is the problem with the church, too much confusion about some weird idea that men do not have to really change to be saved. What is repentance and faith but a life change. If there is not radical life change it is ok to say someone needs to be saved. They certainly need to be saved from violent behavior. That someone is a preacher means nothing if they are not walking in holiness. Matthew 7:22-23 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. I have heard preachers retell that verse above and make it sound like these were rejected because they did not really "believe the right doctrine" but that is not why they were rejected.. they were rejected because the worked iniquity and we can assume by looking at all the other verses on the subject that it was because they believed a lie that comforted them with the idea that they would not be judged for willful sin in their lives. There is no doubt that your husband CAN be saved, but if anyone is beating their wife we have EVERY reason to doubt the state of their current salvation. And this is clear in the New Testament, it takes a denominational upbringing or a seminary or other books written by "famous" preachers to so confuse us as to think we can be wife beaters and still have "no doubt about our salvation." If I am labeled judgmental for saying it I am willing to accept that as long as someone somewhere along the way is provoked to look at all the scriptures and not just their "favorite ones" that they might have misinterpreted.. and as a result is saved to the uttermost by Jesus Christ being freed from the bondage of sins and able to say.. Praise be to Jesus.. For sin shall not have dominion over me. If my provoking (though not judgmental) words cause others to refuse to agree with false teachings and agree only with the Word of God, so that they hate sin and eschew it, so that they fling all manner of sin (that they know of ) off of themselves with abhorrence and put on Christ, then I do not mind being called provoking, but provoking in Love because I would that all men live a spotless life with the fear of God as they look forward to His coming. May God Bless You as You Study His Word and equip you to Think and Speak only God's Word on the Subject. I will pray for you and your family and you husband as well. As an added note to the subject of women that are extremely hostile toward their husbands, verbally abusing them and almost trying to see how far they can provoke them with hateful words of accusation and poisonous darts of verbal abuse ...Proverbs 14:1 Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands. In society this horrendous sin is much ignored. Since the woman is not verbally hitting the husband (though inside the man feels a much deeper pain and could take her slapping him better than her horrible words) the world does not consider it that big of a deal. (continued on next post) |
||||||