The Bible On Domestic Abuse?

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What is the Bible's stand on domestic violence?

it all depends on who you ask everyone interprets it differently.

What is the difference between domestic abuse and non-domestic abuse. Are the abusive acts inherently different?

ruveyn

LiberalJustice: You once started a thread on the Bible and Women's Rights. My viewpoint of this would basically be a rehash of that thread.

Anyone can go back and read what I posted there, including some Bible verses in support. Now, keep in mind I'm only defending the Bible's position, not the actual practices of many different cultures throughout history.

To sum it up, the Bible does NOT advocate for domestic violence. Certain scriptures taken out of context seem to support the idea that women are basically tread underfoot. When my wife and I got married, one of the things the pastor pointed out in his message was that Eve was taken from Adam's rib. I'm not debating as to this being literal or not, but either way, this symbolizes that men and women are women are to work together side-by-side. If Eve was taken from Adam's foot, he'd rule over her. If Eve was taken from Adam's head, she'd rule over him. The intention is very clear.

The Bible specifically rules on the treatment of women and calls out men on how to behave towards women. Since domestic violence doesn't necessarily preclude women from being aggressors, it stands to reason that the Bible intends for women to have the same respect towards men.

Domestic violence brings up a lot of other issues, also.

I forget the actual passage, but there is "Fathers, do not stir up your sons to anger." This can refer to a number of things, from verbally or mentally provoking children to excessive physical punishment. I try my best to live this out. I'm not opposed to spanking, for instance, but there are certainly warning signs that it has gone too far. My son KNOWS what it means to get a spanking, and I've made it a scary, ominous thing that leaves no doubt that he's done wrong. However, we've made it to the point that I barely touch him and the actual spanking is more symbolic than actual physical contact--and is no less effective. He KNOWS he's being punished, and the physical aspect need not go further.

To that end, he's become, even at 2 years old, a VERY well-behaved little boy and is a joy. I know from my own experience how awful it was with my own father, and the last thing I want to see happen is my own children view me that way. I remember my dad would use "marriage" in a Biblical sense to manipulate my mother by saying he OWNED her. She didn't fall for it, but I've often examined scriptures that seem to support my father's claim. Those passages mean NOTHING like that--you know, "Wives, submit to your husbands..."

Basically, the message of the Bible on violence (with maybe the exception of war and capital crimes) is treat everyone the way you'd want to be treated. It's really sad to me that men (and even women, I guess) might be said to pick and choose among what they want to read to support what they want to do and ignore the rest. But the Bible does not support it, and to use the Bible that way is to further your own false teaching and agenda.

It's not a repeat of the other thread, in that one I raised the question of whether women having the right to vote, own property, and work, were against scripture.

Domestic is in your own home, a place where you really ought to expect to be safe. Some cultures assume that what goes on in the home should never be spoken of outside the home and therefore is not a police matter to deal with , however if they were punched by a stranger in the street they would report it to the police. In some countries, I don't think police even deal with domestic cases.
Even in Britain, I think that some people still hold to the view that you don't talk about what happens behind closed doors.

In short, the difference is contextual, rather than substantial. The Bible sets out Wrongs substantially although it does make a distinction between deliberate homicide and accidental homicide.

ruveyn

This could take more than a day to answer since this issue is brought up so many times and interpreted in so many ways.

*gets the popcorn out*