10.16-Domestic Violence in the church.

In a world where domestic violence victims live in fear, four women have turned the capital city of Texas into an abuser's worst nightmare.

Around Austin, people simply call it "The Shelter." A private eye, an attorney, a hacker and a realtor join forces to rescue victims, hide them, and then destroy the lives of their abusers. Their reputation as ruthless vigilantes has abusers thinking twice about consequences far beyond a court of law.

When the battered wife of baseball's biggest superstar runs to the women for help, they face their most dangerous opponent yet, a sadistic sports agent determined to protect his client for a half-billion-dollar payday.


An open letter to my son and daughter and grandsons.

Church and Domestic Violence

The religion Jesus grew up in had a prayer,  God I thank you that I am not a slave, a gentile or a woman.

Jesus sets an example of protecting women. John 8.

Jesus incorporated women into his group when it was not culturally normal. John 4.

Jesus taught lessons that made it clear He Had no place for sexual lusting among his disciples. Matthew 5.

Women supported Him.  Leading women were drawn to his movement.  Luke 8.

Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.

Acts 17.

Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few prominent women.

In spite of this objective guidance from their Scriptures.

I have seen a deacon in a church hold a gun to his wife with two boys in the home.  Why?  Cabin fever after three days of a blizzard in Denver.

They misuse Scripture to prove the wife must just take it or he will lose his “leadership position” in the church.

Discounting of women is common in Fundamentalist Religion.

They are accused of failing in their domestic duties.

You are not obeying me and respecting me etc.

These men can flick a switch and they move from peaceful men to violent abusers.

It can be a simple as going to bed without having sex with him.

Then one a certain day they have had it and pack their bags and kids and go into hiding.

Why is there so little teaching on this from the Scripture in the church?  Because the churches are dominated by males.

The men’s personality can change of the first day of their honeymoon.  All of a sudden he has her and she can’t get away.

People at church will see a “sad effect” or “flat effect”

These men may be guilty of drinking and gambling and other things and the wife cannot tell or she is not loyal.

Her church advisors told her to forgive him and go on.

When she left her husband she also had to leave her friends her support group and her church.  How sad.

Many of these type of men float from one church to another to avoid really growing in relationships with other men and learning how to relate to women.

Gender inequality is a contributing factor to violence against women.

Commonly when marriages break up the women leave the church and the men stay.  Why?

Does the church encourage women to stay in abusive relationships?

Do we teach our women that men will eventually change when in fact they will not without intervention?

Too often the women are shamed and the men are overlooked.

After all he is just a man.  Boys will be boys.  Is not acceptable.

Do the ministers stay quiet or do they stand up against all this?  Too often we say nothing.

I personally was accused of always taking the women’s side.

Larry Wishard

10-16-17