FAITH ISSUES IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

+ God does not want people to be victims of domestic violence.

Jesus came so that we may have eternal life, but also a life that is fulfilling and safe.

+ We are valued in God’s eyes.

We are made in God’s image. Since our dignity comes from God, and Christ restored us to Himself and God we deserve to be respected as whole persons. We are precious in God’s eyes. – 1Cor 3:16. Lk 12:6-7

+ We may have regrets about decisions made or action done in the past but God does not use domestic violence as a way to punish anyone.

When we seek forgiveness from God for wrongdoing in the past, He forgives us. So we can never regard domestic violence as God’s will or try to tell ourselves that we or anyone deserves to be abused.

+ To use scripture to justify domestic violence is an abuse of the Bible.

The ‘headship’ of Christ has to be our model. He came to serve rather than to be served. The service of love is a shared responsibility between spouses, not a hierarchy of command and control. – Eph 5:21-

Sexual violence as a form of domestic violence can never be justified using biblical texts.

Husbands and wives have mutual rights and responsibilities in the exercise of their sexuality, and the marriage bed is not to be defiled by sexual violence. - 1Cor 7:3-4

+ Domestic violence is not ‘a cross’ anyone should have to bear.

Suffering for a good cause or for the values proclaimed by Jesus is blessed by God. - Mt 5:11-12. Suffering endured because of domestic violence is never chosen by the victim. The suffering is the result of someone else’s cruelty. Domestic violence is involuntary and the suffering caused has no meaning or good purpose. It is not God’s will. The cross of Jesus witnesses to God’s great desire that no one should ever have to suffer such violence again. He died that we might live.

+ The resurrection of Jesus gives hope of the possibility of new life following the pain of suffering.

Victims of domestic violence can choose either to endure continued suffering or to transform the situation. Endurance will mean choosing to remain a victim. Transformation will mean becoming a survivor.

+ Domestic Violence must be named as sin and dealt with as such.

Through prayer, the entire faith community can find the courage to break the cycle of violence, show solidarity with victims, initiate the healing process and transform oppressive attitudes that dominate our culture and poison our church community. - Psalms 11:5

(Adapted from “Ending the Pain, Healing the Hurt” – A Practical Guide for Faith Communities. 1999)

Let us extend the ministry of care and love to those who suffer abuse.

CONTACT:
The Ark Foundation, Ghana (CRCP PROJECT). We offer:

• Counselling and Crisis Intervention
  
• Legal Services
  
• Shelter
  
• Training on Domestic Violence for different target groups, including Church and Church groups
  

LOCATION:
Point Two, Kwabenya-Ashongman
Road, Accra.
P. O. Box AH 930
Achimota-Accra, Ghana
Tel: (233-21) 405661
E-mail: theark@yahoo.co.uk
Url: http://www.arkfoundationgh.org

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