The Bible abhors all domestic abuse

#1043 for broadcast on 2CH Sydney, 8 Mar 2015

Writing in The Sydney Morning Herald on Wednesday, the Senior Minister of St Michael’s Anglican Cathedral, Wollongong, Canon Sandy Grant, commended those speaking out on domestic violence, “even if it makes … theologically conservative Christians uncomfortable.”

Canon Grant noted that Jesus had compassion for women, and protected them. He affirmed that all abuse is wrong and “nothing in the Bible excuses it.”

Domestic violence “refers not only to actual violence, but to threats, verbal abuse, restrictions on movement, and other emotional or psychological abuse … The Bible says any abuse or aggression from one spouse to another, whether physical or verbal, is wrong.”

He said, “Victims of domestic violence should be encouraged to seek help from the police and others too, and to get to a safe place. The church should support that. It is not disloyal to your spouse to raise concerns about such behaviour with a pastor or trusted friend.”

Good advice.

I’m Rod Benson for the NSW Council of Churches.