Overview

Family violence has been called the hidden crime, and it seems that many battered wives are hidden behind the facade of a happy Christian family. What brings a man to the point of doing physical violence to his wife? What conflicts face Christian women who want to follow biblical commands in relating to their abusive husbands? What role can you and I play in helping couples break the tragic cycle of abuse?

Table of Contents

SCRIPTURE: Psalm 119:25–32; Mark 10:42–45; Ephesians 4:22–27, 29–32; 5:21–33; Colossians 3:18–19; James 1:19–26; 1 Peter 3:1–12; 5:5–11

LEADER'S GUIDE

• The Issue

Sample questions:

What evidence do you see that wife abuse among Christians may be a serious contemporary problem?

For what reasons might a battered wife or an abusive husband try to hide the problem and not seek outside help?

• The Scriptures

Sample Scriptures:

Colossians 3:19: What single word or concept is to characterize a husband's treatment of his wife?

James 1:19–26: What acceptable methods of dealing with anger and/or stress are mentioned?

• The Application

Sample application questions:

What unhealthy learned behaviors influence the relationship between husbands and wives?

In what cases do you think public confession and restoration before the local congregation would be appropriate?

ARTICLE FROM CHRISTIANITY TODAY

• Battered into Submission and The Master Manipulator by James and Phyllis Alsdurf(June 16, 1989, 7 printed pages)

Total number of pages – 14