Morling Tuesday Chapel: Domestic and family violence

Speaker: John Beckett

Scripture: Ephesians 2

Relationships that are in God’s purposes:

V11: “Remember, formerly you who are Gentiles by birth… at that time you were separated from Christ…” Paints a picture of a group that’s pushed aside. “But now, in Christ, you who once have been far away are drawn near”. V14: “dividing wall of hostility.” The barrier was destroyed, reconciled to God. Through Jesus this new peace has been established. V19: “You are no longer foreigners or strangers, but fellow citizens. You are members of His household, the family of God!”

Exploration of the purposes of God:

How would you describe the purposes of God for creation? Part of the new purpose of God is to draw together a new community, a family. Not just abstractly bring people from one state to another. Reconciliation and renewal of relationships is the heart of the purpose of our lives.

Brokenness in our family relationships:

Gender relationship in the beginning of Scripture, being joyfully relaxed in each other’s company. Fracturing of relationship with the fall. Family violence is one of the most confronting examples of brokenness caused by human sin. Families are meant to be safe places, places of trust. God has a special intention for the marriage relationship and it is a picture of the relationships in the new humanity. Not just physical violence. Includes emotional, verbal, sexual, financial, spiritual and social forms of abuse too. An attempt by one partner to control and create fear in the relationship. Don’t just focus on the victim’s perspective. Also look from the perspective of the perpetrator. How should we respond as God’s people in the family of Christ? Not a hopeless situation. Jesus opened up the way for forgiveness and reconciliation. The cross is good news for the victims and the perpetrator: to change people, break down the walls of division. Perpetrator: the message of grace. But doesn’t mean the church condones violence.

Theological arguments condoning violence (consciously or unconsciously misused): Suffering is a direct punishment for sin/ enduring the suffering, turning your cheek, bearing your cross. Submission of wives to husbands.

Our role as God’s people:

Hope. Safe spaces for victims to come forward. Spaces for rehabilitation of the perpetrator. Change in community. We have a role to demonstrate something different to our culture. What were is to look like as God’s people to challenge that culture? Do we as a church have to humble ourselves? We got some internal issues to deal with.