TO SEPARATE OR REMAIN TOGETHER?

The Bible places among the works condemned by God "enmities, strife, . . .fits of anger" and states that "those who practice such things will not inherit God's kingdom." (Galatians 5:19-21) Therefore, anyone claiming to be a Christian who repeatedly  and unrepentantly gives in to violent fits of anger, perhaps including physical abuse of spouse or children, can be disfellowshipped from the Christian congregation.  (Compare 2 John 9, 10)   In this way the congregation is kept clean of abusive persons. -1 Corinthians 5:6, 7; Galatians 5:9. 

What about Christians who are currently being shattered by an abusive spouse who shows no sign of changing?  (note: As much as you may hate to think and act as low as that abusive spouse, if you really want to get away from one who is very possessive and abusive, you have to think and act just as low as they are, and wait for the right moment. It will come. It may take awhile, but it will come, when the opportunity presents itself, get the hades out of there and don't tell them you are leaving. Just do it!)  Some have chosen  to stay with the abusive spouse for one reason or another. (Don't, because eventually, he/she will end up killing you. If its money, that is an even bigger mistake, if its for love, that is just as bad, nothing is worth taking the beatings and torment etc) Others have chosen to leave, feeling that their physical, mental, and spiritual health -perhaps even their live -is in danger.  What a victim of domestic violence chooses to do in these circumstances  is a personal decision before Jehovah.  (1 Corinthians 7:10, 11) Well-meaning friends, relatives, or Christian elders may wish to offer help and counsel, but they should not put pressure on a victim to take any particular course of action.  That is his or her own decision to make. -Romans 14:4; Galatians 6:5. 

Next time: AN END TO DAMAGING PROBLEMS

From the book: THE SECRET OF FAMILY HAPPINESS, 1996