Professional Documents
Culture Documents
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dealing with whatever in his past has made him uncontrollable, or society in general
who believe it must be the womans fault and that she alone can/should correct and
endure the problem?
In the same session, one of our female Sudanese students, when standing to ask a
different question commented, almost proudly, Im not concerned with that, Sudanese
women are used to being hit. Now I try to not be imperialistic and allow for cultural
expression, but some things we are used to are not necessarily Biblical, and my
experience is if you feed a monster, he will grow bigger. That monster being an untruth
or violence.
The questions this paper will explore are what is the nature, prevalence, and
impact of domestic violence, particularly in the countries where our students come
from, and also how the majority culture and possibly even Christian culture may
influence minority behavior in this area. The end I will offer suggestions for our
response to domestic violence. It is my desire that this paper will enable us to enter into
a conversation as to how we can enhance the training of our students, so they
understand what this issue is and how our response to it reflects what we know of Gods
truth and how we may glorify Him when we act upon that truth.
WHAT IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Domestic violence refers to acts of violence that occur within intimate relationships and
take place in domestic settings. It includes physical, sexual, emotional and psychological
abuse. Family violence is a broader term that refers to violence between family members,
as well as violence between intimate partners. 1
1
http://www.aic.gov.au/publications/current%20series/rip/1-10/07.html
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Table
Added to this definition in the table below is also economic and spiritual abuse, as well as their
behavioral characteristics.
Form of Abuse
Characteristics of Behavior
Physical Abuse
Sexual abuse
Psychological abuse
Social abuse
Economic abuse
Spiritual abuse
2VicHealth
2006. Two steps forward, one step back: Community attitudes to violence against
women. Melbourne: VicHealth. http://www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/en/Resource-Centre/
Publications-and-Resources/Mental-health-and-wellbeing/Preventing-violence/CommunityAttitudes-to-Violence-Against-Women.aspx.
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intimate partners. Unfortunately, more than 600 million women live in countries
where domestic violence is not considered a crime.
Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia have the distinction of having the
highest rate of domestic violence against women where 37 percent of women experience
physical or sexual violence from a partner. Latin America follows at 30 percent, Europe
and Asia at 25% and North America at 23%. The Middle East also is a place where
legislators are still working to make domestic violence a crime.
In the Journal of Family Violence, Diab M. Al-Badayneh states, Violence against
women in the Jordanian society is widely regarded as a family matter that affects large
numbers of children and adults across their life span. It affects the generations to come
as a result of its intergenerational transaction.3 He also reported that the Jordanian
social culture accepted the use of violence with women or children as a kind of
discipline, which is also accepted as legitimate by the majority of women.
Why Does Society Abuse
As a patriarchal society, in which the man is expected to achieve power and
control over the wife and family members, the method to achieve this is wife
discipline. An expectation of his masculine role as the leader is to maintain the familys
honor, stability, and reputation. Men strictly regulate females behavior and sexuality
and men are responsible for imposing control to protect the familys dignity and
3Diab
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reputation. 4 They are to be the financial provider and the master of the family,
whereas women also have roles to adhere to and are taught to be polite, passive and
docile, and to assume the roles of caregiver, child bearer and homemaking.
She must also to fulfill her gender role, which includes loyalty to her husband and
family, which also means preserving the reputation of the family. If she does not
preserve the reputation of the family, she can be disciplined with physical and cultural
methods (honor crimes). A consequence of complaining (reporting abuse) is being
accused of being rebellious and not caring about her family and children, followed by
being ostracized by other families. So, we see there are societal expectations for the man
to keep his family in order, and privileges for the man to use physical punishment if
necessary, and even legal resources on his side if he loses control and controls his family
through the various types of abuse.
A 2009 study by Al-Badayneh and Alshgour revealed, 90.2% of university
students indicated they witnessed, heard or read something about child abuse.
Moreover, 75.3% of the sample was exposed to physical abuse during their childhood.5
Further studies stated the university students were greatly impacted by these
experiences with the most common abuse being intimidation at 75% emotional 40% and
Bates, D., & Rassam, A. Peoples and cultures of the Middle East. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice
Hall, 2001.
4
AlBadayneh, D., & Al-Shgour, M. Relationship between personal and family characteristics
and types of family violence among college students during their childhood. Arab Journal for
Security Studies & Training, 2009, 24(48), 85130.
5
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physical 33 %. 6 An important aspect to be noted in these studies is the fact that while
the father abused everyone, this behavior of abuse was passed on as the mother then
abused the children, and the male children abused the female children.
Therefore, since we know that abuse is passed on generationally, it gives us
urgency to address this topic at JETS. If our mission is to be discipling pastors and
christian workers to lead Godly lives, and they in turn are to be discipling their families
and congregations, they must understand this issue and how to deal with it, so when
someone comes with a story of abuse, it can be dealt with appropriately at all levels.
Only then will lives truly be transformed and people be able to live in the freedom of
their faith. Just as abuse can be passed on, so too can change for those who may be
trapped in this cycle.
Attitudes toward violence
As believers, we are meant to be Christs ambassadors and marriage is to be a picture of
the relationship between Christ and his church. How do these two characteristics reflect what
God has asked for us to mirror in our attitudes towards our fellow co-heirs, especially in our
most intimate relationships? What does our behavior toward one another, especially in a violent
relationship, say about what we think of our spouses and children, who were made in Gods
image?
Flood and Peace (2006; NCRVWC 2009b) have research that states the importance of
developing strategies to change negative attitudes against women, as men who hold negative
attitudes against women are more likely to be abusive towards them. Their research also stated
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that violence is more prevalent in men who exhibit low levels of support for gender equality and
traditional gender role attitudes that legitimize violence as a method of resolving conflict or see it
as a private matter. 7 Likewise, women with traditional gender role attitudes are also less likely to
report violence due to their acceptance of violence as a legitimate means of discipline. Research
among Arabs in Australia as well as Jordan showed women also accepted and justified violence
against them as justified and beneficial. 8 The majority of Jordanian men in Haj-Yahias
(2002b) study agreed or strongly agreed that under certain circumstances, wife beating is the
fault of the woman, they would benefit from the beating, and that they should not be held
responsible for their violent behavior towards their wives.9
Concerning the prevalence of domestic abuse in Jordanian Society, Diab states.
Findings of this research showed that the size of the problem has exceeded the alarming
signs and it is much larger than was expected as almost all women experienced at least one type
of violence in the last twelve months. Violence against women is prevailing among all men
social status, regardless of their education or socio-economic levels. Violence against women is a
transferable phenomenon, from family to formal and informal social institutions such as school,
university, and workplace and to the wide society. The large size of violence against women can
be attributed to men and womens acceptance of violence against women. 10
The study included 1,854 married woman selected randomly from 12 Governorates in
Jordan among all social backgrounds. So the question we must ask ourselves is, since Diab's
Flood M & Pease B 2006. The factors influencing community attitudes in relation to violence
against women: A critical review of the literature. Melbourne: VicHealth. http://
www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/en/Resource-Centre/Publications-and-Resources/Freedom-fromviolence/Community-Attitudes-to-Violence-Against-Women.aspx
7
10
Diab 2012
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research states that violence against women is transferable from family to the wider society, how
much is Christian culture influenced by wider society as well as is disciplining women by
physical violence, a Biblical principle? To help answer the question of Biblical principle, we will
look at the impact of domestic abuse.
Impact of Domestic Violence
Women who participated in Diabs study (2012), even though they said they were
committed to remaining in the family, approved of physical discipline, and exhibited
self-blame, still answered the questions as to their feelings after each incident of abuse.
Table 2. Womens feelings after each husband violent
incident.11
Variable
80
81
3 I am afraid of him
86
86
5 I feel as if Im in prison
81
85
83
84
83
82
We will look into these in greater depth when we examine scripture, but with just a
glance of these feelings, if this is how women in a Christian community feels, we can
11
Diab 2012
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infer she would not be able to experience the love of a husband as Christ loves the
church with these feelings.
Women subjected to domestic violence is a terrible thing, but equally terrible is
what happens to the children who witness it, or are also abused. A study from Australia
found the consequences for children exposed to domestic violence has been associated
with a higher likelihood of the following problems among young people:
-issues related to cognitive, emotional and social functioning and development which can
lead to behavioral and learning difficulties;
-an increase in the risk of mental health issues, including depression and anxiety
disorders;
-issues related to education and employment prospects;
-more accepting of or willing to excuse the use of violence against women;
-involvement in violent relationships with peers and conflict with adults and other forms
of authority;
-increased risk of becoming perpetrators or victims themselves; and
a detrimental impact on their future parenting capacities 12 (Flood & Fergus 2008;
Tomison 2000; VicHealth 2006).
Like second hand smoke, the damage from violence is transmitted to all those
who are exposed, and the cancer of violence spreads to those who are exposed.
So why is domestic violence prevalent and what are the consequences? Diab sums
it up as follows:
Violence against women in the Jordanian society can be understood in light of social and
cultural context of a patriarchal ideology and system, whereas violence against women is one
way of maintaining power, control, and dominance of husband over wife. Gender inequality can
be partially attributed to the gender status. Husbands are accorded a higher status in the social
12
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system, whereas wives are relegated to a lower status. There is a need to break down the taboo
that violence is a private matter. 13
13
Diab 2012
14Boundless.
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Ellen R. Sheeley. Reclaiming Honor in Jordan: A national Public Opinion Survey on Honor
Killings. 2007, 54
15
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Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything
to their husbands.
Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that
he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so
that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any
such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands
should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no
one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the
church, because we are members of his body. Therefore a man shall leave his father and
mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is
profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one
of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband
Col. 3:19 Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.
1 Peter 3:7 Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing
honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of
life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.16
These passages of scripture state:
~a husband does not own his body and should fulfill his conjugal rights,
~He should not divorce her
~ By nature of a relationship he will be concerned about her and how to please
her.
~He should submit to Christ as his head in the same way he expects his wife to
submit to him.
~He is to love his wife to the extent that Christ loved the church, to the point of
sacrificial death. She should be so loved that she will grow in sanctification and
her countenance will be that of splendor, to be presented to God spotless and
holy.
~He should love her as much as he loves himself. (with all the rights and
privileges he would give to himself.)
~He should put his wife before his paternal family as they are now one.
16
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~They are to live with them in an understanding way and honor them since they
are also co-heirs of Gods grace. Failing to do so will hinder their prayers.
Even though this is not an in-depth study of scripture, even a quick glance can
demonstrate that a husband who causes his wife to live in fear of him or to have feelings
of shame from things he does to her, is not loving her as Christ loved the church, and is
not submitting to Christ as his head in the same why he expects his wife to submit.
CONSEQUENCES
The consequences of a violent husband will affect everyone in the family. Firstly,
neither the husband, wife or children will be able to reflect the image of God if hostility,
fear, dominance, power plays and mistrust of those who are supposed to be most
intimate with us, are a major part of our character.
Secondly, when a husband does not mutually submit to his wife, and uses power
to dominate and control, a relationship of one partner being given a higher status in the
social system is the result and, as Diab (2012) states, husbands are accorded a higher
status and women are related to a lower status.17 This certainly would not demonstrate
to women that they are co-heirs with Christ. It not only diminishes their self-worth,
which husbands are supposed to be sanctifying, it also teaches them a lie about Christ,
that his sacrifice for them was less than for a man. Does he love women less?
17
Diab 2012
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Another consequence of spousal abuse, even in the guise of discipline, is the lack
of truth that is necessary to keep a woman in bondage. If women from violent
relationships feel they are in prison, how does that match what Jesus said when he told
us in Galatians 5:1 that is is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and
do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Or Galatians 5:13, You, my
brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the
flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. Yes, he was addressing people that were
being led back to following the law, but isnt that a part of what is happening when
demands for perfection are put upon a women, and if not adhered to, discipline?
Along with physical abuse, table 1 on page 3 lists different types of abuse and one is
spiritual abuse and is defined by the following characteristics. Denying or
manipulating religious beliefs of practices to force victims into subordinate roles or to
justify other forms of abuse.18
How can women believe Jesus when he exhorts us to come to him and learn from
him for he is gentle and humble in heart and we will find rest for our souls, if husbands
who are under Christ and modeling him for them, discipline harshly. Jesus is being
misrepresented.
As well as being a horrible testimony to his wife, he is also a poor testimony to the
outside world. John 13:35 states all people will know we are his disciples by the love we
show one another. If a woman is fearful of her husband, how is that showing love to one
another? How is it modeling to non-believers why we are different?
18
VicHealth 2006
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Finally for this paper, when a violent husband is not called to task by the church,
the church is not fulfilling their responsibility to the husband or wife. They are failing to
address whatever demons may be haunting the man (his own abusive background,
misunderstanding of scripture) for his own healing as well as not protecting the woman,
who is supposed to submit to men in the trust that they will be loving her as Christ loved
the church, and did not use his body to harm the church, but in humility gave everything
he had to protect her.
By not addressing the problem, the church is also at risk of contributing to the
destruction of a marriage. When abuse begins, most women still want to save the
marriage and try to do their best to conform to whatever is the perceived problem to
make things work. However, if the abuse continues and the violence increases, there
may come a time when she has been so hurt that she only wants to get out of the
marriage. The church must be there for the husband and the wife, and give them the
discipline and support they both need to flourish in their relationship with God and with
each other. Pretending it is only the womens problem, that it is a non-problem, or not a
problem for the church but the family, relinquishes their responsibility to shepherd,
exhort, and discipline their flock.
SUGGESTIONS
As the guest speaker at the leadership conference stated, in the U.S. if a women is
in danger she should be removed from her home. Many websites I visited not only
echoed that, but also stated that before a woman calls her pastor she should call the
police, as physical abuse is considered a violent crime, and you cant reason or negotiate
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with a violent person. However, as was stated earlier, hitting your wife is not considered
a crime in Jordan, or most countries in the Middle East, so when women have reached
out for protection from the police, they were told to go home and stop being rebellious.
Since women do not have the civil authorities to turn to, it is imperative that the church
is there for her, as well as her husband. Different ways to address this sinful problem
must be discussed and implemented.
While we are in the midst of a culture that says everything about this way of
dealing with conflict with your wife is correct, Christians must image Christ, who gave
himself up for the Church, and not Satan- who comes to kill and steal and destroy, as is
demonstrated by the feelings of the women of abuse toward their husbands. It may be
an uphill battle since it is so entrenched in the culture, but JETS has an amazing
opportunity to teach their young pastors the truth of marriage. The truth that marriage
embodies the gospel and that headship is not a license to abuse, but rather a licence to
demonstrate the self-sacrificial leadership that images Christ.
Our students, our future pastors, should be taught to teach their elders this, as
well as given tools to recognize what abuse is: physical, emotional, financial and
spiritual, and how to assist women who come for help. Especially, he should be trained
to know how to avoid victimizing the victim, so his female flock will feel he is truly a
shepherd that cares for her welfare as much as he does her husband, that she is just as
valuable in Gods sight as he is.
Our future pastors must know that to sweep evil under the rug, to pretend abuse
doesnt or hasnt happened is to deny Gods desire for justice. It may be easier to not
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offend the male members of the congregation by not challenging them to truly embody
Jesus image, but even the woman caught in adultery was shown mercy, not a slap in the
face of Jesus. One of Gods characteristics is justice, he died that justice would be
upheld, it is important we dont conveniently forget that. We are to do justice, love
mercy and walk humbly with our God. (Micah 6:8) That includes husbands and pastors
and elders when one in his flock has not been dealt with in this manner.
Messages of a husbands responsibility to his wife- to the point of giving his body
for the wife benefit (Eph. 5:28) should be as plentiful, maybe more so since it is an
uphill battle, as messages about womens submission, and that we are both equally
valued and we are both co-heirs with Christ.
Our students should be made aware of organizations that can help women and
the church when dealing with domestic violence. There is an organization that
restoration counseling and perhaps our students should be trained in this area.
And lastly, our students must have an answer for the next guest, or sister who
asks, What do I tell a women who comes and tells me her husband is abusing her.
It is my hope that if there is not an answer at this time, that we as faculty that have been
entrusted with the training of pastors/shepherds for the Arab world, will set aside time
to think about Biblically sound and practical ways we can help our students in this issue
in their ministries.
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References
AlBadayneh, D., & Al-Shgour, M. (2009). Relationship Between Personal and Family Characteristics
and Types of Family Violence Among College Students During Their Childhood. Arab Journal for
Security Studies & Training 24(48), 85130.
Bates, D., & Rassam, A. 2001. Peoples and cultures of the Middle East. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall.
Ellen R. Sheeley. Reclaiming honor in Jordan: A national public opinion survey on honor
killings. Amman: The Author. 2007.
VicHealth 2006. Two steps forward, one step back: Community attitudes to violence against
women. Melbourne: VicHealth. http://www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/en/Resource-Centre/
Publications-and-Resources/Mental-health-and-wellbeing/Preventing-violence/CommunityAttitudes-to-Violence-Against-Women.aspx