A Christian Response to Domestic Violence: Northwest Family Life

Violence and exploitation are growing problems of local concern, national priority and international scope. Historically, it has been the church who has responded to injustices such as this. The questions beg to be answered. What has the church done to respond to the life threatening issues of domestic violence? What is the church doing now? Who is addressing this issue?

There currently exists a growing body of literature to understand the dynamics of domestic violence and ways to address it. Within this literature, the church has stayed strangely silent on this issue denying often that such a problem exists within their congregation or denomination. Feminist authors attribute a patriarchal interpretation of the scriptures in particular as supporting violent and abusive treatment of women and again, the church is silent on the issue of domestic violence, and more often than not, slanderous and defensive instead.

Are the scriptures silent in regards to this issue? Clearly not. The opportunity exists to address this issue biblically and practically. The church must not fail in this regard to reflect on biblical texts that remind readers that religion is worthless unless those of faith care for the widows and orphans in their distress (Jas. 1:27, Deut. 14:29, Job 31:16, 17, 21; Ps. 146:9, Isa. 1:17, 23). Theology is only useful in the context of relationship and where more poignant than in addressing the issue of abuse defined as 'any word or action that would seek to destroy or hide the image of God in the other.' Northwest Family Life is a learning and counseling center located in Seattle, Washington. In 1989, it opened its doors with the mission to 'assist individuals and families to find hope and healing when confronting the pain of domestic violence and related issues.'

We promote values and Christian ethics of rectifying justice and love, which involves righting the wrong by acknowledging and naming the harm, changing behavior and growing in empathy for the ones who have been impacted.

A manual has been compiled for others who are moved by compassion to do the work of ending domestic violence, that we might be good stewards of what knowledge and experience has been entrusted to us (see appendix B).