Biblical Interpretations
on Violence Against Women and
Inequality
PPDVP Regional symposium 7th to 11th April 2014
Tevita Seruilumi
Note
• This presentation does not disrespect any
religion or Christian denomination
• The following presentation is to encourage
discussion about biblical interpretations
• Religion and for this session in particular Christianity is an integral part of our identity
and this session is about self assessing how its
teachings are used to respond to VAW and
gender inequality.
Session Outline
• Discuss some of the arguments used to give
impunity to domestic violence.
• Understand how the bible can be interpreted
to support the work against domestic
violence.
• Discuss some of the arguments to justify
Inequality.
• Understand how the bible can be interpreted
from a rights based approach.
Domestic Violence
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Physical
Sexual
Emotional / Psychological
Financial
• Coercive control
POWER and CONTROL
Domestic Violence
• More than often, the Church does not take
action against or mention domestic violence.
• Some churches still see it as a private matter.
• The message of forgiveness can be
misinterpreted to discourage women from
accessing support services.
Duty to Help
• The parable of the Good Samaritan – doing good to
others. (Luke 10: 25-37)
• Bible speaks of respecting authority –
lawful
governments, existing laws and polices. Violence
against women is a crime.
• There are laws to protect women and promote their
rights. As Christians should encourage women’s access
to justice and other support services.
Forgive and keep forgiving
How many times must a woman suffer from
violence and abuse?
• Often some churches speak about forgiveness or
RECONCILIATION to women who have been
victims/survivors of violence without looking into
the pain, suffering and abuse that a woman faces.
• Forgiveness is also about repentance. A person
who has wronged you must repent and never do
the same to you again.
Marriage
• Certain churches have a stand against divorce.
• Women’s rights groups are often blamed for
breaking up families.
Violence is not a part of a marriage or
partnership
Good and the Bad times
Many times a woman is told to keep forgiving her husband or
partner and that this is all part of the marriage… the bad times.
Marriage vows are often used to keep women in violent
relationships.
What about the husband’s vows? Does he not have an oath before
God not to harm the woman in any way.
The bible does not refer to bad times as domestic violence, rape,
sexual assault, intimidation, fear.
Till Death Do Us Part
What Christ has put together let no man take apart. (Mark 10:9)
• Christ puts together, respect, kindness, love, understanding, peace…. NOT
domestic violence, rape, sexual assault, humiliation and abuse.
• In fact it is the perpetrator who are taking apart the plan and purpose of
God. He is pulling apart what God has put together.
• It is never the purpose of Christianity for a woman to die as a result of
violence or be subject to violence and inhumane treatment.
• Women’s rights isn’t about breaking up families. Often women’ rights
organizations are blamed for this – BUT for many women a divorce is the
only way out of a life or cycle of violence.
All forms of domestic violence
“There is no fear in love; perfect love drives out
all fear. So then, love has not been made perfect
in anyone who is afraid, because fear has to do
with punishment”. (1 John 4:18)
Group Discussion
From your own experiences, discuss and try to
identify biblical scriptures or interpretations that
make mention to inequality and women’s
submissive roles.
Gender Relations
• Gender – Socially constructed/expectations.
• Expectations:
Religion/Culture/Tradition/Media and
Entertainment.
• Expectations, roles and identities for women
and girls are subordinate – cause inequality.
Inequality
• Inequality is the cause and consequence of
violence against women.
• Addressing domestic violence is a good step,
but we have to address inequality.
• Inequality ranges from partner relations to
structural inequality.
The Creation Story
• Used to justify inequality.
• Adam was created first.
• Eve caused Adam to Sin.
In the Beginning:
GENISIS
• We were created in the image of God. Both men and women.
• Men and women were to have dominion over the earth NOT over
each other
• “Helper” has been misinterpreted to such an extend that we use
the creation story to justify how we treat women rather than focus
on the immense depth, wonder and beauty of creation and how
God created all of us in his image.
• The word helper in the original context is about equal responsibility
and not about mastery or slavery.
The First Sin
• Many blame women for the first sin and for casing
Adam to sin.
• But Christ has died for all (women, children and men)
and therefore all sins are forgiven.
• Therefore we go back to the first family – in the Garden
where we are all equal- men and women. Dominion of
everything else – except for over each other.
Biblical Commandments
• Biblical teachings are used to shape behaviour
and human relations
• 10 Commandments were written by the hand
of God
• Commandments were also reiterate by Christ
10 Commandments
Exodus 20: 1-17
• Says nothing about men being superior or
women being subordinate.
• In fact it says that children are to respect both
parents. There is no emphasis on the father
alone.
• Clearly means that both mother and father
deserve equal respect.
2 Greatest Commandments
Christ said that the 2 greatest commandments
are:
• “Love your God with all your heart, mind,
soul and strength”.
• “Love your neighbor as you love yourself”.
Wives to submit…
“Wives submit to your husband for he is the
head of the family…”
Men to Love like Christ
Yet many do choose to ignore the continuation
of the so called submission verse:
Eph 5: 22
“…women should submit to her husband for he
is the head of the house hold… husband
should love his wife just as Christ loved the
church…”
Christ’s Love
• He came NOT so that others may serve him, but he came to
serve.
• Jesus said if any one wants to be first he should make
himself last of all and servant of all.
• Christ gave his life for us – selfless.
• Christ said that greater love has no one than someone who
lay down their life for a friend (John 15:13)
A marriage sermon:
“…Marriage should transform, as husband and wife
make one another their work of art. It is possible
to transform so long as we do not harbor
ambitions to reform our partner. There must be
no coercion if the Spirit is to flow; each must give
the other space and freedom…”
"Whan maistrie [mastery] comth, the God of Love
anon, Beteth his wynges, and farewell, he is gon."
Women’s role in the Church
• Many women are told that they can not hold
leadership positions within the church
Women’s role in the church?
1 Cor. 14:33-36
“As in all the congregations of the saints, women
should remain silent in the churches…”
• It was a letter from Paul to Timothy for that
context.
• Should not be interpreted as a mandatory
requirement.
Women’s role from Christ
• Christ himself after his resurrection authorized women to
go and spread the good news.
Mathew 28: 8
"Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers...”
“ Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers." Having
accepted Christ into their hearts, they never once doubted
Him, as some of his closest apostles did. Recall the apostle
who demanded to see Him and to put his finger into Christ's
side, only then saying, "My Lord and my God!" (Matthew
28:8-10)
Why emphasize on inequality?
Galatians 3:28
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free,
male nor female, for you are all one in Christ
Jesus”.
Luke 17:21
“The Kingdom of God is in all of us” (All girls, all
women, all men and all boys)
Common Accusation
• Some accuse such interpretations - you are
trying to twist the bible.
… and that we should not do this and take the
bible word for word.
So why not word for word for:
Mathew 18
“8If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw
it away….”
Mark 9
“43If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to
enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell…45And if
your foot causes you to sin, cut it off… 47And if your eye causes
you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the
kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes…”
Greatest gift of all
1 Corinthians 13: LOVE
• Love is treating others with respect, dignity and
equality.
• Love does not promote inequality.
A living document
• The bible is a living document and should be
interpreted to bring empowerment, peace,
justice, freedom and life for all persons.
• The bible can be used to promote human
rights and equality for all women, men and
children.
Main Messages in the Bible about
human relations
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We were created in the image of God
Love your neighbor as you love yourself
Human dignity for all
Both parents are to be respected
If you want to be first you should be the last
Do unto others as you want others to do to you
Humility, kindness
Justice, peace, fairness
Love
Equality
Challenge
Why continue to promote and interpret the few
verse of inequality when there is so much of the
bible which talks about equality, respect, justice
and peace?
Christianity
• The bible is the fundamental document in
Christianity and it is about interpreting it to
bring spiritual enlightenment to all persons.
• Christianity can be used to promote equality
for all and to end all forms of oppression and
violence against women and girls.
• The bible does not excuse any kind of violent
or controlling behavior within a relationship.
Thank you for listening