Complementarians and domestic violence

Some recent articles in the Sydney Morning Herald have prompted a lot of discussion about domestic violence and its relationship to Christian teaching—especially complementarian teaching about submission in marriage ('Submission is a fraught mixed message for the church').

It has been suggested that complementarians shouldn’t be silent on these matters (silence after all provides no guidance or critique, and can even be a sign of tacit approval). Complementarians need to articulate strongly and clearly not only what the Bible teaches about marriage, but just how far removed the biblical view of submission is from condoning domestic violence in any form.

And I thought, “Yes, we complementarians definitely should articulate our view on these issues”.

Then I thought, “Hang on, we have”.

In her widely read and admired 2012 book, God’s Good Design, Claire Smith sensitively and wisely explains ‘What the Bible really says about men and women’, and deals not only with all the major biblical passages about submission and marriage, but also with many common objections and questions.

Claire also devotes a lengthy chapter (‘The ultimate distortion’) to the tragic reality of domestic violence, to its sad incidence in many homes (including Christian ones), to the Bible’s condemnation of it, and to how those touched by it (and those pastoring them) should respond.

God’s Good Design is by no means the only word on this subject, nor should it be the last. But it is a fine and passionate piece of writing, and should be read by all who wish to understand how the Bible’s teaching on marriage relates to the appalling distortion of domestic violence.

God’s Good Design is available from the Matthias Media store. You can download the whole chapter on domestic violence as a sample.