The Church's Role in Protecting Women fr...

There's a topic that the church rarely addresses because it challenges long-held beliefs and practices. That topic is...

Domestic abuse.

And the failure of some church to protect victims.

The statistics and stories are heartbreaking. Churches are often seen as sanctuaries, yet when it comes to domestic abuse, this isn’t always the case. Despite Biblical teaching on love, care, and justice, domestic abuse remains a hushed reality in some Christian communities. Victims often face isolation, shame, and a lack of genuine support inside their faith communities, making it difficult for them to find safety and healing.

In this episode, Catherine is joined by Nancy Pearcey, an acclaimed scholar and author known for dissecting cultural issues from a Christian perspective. Nancy shares her insights on transforming churches into safe havens for women, particularly those experiencing domestic abuse. Her book The Toxic War on Masculinity: How Christianity Reconciles the Sexes explores the damaging cultural narratives about men and calls for a more biblical understanding of masculinity.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS:

• Eileen Gray's Case: Nancy and Catherine dive into the harrowing story of Eileen Gray, a woman who faced severe and persistent abuse from her husband. Despite his eventual conviction and lengthy prison sentence for physical and sexual abuse, her church publicly criticized and excommunicated her and continued to support her abuser, illustrating a disturbing trend where churches fail to support victims and instead prioritize errant theology.
• Financial Dependency of Churches: Catherine and Nancy delve into how some churches might refrain from alienating abusive men due to financial dependencies. This economic factor often leads to a tragic compromise on moral grounds, where the support and safety of victims are sidelined.
• 35-Year Longitudinal Study: Nancy uncovers a significant 35-year longitudinal study that found fathers who are positively engaged have a major impact on their children's faith journey. This confirms the importance of a loving and active fatherly presence in guiding children toward a strong Christian faith.
• Critique of Darwinian Theory: Nancy discusses how Darwinian evolutionary theory and societal stereotypes about masculinity have contributed to harmful views and behaviors among men. She argues for a return to viewing men and women as created in God’s image, which promotes a higher understanding and moral standard for behavior.
• Impact of Cultural Influences: The episode takes a close look at cultural figures like Andrew Tate and Myron Gaines, who advocate toxic masculinity ideals that even influence students in Christian schools. Nancy points out the dangers of these cultural influences and the need for a robust biblical response.
• Biblical Understanding of Masculinity: Both Catherine and Nancy call for a biblical view of masculinity. They firmly condemn any form of abuse and advocate for churches to act as safe havens, emphasizing accountability and proper support for victims.
• Call to Action for Listeners: The episode concludes with a strong call to action for listeners. They are encouraged to ensure their churches are safe havens for all congregants and to consider leaving any church that advises victims to stay in abusive relationships.

Our churches should be sanctuaries, not battlegrounds for justice. If you or someone you know has been affected by domestic abuse, or you’re passionate about creating safer church environments, don’t miss this compelling discussion.

NANCY’S BIO: Nancy Pearcey is the author of The Toxic War on Masculinity: How Christianity Reconciles the Sexes, as well as Love Thy Body, The Soul of Science, Saving Leonardo, Finding Truth, and Total Truth. She is professor and scholar in residence at Houston Christian University. She has been quoted in The New Yorker and Newsweek, highlighted as one of the five top women apologists by Christianity Today, and hailed in The Economist as "America's pre-eminent evangelical Protestant female intellectual."

FULL SHOW NOTES

OTHER EPISODES IN THIS SERIES:

Ep. 122 Why Does Our Culture Hate Men?

Ep. 123 How Christianity Transformed the Status of Women

EPISODE RESOURCES ON SEXUAL ABUSE IN THE CHURCH:

EXCLUSIVE: John MacArthur Shamed, Excommunicated Mother for Refusing to Take Back Child Abuser (March 8, 2022)

EXCLUSIVE: John MacArthur’s Church Supported Convicted Child Abuser & Pedophile, Records Show (March 17, 2022)

MacArthur Ministry Employees Defend Child Abuser, Dismiss ‘Screeching’ Pushback (March 24, 2024)

Head of Counseling at John MacArthur’s School: Wife Should Endure Abuse Like Missionary Endures Persecution April 5, 2022Former Elder at John MacArthur’s Church Confronts Awful Patterns of Endangering Abuse Victims (Feb. 9, 2023) 

RESOURCES REFERENCED: 

The Moral Animal: Why We Are the Way We Are: The New Science of Evolutionary Psychology by Robert Wright

Men and Marriage by George Gilder

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