No Divorce for any reason ?!?

Foreword to "Woman Submit!" Written by Elreta Dodds

 Jocelyn Andersen experienced domestic violence first-hand and has survived to write about it. However, what she writes in these pages is more than just a testimony, it is an appeal. Andersen strongly appeals to any woman who is experiencing domestic violence at the hands of her husband to leave. Her appeal is specifically targeted towards Christian women because Christian women are more apt to stay in a potentially deadly situation due to what they’ve been taught regarding the interpretive meanings of the scripture passages that deal with submissive roles in marriage and limited exceptions for divorce.

It is sobering to realize that many of the clergy in today’s church believe and teach that a woman must, at all costs, not divorce her husband, even if she is constantly living under threat of death in her marital home. 

"Andersen bravely and boldly challenges doctrinal teachings that discourage women from leaving husbands who are abusing them

Andersen writes in conversational tone. So, reading her book is like hearing her voice. She writes in such a way that you can hear her talking to you. You can hear her inflections through the pages. Moreover, it’s a quick read. I read most of it in one setting.

Although Andersen and I don’t completely see eye to eye when it comes to her theological viewpoints regarding Adam and Eve, her book is in no way heretical. Just to clarify, when Andersen says “lives are more important than theology” she’s not talking about the theology of salvation (for those of us who are Christians should be willing to give our lives, if need be, for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ), but she is instead talking about the theology of marriage and divorce. And when a woman is faced with making a decision between getting away from an abusive husband or staying in a life-threatening domestic situation, I agree with Andersen; to live is more important. What earthly good are we if we are dead or if things are so bad at home that we wish we were?

 I believe that any abused woman who reads this book will be encouraged to get help. To be quite honest, I believe this book could save lives.

 Praise God for Jocelyn Andersen and the work she has done in her effort to help women through the trials of domestic violence and abuse. 

  

      --Elreta Dodds

Author of, Is God a Chauvinist?

Don't wait for Domestic Violence Awareness month to prepare yourself to respond knowledgeably, compassionately, and biblically to the sin and crime of domestic violence. As of the the posting of this article, 174 women will die from spousal/partner abuse before then.