Why are spouse and child abuse so frighteningly common in the church? According to the findings of this book’s contributors, the main reason stems from misuse and misunderstanding of the Bible’s teachings on headship and submission. Based on a Christians for Biblical Equality conference, Women, Abuse, and the Bible shows that many abusers see no conflict between their behavior and their Christian beliefs. Some abusers even justify their behavior by citing biblical passages and religious principles. With input from counselors, biblical scholars, an abuser, and survivors, this eye-opening book will: —Compel Christians to recognize the existence of domestic violence. —Offer practical and creative pathways to healing. —Challenge churches to honestly address the issues of domestic, verbal, and clergy abuse, emotional cruelty, sexual harassment, and rape. This book speaks frankly of the way that the Bible can be used to hurt or to heal, to disperse God’s grace or to obstruct it. It serves as a sourcebook for all Christians courageous enough to address the problem.

Kevin Giles has been writing on women in the Bible for over forty years. In this book, What the Bible Actually Teaches on Women, he gives the most comprehensive account to date of the competing conclusions to this question and the issues surrounding it. To understand the bitter and divisive debate among evangelicals over the status and ministry of women, it needs to be understood that those who since 1990 have called themselves “complementarians” argue that in creation before the fall God set the man over the woman. Thus, the leadership of the man and the subordination of the woman in the home, the church, and wherever possible in the world (the whole creation) is the God-given ideal that is pleasing to God. It is this “theology” that Kevin Giles deconstructs and shows to be without a biblical foundation. Giles shows that he is fully conversant with the complementarian position and yet is unpersuaded by it. He sees it as an appeal to the Bible to preserve male privilege, similar to the appeals to the Bible to validate slavery and Apartheid; appeals to the Bible made by some of the best Reformed and evangelical biblical scholars, and now seen to be special pleading. Carefully studying the limited number of texts on which complementarians predicate their theology of the sexes, Giles finds not one of them actually teaches what complementarians claim. Furthermore, complementarians too often ignore the texts that are very difficult for them. In this book the ordination of women gets only passing mention. The constant focus is on whether or not the Bible subordinates women to men as an abiding theological principle.

Learn the fundamental distinctions with this thoughtful study of Christ-ordained marriage! This unique volume reconciles a Biblical interpretation of marriage with the reality of domestic violence. Designed to raise awareness of abuse issues within the born-again community, Family Abuse and the Bible: The Scriptural Perspective works to promote the genuine sanctity of marriage and headship of the husband by examining the ways this God-given position can be subverted by Satan. It combines close Biblical exegesis with psychological insight into the effects of verbal, sexual, physical, and spiritual abuse. Family Abuse and the Bible offers new hope to conservative Christian women in abusive relationships. It demonstrates that abuse is not the will of God and that submission to violence is actually giving in to demonic forces. The tools in this book can ultimately free them from the horror of an abuse they may feel is ordained by God, while leaving them with an intact source of strength in their faith. Secular therapists and counselors will find Family Abuse and the Bible an essential resource that can help them remain sensitive to the needs of abused Christian women. This book explains conservative Christian beliefs about marriage, while providing powerful Biblical justifications that will reach Christian clients when secular ideas fail. Family Abuse and the Bible offers a clear-sighted Scriptural interpretation of domestic violence issues, including: the link between drugs and demonic possession the ways abusers twist the Scriptures to justify their ungodly actions the cycle of violence the role of repentance and forgiveness the difference between Biblical headship and abuse This book is an essential tool for pastors, Christian counselors, and family therapists who work with Christian clients and also for husbands and wives who want the Lord’s will for their marriage.

Intimate partner violence is a complex, ugly, fear-inducing reality for large numbers of women around the world. When violence exists in a relationship, safety is compromised, shame abounds, and peace evaporates. Violence is learned behavior and it flourishes most when it is ignored, minimized, or misunderstood. When it strikes the homes of deeply religious women, they are: more vulnerable; more likely to believe that their abusive partners can, and will, change; less likely to leave a violent home, temporarily or forever; often reluctant to seek outside sources of assistance; and frequently disappointed by the response of the religious leader to their call for help. These women often believe they are called by God to endure the suffering, to forgive (and to keep on forgiving) their abuser, and to fulfill their marital vows until death do us part. Concurrently, many batterers employ explicitly religious language to justify the violence towards their partners, and sometime they manipulate spiritual leaders who try to offer them help. Religion and Intimate Partner Violence seeks to navigate the relatively unchartered waters of intimate partner violence in families of deep faith. The program of research on which it is based spans over twenty-five years, and includes a wide variety of specific studies involving religious leaders, congregations, battered women, men in batterer intervention programs, and the army of workers who assist families impacted by abuse, including criminal justice workers, therapeutic staff, advocacy workers, and religious leaders. The authors provide a rich and colorful portrayal of the intersection of intimate partner violence and religious beliefs and practices that inform and interweave throughout daily life. Such a focus on lived religion enables readers to isolate, examine, and evaluate ways in which religion both augments and thwarts the journey towards justice, accountability, healing and wholeness for women and men caught in the web of intimate partner violence.

In recent years the issue of domestic abuse and violence has gained a lot of attention as the extent of it has become known. Domestic abuse and violence is now of high concern to most churches because it is evident that domestic abuse figures are much the same in our churches, and possibly higher in evangelical churches where the headship of men and the submission of women is made the God-given ideal. In this book, Kevin Giles surveys competently the scientific information on this matter now available and notes that the consensus is that the most sure indicator of higher incidences of abuse are found in communities where men are privileged and expected to be in charge and women are subordinated. This, he argues, should make complementarians consider afresh if in fact the subordination of women is the God-given ideal, established in creation before the fall.

Although most evangelical traditions bar women from ordained ministry, many women have carved out unofficial positions of power in their husbands' spiritual empires or their own ministries. The biggest stars write bestselling books, grab high ratings on Christian television, and even preach. Bowler offers a sympathetic and revealing portrait of megachurch women celebrities, showing how they must balance the demands of celebrity culture and conservative, male-dominated faiths. And black celebrity preachers' wives carry a special burden of respectability. A compelling account of women's search for spiritual authority in the age of celebrity. -- adapted from jacket

"Everyone knows about Noah, Moses, and Paul. But what about Hagar, Michal, and Priscilla, all women who had a direct influence in the story of God's people? The Bible is full of fascinating, powerful, and faithful women, as well as lessons that have unique meaning for women today." "In The Women's Study Bible, respected Bible scholars draw out these often overlooked stories and reveal the lives of women at the time and share lessons for women of today. Separate sidebars cover topics such as midwifery, women disciples, and female images of God. The Women's Study Bible doesn't shy away from the difficult issues, but helps readers to understand them better in both their original context and the modern world." "The New Living Translation of the Bible uses inclusive language for humanity and where it is clear that both male and female are meant to be included." --Book Jacket.

The Goddess Revival is a Christianity Today Book Award Winner, 1996. All of the authors are clearly sympathetic to the problems women have faced in the church throughout its history. They empathize with women who shun the patriarchal oppression of their churches to turn to goddess spirituality. They are also solidly grounded in the Scriptures, Christian theology and church history. They recognize the bondage imposed by goddess worship. This book presents a scholarly and clear consideration of the issues involved and builds a strong case for Christianity as the most woman-friendly alternative. While providing a comprehensive study of goddess spirituality and examining the roots of the movement, the authors focus primarily on God and the way people have understood God through the centuries--in both paganism and the Judeo-Christian tradition--as both male and female. They demonstrate how the uniqueness of God contrasts with the multiplicity of gods and goddesses in pagan spiritualities, while comparing the values in both traditions that are similar (that is, a search for what is good, inner empowerment, unity, positive social change). In the process of building a clear Christian theology, they gently counter the arguments of their pagan opponents. In the end, the reader is left with a glorious picture of the one true God and a clear apologetic for those in nursing who insist that the Christian God is too oppressive and patriarchal to merit our allegience. The appendixes provide a powerful case study of a young woman drawn into witchcraft. She explains why it appealed to her, then how it enslaved her and destroyed her marriage and other relationships. . . The two final appendixes offer some excellent biblical studies on the issues raised in the book. The total package provides an outstanding resource -- Journal of Christian Nursing

The politics of power in the church hinders the ordination of women today. Once ecclesiastical power is involved, ruling is also involved. Consequently, the altar has also become the throne, and this tempts men to suppress women. The author argues that Jesus refrained from using any gender-specific paradigms that would have excluded women from ritual leadership. (Christian)

A critical resource for anyone who wants to help women with the pressures, frustrations, and trauma they face Women today often have sources of tremendous pain in their lives such as infertility, divorce, domestic violence, eating disorders, and more. Yet, most leaders are not prepared to help women who have real pain from such traumatizing issues. If you want to be better equipped to help women in pain, this book was written for you. Designed to give leaders and care givers greater understanding and insights, Shepherding Women in Pain is a compilation from contributors who have expertise and experience on the given issue. Learn about domestic violence from expert Stacey Womack, founder and executive director of Abuse Recovery Ministry & Services; or learn how to help women who struggle with eating disorders from Kimberley Davidson, founder of Olive Branch Outreach. The reader will be provided concise, practical, and grace-infused information designed to help women deal constructively with the trauma of their life experiences. This book will serve as a key resource--to read and re-read often--for those who serve women in pain. A remarkable blend of expertise and empathy, Shepherding Women in Pain is a perfect resource for pastors, church staff, and women’s ministry leaders alike who want to help women in pain experience Jesus, joy, and wholeness again.