Is the Church Sending Wrong Message to Women of Abuse?, by Cherry Simpson

Susan Murphy-Milano Says so beautifully in her new blog about what Rick Warren, the Southern Baptist megachurch pastor chosen to offer the invocation at President-elect Barack Obama's Jan. 20 inauguration, says the Bible does not permit a woman to divorce a spouse who is abusing her.

Rick Warren photo by AFP/Getty Images

Rick Warren: Abuse is no excuse for women to seek divorce The New Agenda A women's rights blog called Warren's views "alarming," especially in light of recent statistics showing a 42 percent rise in reports of domestic violence from 2005 to 2007.

Because It Matters in Freedom in Christianity by Danni Moss writes "Rick Warren and Saddleback Church on Domestic Violence"

Listen for yourself by going to and scroll down to #32 and click to listen in his own words.

Watch for public out cry to this - Many women's advocate groups are up in arms and not going to stand for this kind of putting innocent women and children in harm's way.

I am writing and commenting on each blog and ask for your support in this also.

There are certain times in a Christian's life when he or she will have to determine which command of Scripture takes preference. Abuse within marriage is one such case. On the one hand, the Lord states, "What God has joined together, let man not separate (The Sixth Commandment). Yet he also says, "You shall not kill" (The Fifth Commandment). We recall that the Fifth Commandment also applies to ourselves in that we shouldn't put our life or the lives of our loved ones at undue risk.

If a woman (or man) feels that the physical or verbal abuse she is suffering in her marriage is putting her or her children in harm's way, she needs to take action. If repeated attempts to address the situation fail, she may even consider divorce. In such a case she is seeking to give glory to God by applying the Fifth Commandment which commands us to protect human life. By patiently yet firmly attempting to work out the situation with her husband and get him the help he needs, she is seeking to give glory to God by keeping the Sixth Commandment which commands us to honor marriage. Should her attempt to do so fail, divorce may be the God-pleasing option. It is assumed that in all of this she is seeking the help and advice of a pastor or Christian counselor who honors and respects what God's says in his Word.

Because the abusing person has willfully persisted in his sinful behavior, he has violated the marriage bond and deserted his wife. He is the guilty partner even though his wife may be the one who actually seeks the divorce.



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Collaborative Divorce - "Healthy" Divorce Alernative?

The following tools are designed to help you better understand your divorce options. Court appearances are costly in time, money and emotion because the adversarial court system often pits one family member against another. With the help of CCD Professionals, you can resolve your situation in the best way possible for your entire family, preserving your relationships and financial resources.

	Is Collaborative Divorce Right for You? A set of questions to find out if you should pursue a cooperative rather than a litigated divorce.
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The big "C" - What it's All About

Here we are at this day that perhaps was always inevitable...I accept what path we're on. There's no longer any point in rehashing what might have been.

But this isn't our "The End" ~ we will always be a "we" ~ the miracles we made are living, breathing, walking proof of that. Two angelic reminders are where the focus should be.

Looking at our girls, seeing the chocolate brown color of your eyes forever married to the almond shape of mine...nothing else seems to matter anymore. I no longer doubt whether or not we were ever "meant to" be.

They, our dependent little beings, need us to be the "Mommy" and the "Daddy" ~ to not "ugly-up" the story of their creation. Because it's their story and they deserve the most enchanting kind, regardless of whether or not we'll be able to offer the "Fairy Tale" ending.

It's time to put the focus where it should be...on our two precious miracles, our moo and boo...our forever you and me. The most important part of us that will always be meant to be...a we.