I’ve seen some outrageous and degrading statements about domestic violence from so-called Christians over the years. But recently, one of my friends pointed me to something that may have been one of the most outrageous and degrading thing I’ve seen yet from a fundie who thinks he has anything to say about this matter.
Earlier this month, “Larry Solomon,” the man behind a blog called “Biblical Gender Roles,” said with a straight face that there are times when a woman could be disobeying God if she packs up and leaves an abusive relationship.
“Solomon” appears to be a classic stopped clock. While he argues that women can and should leave if their husband is physically abusing them or sexually molesting their kids, emotional or verbal abuse is another matter. He believes that if a woman leaves such a relationship, she could be falling afoul of 1 Peter 2:18-24
18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. 19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
From “Solomon’s” rather twisted perspective, while God doesn’t excuse emotionally abusive husbands and fathers, a woman who calls it out is stepping out of her “subordinate place.” He claims that women “model Christ” when they bite their tongues and take day-in, day-out belittling and insults from their husband “patiently.” Moreover, he suggests that women should consider whether or not they have been abused at all—and even if they have, it’s nothing compared to what Jesus endured.
This is as vile and degrading as it gets. Has Solomon even read the numerous stories about how yelling and belittling can do just as much harm as being punched or slapped, if not more? As someone who was in an emotionally abusive marriage for three years, this is particularly outrageous to me.
I did a deep dive into what makes this guy tick at Liberal America. What I found makes his dismissal of emotional abuse even more outrageous. He believes that when a man marries a woman, he “takes ownership of her.” As he sees it, a woman is the property of her father until she is married, and then becomes property of her husband. That explains why he chose a passage about servants to admonish women to take emotional abuse “patiently.” He also believes that government has no right to set a minimum age for marriage.
“Solomon” also thnks that men have every right to spank their wives, and that government cannot add to the definitions of abuse set forth in the Bible.
Calling this outrageous would be being kind to it. Is it any wonder that certain parts of the church have their collective heads up their collective butts on this matter? It’s time to turn the hot lights on this claptrap. Let Solomon have it on Facebook. To make it easier, head over to where he posted his outrageous suggestion to abuse victims here.