| The only Biblical reason to divorce your husband is if | | | | loved the church (Ephesians 5:25). A marriage that |
| he files for divorce. In 1 Corinthians 7:15, the Bible | | | | does not follow that pattern is distorted. However, |
| says, referring to marriage, "But if the unbelieving | | | | being in a distorted marriage is not a Biblical |
| depart, let him depart." | | | | justification for divorce. |
| What About Adultery? | | | | Conventional Christian counselors will tell an abused |
| Many people mistakenly believe that if a spouse | | | | women to leave while the husband is violent and |
| commits adultery, that the other spouse is free to | | | | come back later to try to work it out. This is very |
| divorce, thanks to Matthew 5:31-32. This is not the | | | | dangerous advice. Half of all murdered women are |
| case at all. That passage says that if you divorce and | | | | murdered by their significant other. Most of those are |
| remarry, you are an adulterer, which is entirely true. | | | | when she is trying to leave him. In an abusive |
| Remarriage is Biblically adultery no matter how you | | | | situation, I would opt for permanent separation, with |
| want to justify it. | | | | no divorce, and no remarriage. |
| What that passage is saying is that an adulterer will | | | | Another option is a non lethal weapon, like pepper |
| not be considered an adulterer because of they got | | | | spray or a stun gun. This will disable your attacker, |
| remarried. They will be considered an adulterer | | | | also known as your husband, and give you a chance |
| because they committed adultery while they were in | | | | to get away when violence arises. If a husband is |
| a marriage. This is not an exemption at all. This is | | | | remorseful about his violence, he may agree to this. |
| showing how seriously God takes marriage. | | | | Otherwise, beware of your conscience when it |
| What About Abuse? | | | | comes to submitting in everything (Ephesian 5:24). |
| I am not going to say that any woman should be | | | | This will also show your children that violence is |
| staying with an abusive husband. It is not safe, and | | | | unacceptable and is to be taken seriously, dissuading |
| your children, particularly sons, will likely grow up to | | | | them to emulate their father's behavior. |
| be abusive as well. At the same time, the Bible gives | | | | There are many effects of sin in our lives. Every |
| no justification to leave because of abuse. It just is | | | | marriage will be tainted by sin in some way, whether |
| not in there. I would cannot say that God wants you | | | | it is selfishness or adultery, slothfulness or violence. In |
| to be in an abusive relationship. That is not how he | | | | God's eyes, all sin is equally offensive. If you simply |
| designed marriage. Marriage is supposed to be a | | | | think that your spouse's sin is worse than your own, |
| picture of God's love for the church. A husband is | | | | then you need more introspection, not divorce. |
| supposed to love his wife just as much as Christ | | | | |