by gbaskerville | Dec 19, 2020 | Christians and Divorce, For Pastors, Safe Churches & Friends
What Was the Puritan View of Divorce? Were There Any Puritan Divorces? Although the Puritans wanted to create a godly society in America, they were realistic about abuse, desertion, and betrayal. They were followers of Protestant Reformer John Calvin (and his...
by gbaskerville | Dec 13, 2020 | For Pastors, Safe Churches & Friends
The famous Reformer John Calvin (1509-1564) was angry at men who abused their wives. He believed that cruelty in marriage was twice as bad as other violence because it happens in secrecy. His Geneva Bible interpreted Malachi 2:16 as a denouncement of hypocritical...
by gbaskerville | Nov 18, 2020 | Christians and Divorce, For Pastors, Safe Churches & Friends
This table shows every known divorce among the Massachusetts Puritans 1639-1692. There are 40 divorces listed and the columns give the record location and page, the date, the names of the individuals, the cause of the divorce, the court (the jurisdiction), and the...
by gbaskerville | Nov 16, 2020 | Divorce Bible Verses, Focus on the Family, For Pastors
Hasn't the Bible Always Said, "God hates divorce"? No. This comparison chart (below) of 18 translations of Malachi 2:16 from before the time of Christ (the Septuagint) to today shows something remarkable. (Keep reading, or check out the 11-minute video version...
by gbaskerville | Oct 23, 2020 | Christians and Divorce, For Pastors, Safe Churches & Friends
Many Well-Meaning Therapists Don't Understand: It's Unethical To Do Couples Counseling When There's Abuse WHY? BECAUSE THESE COUNSELORS ACCIDENTALLY SIDE WITH THE ABUSER! The Gottman Institute instructs therapists that half of the couples who come to see them...
by gbaskerville | Oct 13, 2020 | For Pastors, Gaslighting Examples, Myths
We were taught to love, love, love. And forgive, forgive, forgive. But no-one ever showed us all the Bible verses telling us to get away from, have nothing to do with, and refuse to even eat with abusive, unfaithful, swindling, jealous, money-obsessed, boastful,...
by gbaskerville | Oct 11, 2020 | Divorce and Children, Focus on the Family, For Pastors, High-Conflict Divorces
How Focus on the Family Misled Me to Believe Divorce Was Worse for Children Than Abuse Summary: Patricia tells her story of being in an abusive marriage, and how a Focus on the Family article, “How Could Divorce Affect My Kids?” convinced her to stay with her...
by gbaskerville | Sep 16, 2020 | Abuse examples, First-person stories, For Pastors, Safe Churches & Friends
Is It Safe to Tell Your Pastor Your Marriage Problems? In 2020, an informal Facebook survey question was posed to 800 Christians who were considering or had gotten a divorce: How did your pastor respond when you disclosed abuse in your marriage? What do you...
by gbaskerville | Sep 14, 2020 | Abuse examples, First-person stories, For Pastors, Safe Churches & Friends
Is It Safe to Tell Your Pastor Your Marriage Problems? In 2020, an informal Facebook survey question was posed to 800 Christians who were considering or had gotten a divorce: How did your pastor respond when you disclosed abuse in your marriage? What do you...
by gbaskerville | Sep 9, 2020 | Christians and Divorce, For Pastors, Safe Churches & Friends
Do my pastors have a say about me getting a divorce? Many pastors are well-meaning and caring, but they are completely naive about the deceit and tactics of charming spouses who abuse, cheat, or are addicted. Many pastors love the Lord and believe in miracles, but...