Catherine Clark Kroeger pass away..

I was sad this morning when I read that Catherine Clark Kroeger passed away.

Honoring the Legacy of Dr. Catherine Clark Kroeger
In Memoriam: Dr. Catherine Clark Kroeger

Faith Trust Memorial 

One Obituary online

Her Book, No Place for Abuse was one of the first Christian based books I was given regarding domestic violence in the church.  I took away so much from reading it, and I was surprised at how much scripture it listed to show how domestic violence has no place in the church.

One of the first audio presentation I remember hearing from her to me showed the silence we all experience at the church when it comes to domestic violence.  Her story started with her going to her garden to pick roses for a funeral.  She carefully placed them in the car with enough ice and water to make the trip without them wilting.

She drove to a funeral of her friend that she characterized loving Christian woman.  It doesn't sound like from the story that she was one that she was in regular contact with, but the lady's spirit was strong enough to make an impact on Catherine.

The funeral began with the friend's coffin, and those of her two children coming down the aisle of the church for the funeral to begin.  Normally, when you have loved ones that have died tragically?  You speak of this tragic event during the service to help start the healing process for those they left behind.  This time was different, because her husband was in jail for killing all of them.  There was no mention during the service about how they died.  The church was silent on the fact they died due to domestic violence within their midst.

I also remember her speaking about how she visited him in jail, due the bible stating that is what we are called to do.  I will tell you right now I was taken back by this part of the story.  He did speak to her in jail, but spoke about how no one truly told him that abusing his family was wrong.  Catherine did mention that some of her family issues did come to light for her personally more towards the end.  I also realize that abusers tend to make excuses for themselves, but I guess no one truly stopped to think that their silence does send the signal that could be taken as an endorsement to the abuser.

She ended this story with the sense of hope for the abused, but also showed validation of the silence victims do experience.  She would call out to the church to be the refuge that families need, and to be that place of support and refuge.

You can read more of writings and insights on God's Word to Women, and Peace and Safety in the Christian Home. 

Lastly, here is a video in which Catherine Clark Kroeger speaks of domestic violence within the church.


If you can't see the video - click here.



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My prayers are for family as the grieve the loss of their wife, mother, and grandmother.

Thank you Catherine for all you did for those that could not speak for themselves.

Self-righteousness is the fundamental sin

Mark 2:²³ One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. ²⁴ The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”
 ²⁵ He answered, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? ²⁶ In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.”
 ²⁷ Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. ²⁸ So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

What the Pharisees objected to was Jesus and his disciples picking the heads of grain on the Sabbath. They regarded this as reaping. It was one of the many acts the teachers of the law had decided should be forbidden on the Sabbath. Jesus was pointing out that while David technically broke the Law of Moses, he was not condemned because such violations under certain conditions of need might be warranted. Jesus had applied this principle to what he and the disciples were doing when picking the heads of grain on the Sabbath.

I remember as a small girl thinking the Pharisees were nuts.  Here are hungry people, and you do no think God would have them fed?  The Starved can WAIT until the Sabbath is over?

The Pharisees there legalistic, and in some cases I would call them extremists.  We know that on the Sabbath the Israelites were to rest from their work. Through that rest they could worship God as the provider of all their needs, and as the God who had saved them from slave-like existence in Egypt. The Sabbath regulation was not given to Israel simply because God wanted people to keep religious rituals. It had a purpose for all those human beings to whom it was given. Jesus to me basically told them they are missing the point!

It reminds me of these crazy news stories about kindergarten boys that bring a small toy gun to school, and they get suspended.  The regulation was 'no weapons'.  Here is this small child with a 1/2" inch toy, and they apply this rule to them?  I think we all realize WHY weapons would not be allowed in school - its common sense.  When we apply this rule that was 'intended' for something completely different? Its a bit nuts to me.  The regulation was applied for safety reasons, and not scare the daylights out of some small child because they brought a plastic gun from his G-I Joe to school!

Benevolent leadership headship authority...what?

The Big Cheese Shows Benevolence

Does anyone else get the impression when you READ some author's explanations of 'headship' it more reads as 'top dog'?  Does TOP DOG mean benevolence?

Wayne Grudem to me is a great example when attempting to explain away why Egalitarianism is 'bad'. He begins a chapter in his book about how for 19 centuries people clearly understood WITHOUT confusion Ephesians 5:22-24, and of course he also noted other passages.

If we look at those past 19 centuries the human race truly struggled with respect and dignity towards those 'lower' on the hierarchy chain of command.  Notice how he didn't bring up that point!  We can't ignore this lack of benevolence, but we do when we 'glorify' the past without those facts.

They seem to truly struggle with WHY people started to search, because something JUST didn't line up!  It could be due to claims of 'how God intended' things to be were NOT lining up with a sense of benevolence they claim to represent.

• We have all heard about the schools or organizations that took care of children or women that found themselves in abusive circumstances. 
• If you look today at articles that 'announce' pastors or church leaders that were found guilty of crimes against someone else in the church?  You find excuses as to WHY they fell, and how it was the person that the crime was committed against was at fault.  Check out just about ANY sexual abuse conviction!
• When "Christians" came to America did that they treat the Indians with this type of benevolence?
  
• Did "Christians" NOT use scripture as a weapon to keep slaves? They can chant all they wish about how you are to show benevolence towards your slaves, but we also can see from history words were cheap!
  
• Lets look at the benevolence shown towards unmarried women that had babies. The boy or man could walk away, but the woman and child were gifted so much benevolence it wasn't even funny right?

We can come up with tons of examples of how supposedly 'benevolent' leaders were far from the example they claim. Even to this day MOST won't acknowledge it unless their backs are against the wall.

Does that look like we 'understand' with no 'confusion' what passages within the bible truly mean?  PLEASE!  Give me a break!  Actions speak louder than words!