Domestic Violence

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 Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” While they

were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. Then the

LORD said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I don’t know,” he

replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?” Genesis 4: 8-9

The Bible records the first horrific act of family violence in the story of Cain

killing his brother Abel. God saw the anger that Cain was mistakenly

harbouring towards Abel and God talked with Cain. God told Cain that he

had an opportunity to correct his mistake. Consumed by jealousy he

refused to change. Cain continued to make Abel the target of his wrath.

Cain chose rage over reason. He overpowered and killed his unsuspecting

and innocent brother.


Everything in creation was affected by Cain’s solitary action. Cain’s

violence brought death to Abel, the disapproval of God, grief to the parents

and a disillusioned life of hardship to himself. Even the earth found itself an

unwilling participant as it was forced to receive Abel’s blood.

Family violence has never been a confidential matter between the abuser

and the abused. It disrupts life on so many levels and causes physical,

mental, emotional and social pain to everyone. The injured party is no

longer able to contribute to society as a fully functional member offering her

/ his gifts to a world that needs them.


 Family violence causes emotional wounds to those who may not be the direct

 focus of aggression, but are still

exposed to a violent environment. Family violence mentally impairs the

perpetrator, who drowns out the voice of God and reason  to not inflict pain

on another human being. Family violence stamps out potential for future

generations as it did to Abel. Family violence is usually carried out in secret

and private behind closed doors, but it does not remain in one place.

How do we stop these insidious actions? Educate! We do so by shining

light on this topic. Educate the survivors that they are just that, a prey of

someone else’s unacceptable behaviour, not a cause of it. Abel was not the

cause of Cain’s behaviour. Cain’s irrational jealousy and anger towards

Abel was of his own making. Educate the perpetrator that he/she has a

choice to consider the other as a person with dignity more than as an

object of abuse. In essence, God told Cain that he was responsible for his

own behaviour and could change the outcome of his life.


Educate the community that family violence affects everyone, not just the

persons being abused. The effects of family violence touch everyone

because each person brings unique talents to a community and is not able

to do so when cowering in fear and hiding. Educate the community that we

all have a responsibility to acknowledge the fact that family violence takes

place in every community regardless of socioeconomic standing. Educate

our young children that they are worthy human beings who do not deserve

to be abused. Educate them to take responsibility for their actions not to

harm others in actions or words. Educate our lawmakers that family

violence damages all aspects of our community. The abusers must feel the

weight of justice. As God demanded Cain to take responsibility for his

actions, so we, as a society, must hold each other accountable for how we

respond to those who are survivors of family violence.


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