Easter 5 – 2026
John 14:1-14, 1 Peter 2:11-25
Marian Free
In the name of God whose love for us knows no bounds. Amen.
When I am teaching, I remind my students of the fact that the bible can and has been used to belittle, to abuse and to control rather than to affirm, encourage and liberate.
That is why I find passages as those we read in 1 Peter disturbing. “Slaves, accept the authority of your masters with all deference, not only those who are kind and gentle but also those who are harsh.” This text, like everything in the Old and New Testaments has to be seen in the context of its time, when a slave was considered to be property and that the owner of a slave had power even over their life. What is problematic today – in a world in which you and I find the notion of slavery abhorrent – the implication that those who are vulnerable and powerless should accept abuse, no matter how unjustified.
Sadly, this and many other passages have, throughout the centuries, been taken out of their original context in scripture and used by the powerful to oppress and restrain the weak and defenceless. Worse, they have been used to suggest that those who resist or rebel are defying the word of God.
Slavery is not something that enters our day-to-day lives, but there are many other biblical texts which, taken out of their historical and literary context, have been used to justify abuse and coercive behaviour – particularly against women. Texts that suggest women submit to or accept the authority of their husbands and those that demand that children “honour their faither and mother” have been used to disempower women and children and, indirectly, have given some men and some parents latitude to dominate, to control and even to strike those who are dependent on them. All this is done with impunity – justified by the fact that it is written in scripture and therefore presumably sanctioned by God.
Even the directive to forgive others has been weaponised, used by some to imply that a “good Christian” will overlook and forgive the bad behaviour of another, often without demanding that the offender take responsibility for his or her actions. Shockingly, violence and coercion (against men, as well as women and children) have been allowed to continue unabated while the person offended against forgives and forgives, believing that this is what is required of them by God.
Over the centuries many texts have been taken out of context, used in ways in which they were never intended to be used and weaponised against our fellow human beings – even fellow Christians. In the name of the God of love, women, men and children, those of colour, those who identify as LGBTQ+, those who are divorced, those who are differently abled, refugees and others have been made to feel unworthy and unlovable and have been denied the opportunity to fulfill their potential. Hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of people are doubly, even triply or quadruply impacted when scripture is used to criticise, demean, or exclude – think of gay, black women and men or migrants whose faith and culture can be held against them.
Self-righteous or even well-meaning Christians, who read scripture through their own narrow lens and who presume to know the mind of God condemn those who do not fit a narrowly prescribed criteria to live in ways that are unsatisfactory, unfulfilling or worse to be subject to violence, oppression or coercion.
When texts are taken out of context, they no longer reflect their original intention and fail to acknowledge the overwhelming evidence in both the Old and New Testaments of God’s unconditional love for the least as well as the greatest, and. God’s preference for the poor, the marginalised and oppressed.
Today is Domestic Violence Sunday. Somewhat belatedly the Anglican church has recognised the role that it has played directly or indirectly in allowing domestic violence to go unchecked. Our Diocese among others has committed to Ten Commitments. I suggest that you read them all, but I will share the first three. 1 “Our Church acknowledges and laments the violence which has been suffered by some of our members and repents of the part we have played in allowing an environment where violence went unaddressed.
“2 Our Church leaders commit to ensure conditions that support the prevention of violence, a church culture that promotes equality, and support for those who experience violence.
3 “Our Church consistently teaches about equality, freedom from violence, respectful relationships and the value of every person. We (all those who teach all ages and stages in our churches) clearly teach and model: that all human beings, both female and male are created equal in the image of God and are precious to God. Therefore the value and dignity of every individual should be upheld by all.”
The second dot point of the third commitment echoes what I have been saying this morning:
3.2 “We acknowledge that the words of Holy Scripture can be misunderstood and
has been distorted to justify domestic and family violence. We work actively to guard against and prevent such distortions .”
So, no matter who you are, if scripture is being used to make you feel anything other than cherished and worthy, remind yourself that it is not about you, but is rather a distortion of scripture. If your faith does not affirm you or allow you to flourish and grow, if you feel that your faith is being used to coerce you into accepting abuse, or into being someone whom you are not, or if it makes you feel undeserving and unworthy, or is preventing you from being you God-given self, or from being fully alive – look again.
Remember that the God who risked birth, survived human infancy and endured an horrific death, did it all for love. Love that embraces humanity as it is, right here, right now and wishes for all of us to be empowered to reach our potential. Jesus said: “I came that you might have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10)
May you know the abundant love of God and have life in abundance.
Swallowsrest 