A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. John 13:34.

Why might Jesus give us a new commandment concerning love? It’s it possible because the old commandment of loving others as we love ourselves would be unhealthy due to unhealthy views of what love is?

I believe this is very true when it comes to domestic violence.

How can people physically, emotionally and mentally hurt those they say they love? It’s because of an unhealthy perception of what love is.

There are so many people who are experiencing domestic violence and we are oblivious to their pain. They become so great at hiding their pain until one day they break at which time recovery may be too late.

Domestic violence is true domestic terror. Imagine living in fear not knowing what to expect when you get home.

Will they beat me, cuss me or will they be nice today?

The emotional rollercoaster is to much for anyone to have to try and balance. This is very tragic and traumatic for adults, imagine the impact that it has on children.

Upon entering the military, I took an oath to defend this country from all enemies, foreign and domestic. This include those who chose to strike terror through the beating of spouses, significant other as well as our children.

There is no room, reason or excuse for abuse to be happening in our homes.

Our children need the encouragement of hope not helplessness. They need to be able to grow and develop into respectful young men and women.

This starts by addressing the need to terminate the cowardness of those who try to exhort power through fear tactics. We must stand up for those who are not able to stand for themselves.

No one deserves to be abused.

If we stand by and do nothing about the abuse, we know about we are inflicting abuse on them as well.

Let’s stand up and fight the bully of cowardness and serve notice to the community we will not have it or stand for it.

Let’s avenge the abuse, fight the fear and cultivate a culture of safety and stability.

 

Demetrius Moffett is Senior Pastor of Orange Church of God-Embassy of Grace, 1911 North 16th Street in Orange.