Battered Into Submission

Part One: What we have become!

(This is part one of two. Next — The Trump Administration’s use of violence to force submission.)

On August 23, 1992, I started a 3-part sermon series entitled “Battered into Submission.” You can still find that sermon published in “Preaching Today”. The introduction explains why I chose to speak on this topic.

“Not long ago, someone said to me, ‘I've never heard a sermon about violence in the home. I've never heard the preacher pray about it. I've never seen an education class about it—and I've been in the church my whole life.’”

I took that challenge to heart.

Some facts:

• Women are more likely than men to experience severe, repeated, and injurious spousal abuse.

• Men also experience spousal abuse, but typically at lower rates and with less severe outcomes.

• Both genders can be victims and perpetrators, but the context, frequency, and impact of abuse are strongly gender specific – leaning heavily toward women.

These truths are self-evident. But, for women, things are better, a lot better, and maybe sermons like mine helped a little.

Since 1994, the United States has seen significant progress in addressing spousal abuse. In the early 1990s, domestic violence was often viewed as a private matter, with limited legal protections and support for victims.

The passage of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) in 1994, a bipartisan effort during the Clinton years, marked a turning point, establishing federal recognition of domestic violence as a crime and funding support services.

Since then, rates of domestic violence have dropped by over 60%, and resources such as hotlines, shelters, and legal protections have expanded. Today, society is more aware, and survivors have greater access to justice and support.

That’s all good. And, as I said, I’d like to think that me speaking out along with many others helped shine light on the issue and pressed movement in the right direction. I fervently believe that little acts make a big difference. Pastors, your messages do matter. You can make a difference. But to do so, you have to be willing to take some risks. We need you to speak out.

The TV show “Law and Order: Special Victims Unit,” focuses primarily on violence against women. SVUs only came into being after the VAWA was passed in 1994. Now almost every police department has one.

What Have We Become?

But what is not self-evident is the growing body of evidence suggesting that contemporary society is morphing into a culture increasingly defined by violence as a means to force submission and compliance. This transformation is not merely anecdotal; it is substantiated by a disturbing array of data, high-profile incidents, and sociological analysis. The normalization, glorification, and instrumentalization (stay with me) of violence are shaping social norms, political discourse, and even childhood development, with profound implications for the future of democratic societies and individual well-being.

Boiling this down, using violence as a tool or means to achieve a purpose, (instrumentalization) has now become our go to for leadership in every aspect of our lives. For an example, once viewed as objectively beneficial, pacifism and non-violence are today seen as abnormal, weak and inefficient as best practice to resolve conflict.

“Love your enemies,” “… turn the other cheek”, once lifted as the way of Jesus, is now seen as weakness. Pastors who preach non-violence are assailed by their congregants as being “woke”.

Look at the trends.

According to research by the Department of Justice, over the past year (2024) 60 percent of children under the age of 17 were exposed to violence, crime, or abuse in their homes, schools, and communities. Almost 40 percent of US children were direct victims of 2 or more violent acts, and 1 in 10 were victims of violence 5 or more times. Children are more likely to be exposed to violence and crime than adults. (God, I hate that!) Almost 1 in 10 US children saw one family member assault another family member, and more than 25 percent had been exposed to family violence during their life.

Political Violence and the Erosion of Democratic Norms.

The rise of political violence is another troubling trend. High-profile attacks—such as the assault on Nancy Pelosi’s husband, an attempted shooting of a mayoral candidate, the assassination attempt on a presidential candidate, and the storming of the U.S. Capitol—underscore the extent to which violence is being used as a tool to intimidate, silence, or force political outcomes.

Globally, the ongoing slaughter of Gazans, the bombing of Iranian nuclear plants, the war in Ukraine, tariff threats, and more, demonstrate the use of violence as a way to force submission.

Such acts are not only criminal but also represent a direct assault on democracy. When violence becomes an accepted means of political expression or dispute resolution, the very foundations of civil society are undermined. The cycle of retaliation and suppression breeds further instability, making it increasingly difficult to resolve conflicts through dialogue or democratic processes.

The media and technology.

The media’s role in normalizing and amplifying violence cannot be overlooked. Sensationalist coverage, social media echo chambers, and the viral nature of violent content contribute to a culture where aggression is not only visible but often glorified. This constant exposure can desensitize individuals, making violence seem like a normal or even inevitable aspect of life.

Moreover, technology has enabled new forms of violence, from cyberbullying to online platforms that serve as breeding grounds for conspiracy theories, hate speech, and radicalization, further blur the lines between virtual and real-world aggression.

The cumulative effect of these trends is the emergence of a culture where violence is increasingly used to force submission. Whether through the threat of physical harm, the intimidation of political opponents, or the coercion of vulnerable populations, the message is clear: power is asserted not through persuasion or consensus, but through the capacity to inflict pain or instill fear.

The evidence is clear: society has morphed into a culture where violence is the default means of forcing others to submit. This transformation is driven by a complex interplay of social, political, and technological forces, and its consequences are both immediate and long-term. Reversing this trend will require a concerted effort to reclaim the values of nonviolence, empathy, and mutual respect that underpin a healthy and just society. Without such action, the cycle of violence will only deepen, leaving future generations to inherit a world where fear and force, rather than reason and cooperation, dictate the terms of human interaction.

For God’s sake, and more importantly for the sake of our children —-

That’s next time.