In this article, VanGaalen responds to Jay Adams’s article “What is She to Do?” from JPP 10:2 on the topic of domestic abuse. VanGaalen argues that 1 Corinthians 7 legitimates a state of “separated, but open to genuine reconciliation” between two believers in “extreme and chronic situations” of physical abuse, drug or alcohol addiction or financial irresponsibility. VanGaalen concludes his response by illustrating what this principle would look like in a situation of abuse, addiction or financial irresponsibility.
March 17, 2023
The article “A Reader’s Response” (JBC 10:3) has been removed from this issue because in CCEF’s judgment, it was likely to mislead readers in significant ways and produce harm rather than bear good fruit. We are committed to providing content that we believe is biblically faithful and beneficial for the church.
This does not mean we believe the content we continue to make available is without error. There are many pieces in our archives that we would articulate differently today, and expect that there may be things we are producing now that we look back on in future decades, wishing they had been improved. In fact, we sincerely hope that the Lord will not leave us as we are now, but will grow CCEF enough in wisdom that in coming years we perceive how we could have been even more faithful or compelling in the work we are doing today.
We do believe that there is great value in giving access to our content from the past, even where we can now see ways we would do it differently. This allows you as the reader to observe and evaluate the development of CCEF’s theology, methodology, tone, and teaching over the years, as well as to benefit from wise perspectives forged in the fires of a different era of struggle for the church. It is therefore only in response to our most serious concerns about harmful applications of theology that we take the step of removing content.
Sincerely,
J. Alasdair Groves
Executive Director, CCEF
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