Re: serious...need help

"A young woman at my church is dealing with a similar situation with domestic violence and drug addiction, and some of the men in the church claim its her duty to stay with her husband. I cannot agree with that in her case or yours."

That's precisely how my ex used to "shame" me into submission, "A 'good wife' stays by her man, no matter what!"  It is no human being's "duty" to be the object of anyone's abuse and torment.

And, the marriage vow that says, "For better or worse," does not translate to mean, "Endure dehumanizaion and torment."  "Better or worse" means through good times and bad.  "Bad times" means those times when we are to support our spouse and they, in turn, support us as PARTNERS and COMPANIONS.

A God-filled relationship has the ingredients of trust + honesty + companionship + partnership + peace.  A damaging relationship consists of humiliation + degradation + dehumanization + objectification.