What Would Happen?

What would happen if all those who are being abused by addictive spouses would speak out within the churches, & in public meetings, & if they would ask for prayer for their spouses, including for those who are pastors who are abusive & sexually addicted?

I think we have all been conditioned that this is a private matter, and so we end up suffering in silence, but is that what God intended? I was reading in 2 Corinthians 1 today, and I read Paul's words he wrote to the church where he told the church that he did not want them to be uninformed about his suffering. Then, he went on to list the specific ways in which he was suffering for righteousness' sake. Why did he do this? So they would pray for him and for his deliverance.

I believe that if the abused would speak out and would give prayer requests at church stating what they are going through, short and to the point, that they probably would be rejected, yes, and they will probably face the wrath of their spouses, and perhaps even the wrath of church leaders, but then the church would have to acknowledge how huge of a problem this is and then they would be forced into having to deal with the problem. But, maybe this is what needs to happen for the church to wake up.

I admit I tried this one time at the home of a Christian couple who we had known our whole married lives and even before that, and they immediately hushed it up and then ignored it the rest of the evening. There was another couple there, too, who we had also known for forever who were missionaries on the mission field, and they said nothing, too. This was prompted, though, by the host's question to all of us where he asked if we had any prayer requests. The Lord prompted me to give my request, so I obeyed, although I certainly knew what the responses might be.

It continually amazes me how we can give prayer requests for anything and everything but abuse of a mate, especially if the abuse involves sexual sin. Why is that? I believe that is purposeful, and it is to keep the church asleep, and to keep the reality of this situation hidden and thus not dealt with, which then leaves spouses suffering in silence while the husbands get coddled in their sin, oftentimes.

So, I would like prayer for me and for my husband. We have been married 45 years, and all of our marriage he has been an addict and an abuser. He has had many false starts with working through his issues and to truly having a changed heart, and he is presently in one of those processes again. So, just pray for his deliverance and for mine, too, as Paul asked in 2 Corinthians 1 that the church pray for his deliverance, for he was suffering greatly for the sake of the name of Jesus, and for the sake of the gospel.