He only hurts me because he cares.
It’s for my own good.
I can’t cope without him.
I deserved it.
I provoked him.
These are all things I’ve heard victims say when I speak with those unfortunate enough to be on the wrong side of domestic abuse. They’re the words of abusers internalised and repeated by the abused. It’s remarkable just how often Christians say the same things about their God.
