I listened to a retired, pastor and former regional superintendent speak on Ephesians 5 at a camp meeting a couple of years ago. He started reading at verse 17 to the end of the chapter. When he got to verse 33, he questioned why Paul (Holy Spirit) repeated the “wives submit/respect her husband! He proceeded to tiptoe around the submission portion and hammered the husbands love your wife verses. I prayed how to question him for several days and the opportunity presented its self. When I asked him about his statement regarding verse 33, he denied it at first, until I stated “it’s on video, we can rewatch it!” He quickly back peddled…. Well I might have! I then asked why he went after the men so hard yet skipped the verses in Colossians, 1st Peter and Titus regarding the wives role. He looked at me incredulously and said “You get up there and preach that!”. I replied your the Shepard, not me. Very few men will step up and lead in the church anymore.
Thank you. I too am startled at how widespread the happy-wife-happy-life marriage philosophy is. And as you note, it’s sometimes said in a lighthearted manner. But in reality, many men (it seems) actually believe that their happiness should be subordinate to that of their wife.
Thank you, Jack! This is another well-written article on a mentality that is slowly chipping away at the foundation of marriage, the home, and the training of our children as they see first-hand their parents as husband and wife. Sadly, this attitude adversely impacts the Lord's church. Thank you!
Recently when I told a couple of female College students that my wife and I had been married for 64 years, they ask for the secret, I responded, "It is never about me, it is always about US."
What is so sad, is the happy wife-happy life has become the “mantra” of the Big Eva church!
Yes it has. It’s crazy how that same bad advice I mentioned is what you’ll get in a lot of pulpits, too.
I listened to a retired, pastor and former regional superintendent speak on Ephesians 5 at a camp meeting a couple of years ago. He started reading at verse 17 to the end of the chapter. When he got to verse 33, he questioned why Paul (Holy Spirit) repeated the “wives submit/respect her husband! He proceeded to tiptoe around the submission portion and hammered the husbands love your wife verses. I prayed how to question him for several days and the opportunity presented its self. When I asked him about his statement regarding verse 33, he denied it at first, until I stated “it’s on video, we can rewatch it!” He quickly back peddled…. Well I might have! I then asked why he went after the men so hard yet skipped the verses in Colossians, 1st Peter and Titus regarding the wives role. He looked at me incredulously and said “You get up there and preach that!”. I replied your the Shepard, not me. Very few men will step up and lead in the church anymore.
Thank you. I too am startled at how widespread the happy-wife-happy-life marriage philosophy is. And as you note, it’s sometimes said in a lighthearted manner. But in reality, many men (it seems) actually believe that their happiness should be subordinate to that of their wife.
100%
Thank you, Jack! This is another well-written article on a mentality that is slowly chipping away at the foundation of marriage, the home, and the training of our children as they see first-hand their parents as husband and wife. Sadly, this attitude adversely impacts the Lord's church. Thank you!
Thank you! And you’re right, it has been a huge negative for the church. We need young marriages to climb out from under this damaging idea.
Recently when I told a couple of female College students that my wife and I had been married for 64 years, they ask for the secret, I responded, "It is never about me, it is always about US."
Sage advice!