It is great for someone to say, “The bible says to love your wife like Christ loves the church.”  Let’s face it, though. What does that look like?   It isn’t all that difficult for most of us to love our wives, but is that different from what scripture teaches?  What if you have a wife that is difficult to love?  There are so many thoughts & ideas and views of what it means to be a good husband. As Christians we want to know not what makes a husband good, but what makes a husband godly.  These are difficult questions to be sure, and I would like to review a book that dives into them.

Before I start, here’s my disclaimer.  This is my first book review (at least since I was required to do one in college), but I love to read, so I’m trying my hand in it.  I plan to do it as I read a book.  What passes for Christian self-help books are sometimes good, sometimes a mix of good and bad, and sometimes downright horrendous.  Most people coming across these types of books will read them, and try to apply them without ever having read the scripture (as scripture warns us to do) to make sure they are really biblical.   I was once one of these, assuming that if it got printed by a “Christian” publisher it was safe.  This is a VERY dangerous practice, and I don’t recommend it.  In fact, I plead with you that you never take anyone’s advice about anything without checking scripture to determine what it has to say about the topic.  That includes this blog.  I take this very seriously (consider James 3:1) and if you come across something that looks sculpturally inaccurate that I have written I would appreciate if you would bring it to my attention.  I may stand my ground, but I may need the correction.  So with that out of the way, let’s talk about the book!

I’m gearing up for a bible study, based on a book I read recently called Loving Your Wife as Christ Loves the Church by Larry E. McCall.  I found it via The Blazing Center, if you are interested.  The fact that I am using it for a bible study should show that I think highly of what it has to say.

The book uses scripture to examine what it means to be a godly husband.  It not only looks at scripture, it gives practical advise on how to apply these truths to our lives.  Knowing what the bible says doesn’t always equate with how to practically use that knowledge.  He begins by looking at what the perfect husband looks like.  I already know what you’re thinking.  A perfect husband? Is there such a thing?  Actually, there is.  And if you think it’s you… well, you really need this book.

Mr. McCall’s book looks extensively at the model of the perfect husband, Jesus Christ. Chapters include discussions on Predetermined love, Practical love, Protecting love, Providing love, Passionate love, Praying love, among other others.  So he not only examines how Christ displays these attributes, he discusses what this means for husbands.   Discussions cover everything from how to practically pray for your wife to why pornography is so bad (and it’s probably worse than you thought).

I think the thing I appreciated most in this teaching is helping grow in my understanding of Christ’s care for his bride, the church.  It helped me to assess myself and look at areas I may need to adjust or outright begin doing.

It isn’t a difficult read, but it certainly challenges.  He uses a great mix of quotes from some solid teachers, good application of scripture, and examples of how he applies this in his own life.  I recommend it not just to husbands but to any man-young old, married, engaged, or considering marriage one day. Through it you will gain not only a more biblical view of how to be a more godly husband, but you will grow in appreciation of what Christ has done for us as our example of the Perfect Husband.

You can purchase the book from CBD or Amazon.

If you are in the Cape Girardeau area this fall, I will be teaching on the subject on Thursday nights.  Contact Lynwood Baptist Church for more info.

Want to dive deeper?  Read the book and listen to this sermon by Paul Washer.  This could really change your view of marriage. Your wife will appreciate it!