An Open Letter to my Christian Brothers ... especially Husbands

A quote in my Facebook newsfeed caught my eye the other day. It made me pause for two reasons: the source and the content. The source was DL Moody, evangelist and founder of the Bible school John and I attended as married students. And the content grabbed my attention because of what we have sadly seen much too often in Christian marriages, even in “ministry.”

The first time I remember seeing this inconsistency was at that Bible school in the married students dorm. There was a couple in the dorm with whom we became friends. The wife was sweet and godly and gentle; the husband was gifted and charismatic and amazing on a platform leading worship etc.

BUT there was a serious inconsistency: he treated his wife harshly. I was shocked. To me, it totally negated all the spiritual stuff that came out of his mouth.

Thus the quote:

If a man doesn’t treat his wife right, I don’t want to hear him talk about Christianity.

I awoke the other morning with a phrase on my mind: “fellow heirs of the grace of life.” I knew it was in Scripture but had forgotten the context. so I went on a search.

Here it is:

In the same way, you husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way [with great gentleness and tact, and with an intelligent regard for the marriage relationship], as with someone physically weaker, since she is a woman. Show her honor and respect as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered or ineffective.
1 Peter 3:7 AMP

Wow … this is serious! And what about …

Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.
Col 3:19 ESV

and …

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, . . . . In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, …let each one of you love his wife as himself…
Ephesians 5:25-33 ESV

So dear brothers, who are husbands, ask the Lord about all this.

Christ lives in you by the Holy Spirit.

Your wife is your sister in Christ … your partner in the Lord … a fellow believer in whom dwells the living Christ. She is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit as are you.

Let the indwelling Holy Spirit empower you to love and care for your wife so your prayers won’t be hindered and your words won’t be negated.