Views on Women - Response to the 1955 Good Housekeeping Article - Part 2

After looking at the Good Housekeeping article from 1955 below, I felt convicted, saddened, and upset. I felt saddened because a couple of the ideas lauded then are the direct antithesis of Biblical values.

The article says, "Don't ask him questions about his actions or question his judgment or integrity." We are, as wives, given both the privilege and responsibility of praying over sin issues we see in our husbands. If after praying about the issues and making sure that the sin issue isn't with us first (Matthew 7:3-5), then we are given the responsibility of confronting those issues with our husband's in a loving way.

Another quote from the article is "A good wife always knows her place." I absolutely agree with this statement, but by the tone of the rest of the article and placement of right after the statement about never questioning his integrity leads me to believe the article's intent is one of being subservient to our husbands or taking second place to them in society. Ladies, God has called us to "be strong in the Lord and the power of His might" (Ephesians 6:10), not doormats! His strength, however, has been given to us to use for His service. This may perhaps show itself by helping our family through a time of great tragedy or grief, or lovingly confronting our husbands of a sin issue, or carrying the load of keeping a house either with our without children while our husband's are away at work. I believe "a good wife always knows her place", as the article states, that place is at the feet of God, learning daily how God would have us to serve our husbands and children. After we've done that, our place is lovingly carrying out the principles which God has given us from His Word as ways to be a blessing to our families and to those around us.

Another bullet point that I take issue with is, "Don't complain if he's late home for dinner or even if he stays out all night. Count this as minor compared to what he might have gone through that day." While I absolutely agree that complaining is never the answer (Philippians 2:14), In order for our husband's to "Dwell with them [us/wives] according to knowledge, giving honor to the wife as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your [husband's] prayers be not hindered," then we must lovingly let them know if there is something they do as a matter of habbit that upsets us - even if it shouldn't upset us. If we do not help our husband's to dwell with us according to knowledge, his prayers can be hindered. I do realize that this must be tempered because the Bible also tells us in Proverbs 19:11, "Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense." When something he continually does becomes a stumbling block to us, as wives, however, we need to say something to our husbands.

How about, "His topics of conversation are more important than yours." Okay, if we are honest about this, it may or may not be true, but the article misses the real point. Whether or not his topics of conversation are more important is not the issue. The issue is Philippians 2:3, "Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves."