CTNAHM: Treat Your Wife Like the Weaker Vessel She Is

Last updated on: October 15, 2013 at 10:45 pm by Libby Anne

CTNAHM: Treat Your Wife Like the Weaker Vessel She Is 2013-10-15T22:45:32-04:00 Libby Anne

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

A Guest Post by Aletha

Originally Posted on Yllom Mormon

Created To Need A Help Meet, pp. 54

I hope y’all are ready for a whole lot of Bible. Because even though this section is 4 paragraphs long, it packs in a LOT of scripture.

I Need Her to Cover Me In Prayer

It is essential that “husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together in the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered. (1 Peter 3:7) [emphasis Michael’s].

Oh. I had wondered why in the honeymoon story, Debi referred to herself as a “weaker vessel”. What I don’t understand is why the Pearl’s take this analogy—because that’s what it is-so literally. My interpretation of this scripture is “treat your wife well because, as a person, she’s fragile”. Not OMG WOMENZ ARE TEH WEAKZORZ! And I’m not meaning fragile in a demeaning way. People in general shouldn’t be tossed about, harassed, abused, or be yelled at.

Life requires a great deal of grace from God, but a particular grace for one unique purpose, and it is accessed only by means of two keys. The wife gets one key and the husband gets the other. They must go into heaven’s bank together and insert the two keys at the same time if either of them is going to access the grace of life.

Yes, life is hard. I can see how some people believe that praying makes a difference. But thinking that both parties need to pray (apparently at the same time) is a bit confusing. What about marriages where one spouse isn’t Christian? Or don’t those count? Also, could someone please explain to me what the “Grace of Life” is. This is the fourth or fifth time Michael has used it, and I have no clue what it means.

If, according to the passage, a husband fails to “give honour” unto his wife, “the weaker vessel,” then their prayers are hindered. Husbands who are ignorant of their wife’s needs and fail to relate to them as weaker vessels, not dwelling “with them according to knowledge” will fail to “obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

One thing I’ve noticed about Michael (and I’ve found the same problem in Mormonism) is that there is a lot of telling what to do, without saying how to do it. For example, how should a man honour his wife? Michael doesn’t really say. He just says “Do it or else!” I’m really starting to hate this “weaker vessel” thing. It sounds like a reason to treat women like lesser beings. If you believe that God created one gender weaker, then you will, naturally have less respect for them. And despite being on page 55 by now, I have yet to read about a wife’s needs, except for “she needs to be needed”. Is that truly all he thinks women want? If so, it’s disturbing.

I don’t know what Michael means by relating to wives as the weaker vessel, but I don’t think it’d be complimentary. I’m thinking of how I relate to people I think aren’t as [insert adjective here] as I am. I tend to be a bit snotty and condescending, because THEY won’t understand anyway. Oooh! We have a threat! Considering how often Debi used threats against women, I have to say, I’m a bit disappointed at the way Michael threatens men. I guess I’m still hoping Michael will be as forthright and blunt as his introduction promised.

Mister, this may be the most important warning in this book. By not relating to your wife with knowledge of her status as the weaker vessel—the vessel being her body—your prayer line to heaven is cut, as is hers. That means the person closest to you in the world will not be able to pray for you, and as such, you will not be a recipient of the grace you will need to deal with the issues of life.

OK. I have a question. If it’s the woman’s body that’s the weaker vessel (and where does it specify that in scripture?), then what about her mind? If women’s bodies really were the weaker vessel—and really, all you need to do is watch the women’s gymnastics team to prove that theory wrong—then why would an all-knowing God give childbearing to them? It’s interesting that while Michael stresses women are weaker in body, he hints that they are also weaker in mind. And as such, can’t handle big decisions, responsibilities, and problems (that’s why they need a MAN).

The weaker vessel nonsene aside, I’m really steamed about this prayer line part. As a Mormon, I was taught everyone has agency (which means ability to make choices), and people have to bear consequence for their own choices. But Michael is preaching if men don’t treat their wives like a weaker vessel, her prayers won’t matter to God. Apparently women can’t have a relationship with God without their husband. Which makes Debi’s idea that a praying, God-fearing wife’s actions can transform her heathen husband into a Christian, a bit confusing. Why would a loving God be OK with the wife’s communication line being cut because the husband is a jerk? It just doesn’t make sense. And yet again, no where does it talk about men reciprocating and praying for their wives.

Alright. Here comes the scriptures. Weirdly enough, apparently Michael thinks they make enough of a point without bothering to interpret or explain.

1 Timothy 2:8 I will therefore that men pray ever where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath or doubting.

James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Colossians 1:9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.

Interesting. The title of this section is “I Need Her to Cover Me in Prayer”, yet none of these scriptures talks about women at all. They are all telling men to pray, to confess, and pray more. In fact, besides the fact these verses talk about prayer, there’s not really much in them that helps flesh out this section. It’s a bit odd, actually.

So overall, men need their wives to cover them in prayer. How this happens is, apparently, men treat women like the weaker vessels they are, and then husbands and wives use their special praying keys together, and God listens to their prayer and gives them mercy and grace. Or something like that.

Uncategorized

created to need a help meet

Previous Post

October 4, 2013

CTBHHM: Divine Lovers and Desperate Castration

Next Post

October 5, 2013 The Camping Trailer (and a Shunning)

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Atheism Evangelicalism/Fundamentalism Family Feminism Homeschool Meta Parenting Patriarchy Politics Purity Quiverfull Social Justice Uncategorized Worthwhile reads

Select a Month February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What did God use to lead the Israelites by day?

Select your answer to see how you score.

A trumpet A pillar of fire A pillar of cloud An angel