molly

Wow. This was an excellent post. I resonate with so much here, especially the “no one stepping in to rescue” the wife for fear of treading on sacred ground (the husband’s authority). I experienced this very phenomenon the first time I “told all” about what was going on in my home (very abusive and strange behaviors). The dear older (Piper loving) Christian couple that we first went to for counseling was unable to offer much of anything, other than to suggest things such as how marriage was for holiness, not happiness (ie, I needed to stop expecting to be treated kindly or respectfully)….. They were unable to say much or do much, because, I believe, of the very phenomenon you describe. It’s not that they didn’t want to help. It’s just that the doctrine of husbandly authority/kingship seems to have a “blinding” affect on recognizing and confronting abusive behavior in men. I have since heard many similar stories.