Book

Me? Obey Him?

by Elizabeth Rice Handford

📖 Overview

Me? Obey Him? is a religious text that examines the role of wives in Christian marriages through the lens of Biblical scripture. The book centers on the concept of wifely submission and argues for traditional interpretations of marriage roles. Elizabeth Rice Handford draws from Biblical passages and real-world examples to present her views on marriage dynamics, female submission, and male leadership in the home. She addresses common questions and concerns that arise regarding these topics within Christian marriages. The text explores themes of faith, gender roles, and marital harmony while discussing how Biblical principles can be applied to modern relationships. The work contributes to ongoing discussions about traditional Christian marriage values and their place in contemporary society.

👀 Reviews

Most readers view this book as an extreme take on biblical marriage that promotes complete female submission to male authority. Positive reviews praise: - Clear biblical references and scripture-based arguments - Practical examples of applying submission in marriage - The author's direct, straightforward writing style Critical reviews cite: - Dangerous advice that enables abuse - Cherry-picking of biblical passages - Outdated gender roles from the 1970s - Lack of emphasis on mutual respect in marriage Multiple readers report throwing the book away or returning it due to its stance. One reviewer called it "spiritual manipulation at its worst." Another noted it "reduces women to children who can't think for themselves." Ratings: Goodreads: 2.6/5 (142 ratings) Amazon: 3.3/5 (89 ratings) ChristianBook.com: 3.5/5 (12 ratings) The most polarized reactions come from Christian readers, with some viewing it as biblical truth and others seeing it as harmful misinterpretation of scripture.

📚 Similar books

Created to Be His Help Meet by Debi Pearl This guide presents biblical teachings about wives' submission and support of their husbands through practical instruction and scripture-based examples.

Let Me Be a Woman by Elisabeth Elliot The author shares letters to her daughter about marriage, womanhood, and living according to biblical principles of submission and gender roles.

The Excellent Wife by Martha Peace This book provides scripture-based direction for women seeking to fulfill their role as wives through biblical submission and support of their husbands.

Feminine Appeal by Carolyn Mahaney The text examines Titus 2 principles for Christian wives and presents instruction on implementing biblical womanhood in marriage.

The Submissive Wife by Barbara Rainey This work explores biblical submission in marriage through scripture analysis and real-life marriage examples from the author's experience.

🤔 Interesting facts

🔖 Author Elizabeth Rice Handford is the daughter of evangelist John R. Rice, founder of Sword of the Lord Publishers, one of the largest independent religious publishers in the 1940s-1960s. 📚 The book's controversial stance on wifely submission sparked heated debates within Christian communities when it was published in 1972, during the height of the women's liberation movement. ✝️ Despite being written nearly 50 years ago, "Me? Obey Him?" remains in print and continues to influence contemporary discussions about gender roles in Christian marriages. 👥 The author and her husband Walt Handford served as co-pastors of Southside Baptist Church in Greenville, South Carolina, challenging traditional views about women in church leadership while simultaneously advocating for submission in marriage. 📖 The book's title comes from Sarah's relationship with Abraham in Genesis, where she called him "lord" - a reference that became central to many evangelical teachings about marriage hierarchy in the late 20th century.