Doug Wilson Says A husband must assume ‘full and complete responsibility for the way things are’ including his wife’s ‘spending habits, television viewing habits, weight, rejection of his leadership, laziness in cleaning the house, lack of responsiveness to sexual advances—whatever’

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“The symptoms can of course vary. He may be distressed over her spending habits, television viewing habits, weight, rejection of his leadership, laziness in cleaning the house, lack of responsiveness to sexual advances—whatever. But however the problem is manifested, what should a husband do? Suppose for a moment that he really wants to serve God in their marriage, and she appears to be distinctly rebellious about changing any of her ways. What course should a man pursue?. . . .the husband as a “public person” should begin confessing the sinful state of his household before God, assuming full and complete responsibility for the way things are. . .When a wife neglects her duties, the guilt of the sin is hers. The responsibility for her negligence is her husband’s. . . .He should want to address the problem in principle, not in toto. . .If, for example, the problem is one of poor housekeeping, he should require something very simple, i.e., that the dishes be done after every meal before anything else is done.”¹ — Doug Wilson

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