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Loving Your Wife as Christ Loved the Church
Men need models. Some men have grown up with dads who were good role models for how to love their wives. Sadly, most have not. From the crucible of real-life experience and study of God’s Word, Larry McCall delivers a powerful message that there is a model of perfect husband-wife love. Here is help for any husband or band of brothers who desire to grow as husbands. It is Bible-based, Christ-centered, and grace-promoting.
202 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 12, 2009
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59 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
July 5, 2025
summer training arc continues - let's go!!! ♨️ took a hard but needed month away to slow down, reflect on my heart posture, shortcomings, and desires - but by God's grace, I feel strengthened with new knowledge and perspectives alongside a heart pruned and sanctified in the presence of Jesus 🙏🙏 this book is great - highly recommend, SO MUCH practical advice all rooted and marinated in God's Word and specifically the lens of Christ - our perfect model for love in which we are to reflect towards our wives. for the imperfect and unloving - that in, by, and through the gospel of Jesus - we may learn to love and cherish our greatest treasure on this side of eternity 🩷 not even married, but i think this material is essential for all the boys.
September 12, 2019
This is a great overall book, filled with practical, Biblical advice. I would highly recommend it for any young man considering marriage, or any husband wanting to better understand how to love his wife. I also loved learning more about how Christ loves His bride, the church. The only reason that I didn’t give it five stars is I felt like the most quotable moments came from other authors within the book. 4.5 stars
February 22, 2023
I highly, highly recommend this book with some caveats.
The premise of the book and the purpose of the book is highly biblical. The book takes a few missteps and liberties with the Bible to get there and it includes many quotes from pro-pedophilia and pro-misogyny heretics, though the actual quotes are not problematic. Do NOT under any circumstances believe that any Jesus-loving person would endorse or support anyone who provided a foreword, blurb, or is quoted in the book. I don't understand how a person could write such a great book filled with godly ideas but quote liberally from people who casually discard entire passages from their Bible, but he has done it. I do appreciate that he aggressively footnotes and attributes ideas he got from other people; not a shred of plagiarism here!
The first problematic sentence in the book is on page 110. [quote] Bob Lepine writes, "If a husband will love and serve his wife as Christ loves His church, then the intercessory prayer of Christ in John 17 beomes a model for how a priestly husband can intercede on behalf of his wife." I heartily agree. [/quote] This is circling around a completely unbiblical and unchristian notion floating around evangelicalism that husbands and fathers are Prophet, Priest, and King of their families. Ahem, only JESUS is The Prophet, The Priest, and The King. A husband is NEVER a priest over his wife. I Timothy 2:5 is very clear that there is only one mediator between God and humanity [Greek word anthropos], the human [Greek word anthropos] Christ Jesus. Anthropos is very clear in its meaning that it includes male and female. If a man wants to be a mediator between women/children and the Trinity, he needs to be 100% perfect and sinless, but he can't be sinless because he is a usurper if he is trying to be a mediator between other people and God.
The second problematic sentence in the book is on page 138. "What if a wife purposefully decides to go against her husband's clearly expressed directive as the head of the home, showing him neither respect nor love?" I'm sure that the author would quote Ephesians 5:23 to support the notion that husbands are the bosses/CEOs/authorities over their homes. This is based upon a bad translation of the Greek work kephale, which meant source or origin at the time that the Bible was written. If Paul meant boss, he would have used the word exousia. Eve was created from Adam's side (Adam is the source of Eve) and the church is created from the blood of Jesus. The head metaphor doesn't translate well from Greek to English...as metaphors tend to do when they are in very dissimilar languages/cultures. Titus 2:5 is very clear that women have authority in their homes. But this sentence that I quoted up above is mostly a nothing burger because he goes on to state, "As much as we might wrestle with its application in certain situations, Ephesians 5:25 provides no exceptions, no escape clauses, and no plea bargains, regardless of how severely a husband's feelings may be hurt." The end result is that Larry McCall doesn't in practice teach that a man has the right to impose his will upon his wife because a man must forgive all of his wife's sins against him, including disobedience and adultery. (Actually, I have a problem with *requiring* a man to forgive adultery because that isn't biblical. But that leads us to the next problematic sentence.)
The last problematic sentence/series of sentences is on page 153. "Jesus basically told the Pharisees, 'You're asking the wrong question. You should be asking, "How can I live in submission to God's teaching of the permanence of marriage."'" There is NO teaching that marriage is permanent in the Bible. Please see the free online book by David Instone-Brewer at https://www.instonebrewer.com/Divorce...
Matthew 5:32 could not be any clearer that divorce is permitted and even approved by God. Jeremiah 3:8 is very clear that God divorced Israel due to unfaithfulness. If God can divorce people, then marriage is NOT permanent. If marriage is permanent and divorce is always sinful, then God has sinfully divorced Israel.
And if you need evidence that Larry McCall is quoting pedophile protectors, just start with a simple Google search for C.J. Mahaney pedophile. I believe that many other men quoted/blurbed in this book are also protecting pedophiles from facing the God-ordained consequences of their actions. They have cut out Romans 13:1, I Peter 2:13-14, and Titus 3:1 because they lust for power. Jesus didn't count equality with God as something to be grasped (held tightly and never let go) (Philippians 2:6), but these preachers preach The Graspel (hold on to power and money for dear life and never let it go and NEVER, EVER apologize or admit that you were wrong!)
Anyways, I do love the book even with my beefs. If you implement the book 100% and even accept the 3 unbiblical and ungodly sentences as truth, the 99% of the book that is the truest of truths will keep you from acting out the 1% lies taught by demons. (I Timothy 4:1)
The premise of the book and the purpose of the book is highly biblical. The book takes a few missteps and liberties with the Bible to get there and it includes many quotes from pro-pedophilia and pro-misogyny heretics, though the actual quotes are not problematic. Do NOT under any circumstances believe that any Jesus-loving person would endorse or support anyone who provided a foreword, blurb, or is quoted in the book. I don't understand how a person could write such a great book filled with godly ideas but quote liberally from people who casually discard entire passages from their Bible, but he has done it. I do appreciate that he aggressively footnotes and attributes ideas he got from other people; not a shred of plagiarism here!
The first problematic sentence in the book is on page 110. [quote] Bob Lepine writes, "If a husband will love and serve his wife as Christ loves His church, then the intercessory prayer of Christ in John 17 beomes a model for how a priestly husband can intercede on behalf of his wife." I heartily agree. [/quote] This is circling around a completely unbiblical and unchristian notion floating around evangelicalism that husbands and fathers are Prophet, Priest, and King of their families. Ahem, only JESUS is The Prophet, The Priest, and The King. A husband is NEVER a priest over his wife. I Timothy 2:5 is very clear that there is only one mediator between God and humanity [Greek word anthropos], the human [Greek word anthropos] Christ Jesus. Anthropos is very clear in its meaning that it includes male and female. If a man wants to be a mediator between women/children and the Trinity, he needs to be 100% perfect and sinless, but he can't be sinless because he is a usurper if he is trying to be a mediator between other people and God.
The second problematic sentence in the book is on page 138. "What if a wife purposefully decides to go against her husband's clearly expressed directive as the head of the home, showing him neither respect nor love?" I'm sure that the author would quote Ephesians 5:23 to support the notion that husbands are the bosses/CEOs/authorities over their homes. This is based upon a bad translation of the Greek work kephale, which meant source or origin at the time that the Bible was written. If Paul meant boss, he would have used the word exousia. Eve was created from Adam's side (Adam is the source of Eve) and the church is created from the blood of Jesus. The head metaphor doesn't translate well from Greek to English...as metaphors tend to do when they are in very dissimilar languages/cultures. Titus 2:5 is very clear that women have authority in their homes. But this sentence that I quoted up above is mostly a nothing burger because he goes on to state, "As much as we might wrestle with its application in certain situations, Ephesians 5:25 provides no exceptions, no escape clauses, and no plea bargains, regardless of how severely a husband's feelings may be hurt." The end result is that Larry McCall doesn't in practice teach that a man has the right to impose his will upon his wife because a man must forgive all of his wife's sins against him, including disobedience and adultery. (Actually, I have a problem with *requiring* a man to forgive adultery because that isn't biblical. But that leads us to the next problematic sentence.)
The last problematic sentence/series of sentences is on page 153. "Jesus basically told the Pharisees, 'You're asking the wrong question. You should be asking, "How can I live in submission to God's teaching of the permanence of marriage."'" There is NO teaching that marriage is permanent in the Bible. Please see the free online book by David Instone-Brewer at https://www.instonebrewer.com/Divorce...
Matthew 5:32 could not be any clearer that divorce is permitted and even approved by God. Jeremiah 3:8 is very clear that God divorced Israel due to unfaithfulness. If God can divorce people, then marriage is NOT permanent. If marriage is permanent and divorce is always sinful, then God has sinfully divorced Israel.
And if you need evidence that Larry McCall is quoting pedophile protectors, just start with a simple Google search for C.J. Mahaney pedophile. I believe that many other men quoted/blurbed in this book are also protecting pedophiles from facing the God-ordained consequences of their actions. They have cut out Romans 13:1, I Peter 2:13-14, and Titus 3:1 because they lust for power. Jesus didn't count equality with God as something to be grasped (held tightly and never let go) (Philippians 2:6), but these preachers preach The Graspel (hold on to power and money for dear life and never let it go and NEVER, EVER apologize or admit that you were wrong!)
Anyways, I do love the book even with my beefs. If you implement the book 100% and even accept the 3 unbiblical and ungodly sentences as truth, the 99% of the book that is the truest of truths will keep you from acting out the 1% lies taught by demons. (I Timothy 4:1)
December 5, 2020
This book was part of a bi-weekly book club I participated in with married and engaged brothers. Since we started, 5 of them got married and it was a great joy to see this book applied as they began such an important lifelong journey. This book is great because the focus isn’t on relationships, but on Christ and his love for us.
The author sums it up perfect that our Hope should be for our wives to say, “Thank you, dear. I am more like Christ today, having been married to you all these years.”
The author sums it up perfect that our Hope should be for our wives to say, “Thank you, dear. I am more like Christ today, having been married to you all these years.”
May 21, 2020
Commute to Love my wife Like CHRIST loved the church
This gives me a renewed energy desire to continue with some things I do. I am also convicted of some things I have done against my wife that would displeased God. Pray for me to Love my wife LIKE CHRIST LOVED THE CHURCH
This gives me a renewed energy desire to continue with some things I do. I am also convicted of some things I have done against my wife that would displeased God. Pray for me to Love my wife LIKE CHRIST LOVED THE CHURCH
November 6, 2023
A must read for all husbands
I started this book at a time I needed to refresh my commitment as a husband, and found a book that challenged me like no other. My prayer is this will inspire, rebuke and challenge all who read to love, indeed like Christ.
I started this book at a time I needed to refresh my commitment as a husband, and found a book that challenged me like no other. My prayer is this will inspire, rebuke and challenge all who read to love, indeed like Christ.
July 18, 2021
I would recommend this book for any Christian husband.
January 24, 2021
Uplifting for all
This book was encouraging, practical and went after the heart. Which is where any of this will take root. Thank you.
This book was encouraging, practical and went after the heart. Which is where any of this will take root. Thank you.
July 28, 2011
I have met the author of this book and have had the opportunity to discuss the subject of the book with him. Larry is a genuine man who writes with the same level of authenticity that he seems to exhibit in everyday life. I wouldn't call this a great read as far as writing style goes, but there are certainly some excellent points to pick up by reading this book. His section on taking spiritual oversight for your wife was, in particular, eye-opening to me. I appreciate that he has been willing to tackle this issue head on as many men really do not have good role models to follow as they attempt to be a good husband. By driving the reader back to the example of Jesus we are able to gain real wisdom into how we can love our wives the way they need us to love them.
December 23, 2010
I think I'm not a fan of his writing, and that made this hard to finish. That said, the message of the book is so very important to our generation. This was my first book about "being a husband." quite a bit of what was said were things I already knew.
February 25, 2013
Excellent, contemporary work on Biblical marriage.
February 9, 2014
Great for making and average marriage better. Would recommend other books if your marriage is in trouble. =)
November 6, 2016
Great practical advice based solely on scripture. No fluff or candy coating but soul convicting arguments.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews