I wrote this poem in reaction to a couple of things. First, I read online about something that is happening in some Reformed, Patriarchy, Dominionist types of families. Husbands rule to the point that they believe they are correct in disciplining their wives with a spanking. This is not love. If a woman thinks that in order to be submissive, she must agree to being spanked by her husband, she needs to read the Scriptures and seek the Lord. This is not love...it's wife abuse.
The second thing that bothered me deeply was learning about polygamists in Utah. Warren Steed Jeffs is the president of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. In 2011, Jeffs was convicted of two felony counts of child sexual assault. My daughter told me of some young people who have fled the compound and are starting a new life. There's a show about them on TLC called "Breaking the Faith."
Why write a poem about both of these things, lumping Christians in with a cult? I believe it's a slippery slope. People that are not living a balanced life with grace AND truth will slip into sin. Christians that believe that the wife is the only one in the relationship that must submit to her spouse are clearly ignoring the Scriptures. Go here to read what Matthew Henry wrote about the beauty of a godly marriage, where husband and wife submit to one another in the fear of the Lord.
It boggles the mind that a man thinks he's king-
The king of the home, the king of his queen-
So he must be obeyed in each little thing
Or she'll go to her room, no more to be seen.
Confusing it is that in this day and age
Young girls are betrothed to stinky old guys.
And their fathers, God help them, pretend to be sage...
As daughters beg freedom, tears run from their eyes.
The latter's the Mormons, a cult to be sure-
Thirty-two wives seem a bit of a stretch-
They're "Breaking the Faith", no more can endure
As they run from the prophet, the devil - the wretch.
What grieves me so deeply and cuts me in half
Is the twisting of Scripture by people of faith.
The world sees no difference and begins to laugh
When wife suffers thrashing and looks like a wraith.
The duties of marriage should picture the Lord
As the Husband who gave Himself up for His Bride.
Affectionate union, a three-fold firm cord,
Man and spouse walk as one with their God alongside.
Dwell according to knowledge and don't be a brute;
Respect and support her, for she is your wife!
Protect her, defend her, that small tender shoot
You are heirs together of the grace of life!
