CSW Book Review: What He Must Be...
If He Wants to Marry My Daughter

Well finally a guide that details the characteristics that we as Christian single women should look for in a potential mate. Of course there is plenty of advice from a secular perspective, but author Voddie Baucham highlights what a Christian man MUST be if he is to be considered worthy of marriage.

Though written for his daughter, there is still much to be gained for adult Christian single women. He acknowledges that society has failed us in raising the boys who are now “technically” men in name only. So his advice is both to women who will make the selection as well as the parents who will rear young men to which women will have to choose from.

This book is written based on the premise that fathers have a God-given responsibility to help their daughters marry well and see to it that their sons become worthy husbands. Since fathers do give their daughters in marriage, the author suggests this act is symbolic of giving protection, care and ultimately trust of his daughter to her husband and thus is not to be taken lightly.

For those of us who are older, out of our parents home and/or do not have this type of relationship with our earthly father, it is important to remember that your spiritual covering can also fill this role. Don’t lose heart because the majority of this book is used to detail which characteristics a man must possess in order to build a successful Christian marriage.

A few of his requirements may surprise you. For example you probably wouldn’t expect He must not only lead, but lead like Christ or He must be committed to children to be on the list. However the author teaches the biblical basis for every requirement included on his list.

My favorite chapter of the book is the one on the Four Ps. As an adult Christian woman who strives to help others understand how to prepare for marriage, I found the descriptions and explanations of these critical characteristics quite helpful. As I’ve mentioned before, the four Ps are Prophet, Priest, Protector and Provider and any potential mate you consider should posses all four. The author does a good job of defining each, but also explains why it’s important that a husband possesses them.

The author concludes with a great synopsis on oneness and race, but views it from the perspective of what’s best for his future grandchildren. His point being that our goal in marriage must go beyond ethnicity because we must be Christ-centered and gospel-centered in our preparation as well as our pursuit of marriage.

What He Must Be provides a clear picture of the role of a husband from a biblical perspective. Both singles and parents alike can learn much from the insights shared by the powerhouse preacher and author Voddie Baucham. Whether looking to determine what qualities to look for in a mate or what qualities to instill in your son, this book contains a wealth of knowledge that would definitely be beneficial to identifying the proper criteria.

Click here to learn more about the author or here to purchase your copy of the book.

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