Kirk Cameron argues the key to a successful marriage is a submissive wife.

Cameron, a former child star turned conservative Christian activist, is currently on a nationwide tour giving marriage advice to couples.

Speaking with The Christian Post on his participation in the “Love Worth Fighting For” national marriage tour, Cameron explained his conservative Christian views on marriage:

Wives are to honor and respect and follow their husband’s lead, not to tell their husband how he ought to be a better husband. When each person gets their part right, regardless of how their spouse is treating them, there is hope for real change in their marriage.

Cameron continued:

A lot of people don’t know that marriage comes with instructions. And, we find them right there in God’s word [in the Bible].

The Christian Post points out Cameron is alluding to Colossians 3:18-19, which states:

Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

Cameron’s message is familiar Christian propaganda that reinforces and perpetuates antiquated stereotypes about gender roles that are ultimately harmful and dangerous for both men and women.

In essence, Cameron is preaching the sexist Christian message that asks women to give up their autonomy and personhood in support of their husband. In reality, such relationship advice is often a recipe for disaster, leaving both parties unhappy and confused.

The idea that women should not be allowed to advise their husbands on how to be a better husband is ultimately self-defeating. By censoring and restricting open and honest communication such a strategy does not strengthen a marriage, but makes that marriage weaker.

Rather than the fear based relationship of submission and dominance advocated by conservative Christians like Cameron, a far better strategy for marital success is a relationship built on love, equality, mutual respect, and friendship.

The ideal marriage should be a partnership, not a dictatorship. However, as Cameron demonstrates, an equal partnership based on love and respect is not Biblical, and not Christian.

Bottom line: Cameron’s Christian based marital advice is yet another demonstration that conservative Christian values are ultimately harmful, and morally inferior to rational, secular, humanist values.