Polygamy

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Is polygamy a sin/wrong?


  • Total voters
    25

Rex

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Oct 17, 2012
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I've grown up enough to realise that my personal preferences aren't always God's commandment, but merely personal preferences, and that I shouldn't force them on other people, and neither should people force their preference on others, claiming it to be the commandment of God when it isn't. I've grown up. Have you?

Hint: No, I don't actually prefer polygyny, in fact, when I was first confronted with it, I immediately thought negative of it, until I studied the Scripture. So here's to all those that like to presume I love polygyny. I don't.

Hint; and in the measure of Grace I to have received I to forgive others, but being careful that my freedom doesn't become a stumbling block or I bring shame to Him who caused me to be, though in the weakness of my flesh, my heart continues to sing of His truths.

The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.
- Acts 17:30-31 (ESV)
 

Justin Mangonel

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Nov 7, 2012
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I think that ZH made a very valid point.

At first he thought negatively about the notion of polygamy but then studied it out in scripture and, even though he personally does not prefer it, he changed His mind to align with God's word. This type of willingness to take a look at things that are not, at first glance, palatable to our theological viewpoints is the essence of the noble spirit that the Boreans possessed and were complemented by the apostle Paul for. It is called open mindedness. Being opened minded does not mean that we are blown about by every wind of doctrine but merely that we are willing to consider anew that which we may not fully understand.
 

Rex

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Oct 17, 2012
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Kingman AZ
The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.
- Acts 17:30-31 (ESV)

It looks like you're between a Rock and a hard spot
 

prism

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The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
(Mat 19:3-6)
 

dragonfly

Well-Known Member
Apr 19, 2012
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Hi Justin,


So, DF, are you saying that because Abraham harkened unto the voice of Sara and sent away Hagar and Ishmael that he therefore repented of the error of polygamy?

That is not what I said. That is not what the Bible says. Please do some more homework on God's dealings with Abraham.

Sexual attraction is not lust if it is towards a woman that you wish to marry and care for.

And the man is single.

Why would a man want to end a marriage to a second wife?

Jesus' point is: why would a man want to end a marriage to a first wife who had not committed fornication? He tells them:


Matthew 19:6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

7 They say to him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?

8 He says to them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: [Note: 'your' is plural, here.] but from the beginning it was not so.

9 And I say unto you, Whoever shall put away his wife, except [it be] for fornication, and shall marry another, commits adultery: and whoso marries her which is put away does commit adultery.

10 His disciples say to him, If the case of the man be so with [his] wife, it is not good to marry.

Do you see? Even His disciples thought this new rule - divorce only for infidelity - was asking too much of a man.

That is ridiculous...and for what? This is my point exactly.

And my point is: the law made provision for divorce because destitution and murder were the two other ways to get rid of an unwanted wife.

The phrase 'bill of divorcement' occurs very rarely in scripture, but it was the only legal way to end a marriage. Simply putting the woman out, so that she now had no-one looking after her and was likely to end up with another man even though she was still technically married, was hated by God. This illegal form of being 'put away' by a husband, was what God hated. That is why Jesus was able to uphold the giving of a 'bill of divorcement'; because that was the legal end to the marriage, and the woman was now free to remarry/be remarried.

Nevertheless, He rescinded the 'for any cause' divorce, which had operated from Moses' day, which had enabled men to get rid of wives easily, and re-aligned the terms with His own heart. His eventual divorce of Israel for adultery with idolatry was His last resort, and yet He was willing to take her back.

In human terms, however, the breaking of wedlock through fornication, (being also adultery) forces God to acknowledge that the union has been 'put asunder', and by His definition of marriage - as God intended and blessed it - it is effectively over.

You speak as though having a second wife is sin and you say that there are ways to put her away... all the while it costs you nothing but the words you speak. Would you wreck a family for your doctrine? A doctrine that is not even remotely true? This is legalism in the extreme and it has no heart of love in it.

According to Matthew 5:28 there is no possibility of taking a second wife without having committed adultery. A married man - according to Jesus - has no right to look on another woman with desire, if he is already married. Ephesians 5:22 - 33 also applies.

There is a standard for 'heart of love', and that is the exclusiveness which God, whose name is Jealous, expects. 1 Thessalonians 4:4

You do not see nor understand the plain scripture that I have laid before you because of a previously determined stand that you consider inviolate.

Abraham's outworked belief was counted to him for righteousness, which is why he is alive today. His polygamy was never justified.
 

Justin Mangonel

New Member
Nov 7, 2012
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Hi DF,

Just to put a fine point on this discussion, do you believe that if,

Abraham
Jacob (the father of the whole nation of Israel)
David,
Solomon
Gideon
The Father of Samson
The Father of Abraham

Were living in the NT that they would all be counted, accourding to your theology, as adulterers? If any of these men visited you how would you treat them? How would you receive their wives if they brought some along? Would you admonish them to put away all but their first wives? How would you counsel them to raise their children after they divorced their extra wives. How do you think they would respond to your scriptural arguments?

In my opinion, the type of thinking that you are proposing is part of a larger problem with many Christians in our day and age. Due to the focus on the New Testament, people have this idea that Jesus and the apostles almost gave everyone a "new deal." They view the New Covenant as some sort of etch a sketch that wiped everything out that God did before and the new picture supersedes everything. It is like, in their minds, all that went before the New Testament doesn't count. It is almost like people say to themselves, "those silly Old Testament saints, there they go again..." and think in their hearts that it was a good thing that God winked at everything they did wrong. Apparently, God did so much winking that He almost has a nervous tick in His eye.

This type of theology breaks the Bible in to a before and after scenario when in reality it is one book written by one author. Everything in the New Testament can be found in the Old Testament and God did not change between the two. This gives some the idea that they can ignore what God said in the Old Testament because what He wrote now supersedes what He wrote then. No, it does not, all has to harmonize and we need to see His truth from the vantage point of the whole of His revelation.

I don't really agree with Hebrew roots theology but it does get people looking more at the greater amount of history of the word. It does adjust some of their erroneous views. I just think some go too far and start to fall back under a sort of law.

This fuzzy thinking allows people to totally disregard such doctrines as polygamy and even the very nature of God. They wave their magic "winking" wand and, at least to them, it makes uncomfortable practices go away. Even though God said He was "one God" numerous times in the Old Testament with a single wave of their "that was in the Old Testament" wand God now becomes somehow a poly-deity contain miraculously in a mono-deity. It does not have to make sense...it is the New Testament! In fact, they think that they are men and women of greater faith because, even though it is a mystery, they believe it anyway.

Those entrenched in dogma, which sounds bit to me like dogged, refuse to see the truth of the mater because they have already made up their minds and thus the scripture must be made to fit no matter what violence is done to it. It ceases to be a conversation of reason and degenerates into a battle to hold territory. It does not matter that the territory they hold is desert devoid of only shred of truth because, bless God, this is how it has always been and this is how it always must be no matter what.

People come saying, "show me in the scripture and then I will believe" but that is not really the case. Nothing that countermands their viewpoint is acceptable or valid ot them. Only the set of scriptures that they believe prove their point are admissible and they are only admissible in the way they interpret them. Thus, there can be no intelligent argument made that they will believe because, to them, nothing except their point of view exists.

These are the underlying reasons that people cannot see new truth or even restored truth. These are the reasons that God has to continually bring out people from old stale denominations to receive His revelation at a new place of His choosing. This is why those who our bound in dogma bleach their bones in the wilderness of what is now called normative Christianity. God is going somewhere and as long as you are willing to move with Him you experience His presence and light. Conversely, once you stop moving with Him you are as good as dead.
 

Raeneske

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Sep 18, 2012
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I decided to do a study on Polygamy. The Bible continually comes forth with a loud "NO!" that Polygamy is not okay. I ask that you please read through this, because you may learn something (you may already know all this though).

The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, (Matthew 22:2 KJV)

Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. (Revelation 19:7-9 KJV)

For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. (2 Corinthians 11:2, 3 KJV)

We are called to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. However, we are also referred to as the Bride of Christ. We are espoused to one husband, as we are one bride. We are many people, but we are one bride. There are many different tribes of Israel, many different nationalities, but we are all one bride, one body. The Church is Christ's bride. Marriage is supposed to be an example of Christ and His Church, it is a divine establishment.

Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband. (Ephesians 5:22-33 KJV)

The husband is to love his wife, as himself. The husband represents Christ, and the wife represents the Church. Christ would not join himself to another church, except His bride. The church should never join herself to another husband. Any other husband, would be joining herself to Satan himself. She would be committing adultery, lying in bed with Satan. As made plain, she is to be joined only to one.

Now, some passages referring to many leaders only having one wife.


A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; (1 Timothy 3:2 KJV)

Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. (1 Timothy 3:8-12 KJV)

If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; (Titus 1:6, 7 KJV)

They are to be the husbands of one wife. In the beginning, it was shown that only Adam and Eve married. Adam was not to have multiple wives, nor was any one else of the human family.

And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. (Genesis 2:23, 24 KJV)

What does Christ mention about marriage in the beginning?

The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery. (Matthew 19:3-9 KJV)

And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him. And he answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you? And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away. And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept. But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. And in the house his disciples asked him again of the same matter. And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery. (Mark 10:2-12 KJV)

There are some very critical statements that Christ makes. First, he makes it known that they were not supposed to write bill of divorcements, save fornication. In the beginning, it was male and female, and they twain (or two) became one flesh. It was only those two, who were to become one flesh. No one else was to try to become "one flesh" with the two of them. If anyone else wanted to marry, they would have to marry someone else.

Christ also says, if you put your wife away for ANYTHING other than adultery/fornication, and you married another, you were in fact committing adultery.

Now here is the critical point:
To God, putting your wife away for invalid reasons, is the same thing as still being married to her. Putting your wife away because she's ugly, is the same thing as staying with her regardless of the fact that she's ugly. You're still married to her either way. This means, that if you marry another woman, regardless of whether you put her away for invalid reasons, or you stay married to her, you are committing adultery, plain and simple. For example:
If I were to marry someone, and later was displeased because she slept 14 hours a day, I could not put her away. If I attempted to put her away, it would not be valid in God's eyes. So even though I think I have put her away, I am in fact still married to her. And if I go and marry another woman, I commit adultery.
But what if I just want another wife? I am still married to my first wife, and have not put her away. But if I go for another wife, I am committing adultery. Why? Because i'm still married to my first wife.
In both cases, i'm still married to her, and God refers to that as adultery.


And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death. (Leviticus 20:10 KJV)

Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery. (Luke 16:18 KJV)

If you put your wife away, and marry another, you are committing adultery. If you stay with your wife, and marry another, you are committing adultery.

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, (Galatians 5:19 KJV)

Polygamy is a work of the flesh. It is unclean. It breaks the sacred boundaries of marriage, meant to protect the family unit, and destroys the image of Christ and His Church.
Now for something that I had no idea the Bible said:


When thou art come unto the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell therein, and shalt say, I will set a king over me, like as all the nations that are about me; Thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee, whom the Lord thy God shall choose: one from among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee: thou mayest not set a stranger over thee, which is not thy brother. But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the Lord hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way. Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold. (Deuteronomy 17:14-17 KJV)

Not even the KINGS were supposed to multiply wives to themselves. They were not supposed to do it at all. God was very plain about marriage. Every man was to be the husband of one wife.

What is the reasoning Israel did so much? Why were they permitted to do so much? We know in the New Testament God winks at our time of ignorance. Israel went through spiritual darkness the same way we did, and the way a lot of people are still in.


Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty and one years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jedidah, the daughter of Adaiah of Boscath. And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord , and walked in all the way of David his father, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left. And it came to pass in the eighteenth year of king Josiah, that the king sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, the scribe, to the house of the Lord , saying, Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, that he may sum the silver which is brought into the house of the Lord , which the keepers of the door have gathered of the people: And let them deliver it into the hand of the doers of the work, that have the oversight of the house of the Lord : and let them give it to the doers of the work which is in the house of the Lord , to repair the breaches of the house, Unto carpenters, and builders, and masons, and to buy timber and hewn stone to repair the house. Howbeit there was no reckoning made with them of the money that was delivered into their hand, because they dealt faithfully. And Hilkiah the high priest said unto Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord . And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it. And Shaphan the scribe came to the king, and brought the king word again, and said, Thy servants have gathered the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hand of them that do the work, that have the oversight of the house of the Lord . And Shaphan the scribe shewed the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest hath delivered me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king. And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, that he rent his clothes. And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Michaiah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asahiah a servant of the king's, saying, Go ye, enquire of the Lord for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found: for great is the wrath of the Lord that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according unto all that which is written concerning us. (2 Kings 22:1-13 KJV)

Israel had no idea some of the things which were written in the book of the law. If you continue, you'll see that the fathers had forsaken the law. Once the King found out what was in the law, he humbled himself before the Lord.

In their ignorance of what was truly being said, they were blameless. Yet, when they found out the truth, they had no more cloak for their sin.

Hope this helps!
 

Justin Mangonel

New Member
Nov 7, 2012
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Dear R,

This is not a balance viewpoint that you have given. It seems to be more of you trying to prove a point rathe than let the scriptures speak for themselves. God is one. Did you even read what I wrote? Would you say such things to the greatest men in the BIble?
 

Raeneske

New Member
Sep 18, 2012
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Dear R,

This is not a balance viewpoint that you have given. It seems to be more of you trying to prove a point rathe than let the scriptures speak for themselves. God is one. Did you even read what I wrote? Would you say such things to the greatest men in the BIble?

I read what you wrote.

Did you miss this?


When thou art come unto the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell therein, and shalt say, I will set a king over me, like as all the nations that are about me; Thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee, whom the Lord thy God shall choose: one from among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee: thou mayest not set a stranger over thee, which is not thy brother. But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the Lord hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way. Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold. (Deuteronomy 17:14-17 KJV)
-------------------------------------------
We don't worship men, so I would have no problem telling the truth to Kings, Queens, Theologians, Heads of State, Presidents, etc. God's word was very clear. David, Solomon, etc are men, no matter how "Great" they are. They have flaws, as you and I do. They were ignorant to some things, the way you and I would be ignorant. I would have no problem alerting them to the scriptural doctrines.

God's word has given an absolute no on this subject. As shown in 2 Kings 22, Israel went through times of absolute darkness. And did you miss the Old Testament verse where God said the Kings shall not multiply wives to themselves? The New Testament and the Old Testament were used in my construction of this study.

As for people with many wives, I don't have all the solutions, but here's how I see it. Remember when Abraham went to have the kid with Sarah's handmaid, Hagar? This was the route that was taken later:


Genesis 21:
12 And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.
13 And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed.
14 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.

He sent the child and the mother away, by the request of his first wife. This may seem harsh today, but no one is saying you have to send her 3000 miles away. The father would still be able to see his children, which he bare. But Abraham stayed with his wife, and the handmaid was sent her way. This is the best advice I can offer.
 

Justin Mangonel

New Member
Nov 7, 2012
593
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Hi R,

If you will read the context of what happened with Solomon God was not in favor of kings multiplying wives to themselves for political alliances with other kingdoms who served other Gods. It was not the problem that Solomon had many wives but it was that the foreign wives were from pagan religions and because Solomon loved them he allowed them to build house to these strange Gods and that turn the kings heart about from the one true God.

What you say about this issue is not the truth but rather your ethnocentric bias's wrapped up in scripture that does not prove what you are saying. You would insult and judge great men of God out of a misguided interpretation of the scriptures.

Again, with Abraham, you are reading into scripture what you want it to say. The problem with Abraham is that he did not wait for the promise of the father but rather, at Sara's insistence, took matters into his own hands. This was a deviation from Gods plan and for Isaac to become what God intended Ishmael had to go.

The bottom line is that you world have advised Jacob not to take Rachel as his wife due to the fact that he had laid with Leah. You would have said, "My son, what God has put together let no man put asunder." If fact you would have advised against Jacob marrying his other two wives also. You migh have thought it a bit harsh but in truth felt is was the best advice you could offer. You would have lived you life out while half the nations of Israel was never born including the tribe of Judah from whence the Messiah came.

While you might understand some issues you are quite mistaken about this one. I am amazed at how people read in so much to the scriptures from their particular cultural viewpoint. You would have also counseled Abraham's father not to marry a second wife and either Abram or Sari would not have been born. Let us not even mention that fact that Sari was Abram's half sister...we won't even go there.

Legalism decides what it thinks about an issue and then pronouces judgement on it and only after that wraps it up in scriputure. It may feel a tinge of concience about what the consequence of ther theology are but in the end sits on its pious throne and watches as otheres suffer the consequences. Their are only two times that a legalistic theology is re-examined. In other words, only if they are about to be burned at the stake will they consider if they are really looking at things straight.

1. If the person who holds it has a Damascus road style incounter with God

2. If the theology begins to cause personal pain.

I know that those who oppose biblical polygamy are all mixed up and set like cement but I am not really writing them. For them it is merely an academic question anyways and they have not real stake n the outcome of the discussion. There are other people, perhaps from different parts of the world, that have multiple wives and have become Christians that are searching for answers to what others are telling them about their marriage situation. To those I would say this.

If you are a Christian or wish to become a Christian and have more than one wife or are wanting to take an additional wife or wives know that, Biblically at least, it is not sin so long as you afford them all the love and care of the first wife. If you will treat each of your women as Christ loves the church you are counted as a worthy Christian before God. Let no man judge you because God's opinion is the only one that counts. You can be called to any office of God's church so long as you are a man of integrity and are deemed to have the characteristics of a good leader and Paul has mentioned in the scriptures. There is no prohibition against a deacon or bishop having more than one wife because the context of those scriptures are merely saying that you must have 'A" wife so that you fitness for that position in the church can be judged by the way you run your household.

Never let anyone convince you to put away any of your wives. They are misguided individuals who would not even take their own advice if they were in a similar situations. Do not let their legalism destroy you, your wives, or your children. Stand firm with the patriarchs of old and tell them that you must obey God rather than men. Do not cow tow to those who look down their legalistic and biased noses at you, simply serve God and walk before Him with dignity knowing that you follow in the footsteps of some of the greatest men in the Bible. Love your family and never ever allow others to call unclean that which is holy i.e. your marriages.

Serve God in whatever capacity you have been called and raise your many children for the Lord and teach them to have pride that their father was like one of the patriarchs of old. If you walk like them you are indeed a blessed man. I would be honored to call you brother and fellowship with you and your wives.

God bless,

Justin Mangonel
 

Raeneske

New Member
Sep 18, 2012
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Hi R,

If you will read the context of what happened with Solomon God was not in favor of kings multiplying wives to themselves for political alliances with other kingdoms who served other Gods. It was not the problem that Solomon had many wives but it was that the foreign wives were from pagan religions and because Solomon loved them he allowed them to build house to these strange Gods and that turn the kings heart about from the one true God.

What you say about this issue is not the truth but rather your ethnocentric bias's wrapped up in scripture that does not prove what you are saying. You would insult and judge great men of God out of a misguided interpretation of the scriptures.

Again, with Abraham, you are reading into scripture what you want it to say. The problem with Abraham is that he did not wait for the promise of the father but rather, at Sara's insistence, took matters into his own hands. This was a deviation from Gods plan and for Isaac to become what God intended Ishmael had to go.

The bottom line is that you world have advised Jacob not to take Rachel as his wife due to the fact that he had laid with Leah. You would have said, "My son, what God has put together let no man put asunder." If fact you would have advised against Jacob marrying his other two wives also. You migh have thought it a bit harsh but in truth felt is was the best advice you could offer. You would have lived you life out while half the nations of Israel was never born including the tribe of Judah from whence the Messiah came.

While you might understand some issues you are quite mistaken about this one. I am amazed at how people read in so much to the scriptures from their particular cultural viewpoint. You would have also counseled Abraham's father not to marry a second wife and either Abram or Sari would not have been born. Let us not even mention that fact that Sari was Abram's half sister...we won't even go there.

Legalism decides what it thinks about an issue and then pronouces judgement on it and only after that wraps it up in scriputure. It may feel a tinge of concience about what the consequence of ther theology are but in the end sits on its pious throne and watches as otheres suffer the consequences. Their are only two times that a legalistic theology is re-examined. In other words, only if they are about to be burned at the stake will they consider if they are really looking at things straight.

1. If the person who holds it has a Damascus road style incounter with God

2. If the theology begins to cause personal pain.

I know that those who oppose biblical polygamy are all mixed up and set like cement but I am not really writing them. For them it is merely an academic question anyways and they have not real stake n the outcome of the discussion. There are other people, perhaps from different parts of the world, that have multiple wives and have become Christians that are searching for answers to what others are telling them about their marriage situation. To those I would say this.

If you are a Christian or wish to become a Christian and have more than one wife or are wanting to take an additional wife or wives know that, Biblically at least, it is not sin so long as you afford them all the love and care of the first wife. If you will treat each of your women as Christ loves the church you are counted as a worthy Christian before God. Let no man judge you because God's opinion is the only one that counts. You can be called to any office of God's church so long as you are a man of integrity and are deemed to have the characteristics of a good leader and Paul has mentioned in the scriptures. There is no prohibition against a deacon or bishop having more than one wife because the context of those scriptures are merely saying that you must have 'A" wife so that you fitness for that position in the church can be judged by the way you run your household.

Never let anyone convince you to put away any of your wives. They are misguided individuals who would not even take their own advice if they were in a similar situations. Do not let their legalism destroy you, your wives, or your children. Stand firm with the patriarchs of old and tell them that you must obey God rather than men. Do not cow tow to those who look down their legalistic and biased noses at you, simply serve God and walk before Him with dignity knowing that you follow in the footsteps of some of the greatest men in the Bible. Love your family and never ever allow others to call unclean that which is holy i.e. your marriages.

Serve God in whatever capacity you have been called and raise your many children for the Lord and teach them to have pride that their father was like one of the patriarchs of old. If you walk like them you are indeed a blessed man. I would be honored to call you brother and fellowship with you and your wives.

God bless,

Justin Mangonel

You have not given God's biblical precepts regarding marriage, that support your stance.

Please, I mean no disrespect, but i'm putting out my best efforts here.

God's plan can be made, whether humans make bad mistakes or not. Jacob took the birthright by Fraud. Abraham took a child by polygamy. Yet these did not have to be the cases. Where God has promised, He will provide. Whether we see it or not. All that happened down the line may not have been how God wanted it, but he still brought out His plans to fruition.

You have thus presented your case, more and still more firmly, but still your arguements are not found in scripture. God's word said you shall NOT multiply wives unto yourselves. Yes, He happened to give a reason not to afterwards. But where does that imply that's the only reason, that one does not multiply wives to themselves?

As for "In Context of with Solomon", We see Solomon is a PERFECT example of why you shouldn't multiply wives to yourselves. That man was greatly blessed, that he even turned around and found forgiveness of our Father.

The Old and New Testament alike are against polygamy, there has been a Thus saith the Lord.

With your arguements, Are you going to imply that it's okay to also have sex with your daughters, and Lot's daughters did? After all, they tries to continue their lines, did they not? Your arguement sounds like, because it continued for many lines, and there did not appear to be disapproval, that such a thing is okay. But God's Word has given us light on such matters.

God could have continued the line of Israel without human intervention. Whether we understand how he may have done it or not, is no reason to doubt. Israel would still be there, because God designed it thus.

There is no problem with sound scriptural advice. All along we have known that Old Testament and New Testament characters have not been perfect, save Jesus. Did God intend for human beings to sin? Does God want human beings to intervene with His divine will? When God promises something, does He need us to do something we shouldn't do, to get it done?

I will say it again, because it bears repeating. The Old Testament, and New Testament are against polygamy. Jesus showed that to marry another woman, or to look upon another woman while still married, you are in fact committing adultery. All he did was uplift His law, and make it spiritual. He opened the understanding up to us hard headed, hard-hearted men. This has always been the case with the law, but men of the past, and even today have not, and do not understand it. God has said no to polygamy. Where darkness was in the Old Testament, Christ shined lights of divine rays upon the truth of the matter.

I apologize if I come off harsh.

 

Selene

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If you are a Christian or wish to become a Christian and have more than one wife or are wanting to take an additional wife or wives know that, Biblically at least, it is not sin so long as you afford them all the love and care of the first wife. If you will treat each of your women as Christ loves the church you are counted as a worthy Christian before God. Let no man judge you because God's opinion is the only one that counts. You can be called to any office of God's church so long as you are a man of integrity and are deemed to have the characteristics of a good leader and Paul has mentioned in the scriptures. There is no prohibition against a deacon or bishop having more than one wife because the context of those scriptures are merely saying that you must have 'A" wife so that you fitness for that position in the church can be judged by the way you run your household.

Never let anyone convince you to put away any of your wives. They are misguided individuals who would not even take their own advice if they were in a similar situations. Do not let their legalism destroy you, your wives, or your children. Stand firm with the patriarchs of old and tell them that you must obey God rather than men. Do not cow tow to those who look down their legalistic and biased noses at you, simply serve God and walk before Him with dignity knowing that you follow in the footsteps of some of the greatest men in the Bible. Love your family and never ever allow others to call unclean that which is holy i.e. your marriages.


This is the first time I have heard that it's okay for a Christian to have more than one wife. God does not approve of having more than one wife or even of having more than one husband. Since the beginning, God created only one woman for Adam. He did not take more than one rib from Adam and create multiple wives for him. Adam said of Eve, "You are bones of my bones and flesh of my flesh"......meaning that Eve is equal to Him as a human being. Polygamy only turns women into lustful objects for men rather than being treated as human beings.

In the Old Testament, it was the pagans who were practicing polygamy. God warned His chosen people not to marry any foreign women because the pagans worshipped many gods and allowed themselves to have many wives. The Israelites did not heed those warnings and ended up copying the custom of the pagans. In the New Testament, polygamy was discouraged and St. Paul stated that bishops must be husbands of only one wife (1 Timothy 3:2).
 

Pelaides

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Deuteronomy21:15 "If a man heve 2 wives,one beloved,and another hated,and they have born him children,boththe beloved and the hated;and if the firstborn son be hers that was hated;
Then it shall be ,when he maketh his sons to inherit that which he hath,that he may not make the son of the beloved firstborn before the son of the hated,which is indeed the firstborn:


Samuel2:8 "And i gave thee thy masters house,and thy masters wives into thy bosom,and gave thee the house of israel and of judah;and if that had been to little,i would moreover have given thee such and such things".
 

Selene

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Deuteronomy21:15 "If a man heve 2 wives,one beloved,and another hated,and they have born him children,boththe beloved and the hated;and if the firstborn son be hers that was hated;
Then it shall be ,when he maketh his sons to inherit that which he hath,that he may not make the son of the beloved firstborn before the son of the hated,which is indeed the firstborn:


Samuel2:8 "And i gave thee thy masters house,and thy masters wives into thy bosom,and gave thee the house of israel and of judah;and if that had been to little,i would moreover have given thee such and such things".

This has nothing to do with polygamy, but of the rights of the first born. Nowhere in here is God saying that He approved of polygamy, but it does say that the firstborn belongs to God. I'm not certain where you stand. Are you saying that it's okay for a Christian to have more than one wife?
 

Pelaides

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Yes i believe polygamy is permissable,as i have stated in earlier posts on this topic,I dont know why people are so horrifed about it.It is a common practise in many parts of the world.
 

aspen

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Following the morality of the people of the OT is a great way to screw up your life - you can justify all kinds of sin based on their behavior. The primary message of the OT is God's Sovereignty, not morality. God is Good / We are not / God wants to be in relationship with us, which is the only way we will ever overcome sin.
 

Raeneske

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Yes i believe polygamy is permissable,as i have stated in earlier posts on this topic,I dont know why people are so horrifed about it.It is a common practise in many parts of the world.

Polygamy is a destruction of the sacred marriage Bond, which God gave humanity. Marriage is a way to love, and be loved back, and protect human beings from destroying their family units. It gives us someone of our nature to love us.

2 Kings 22:1-13 shows a Common State Israel appeared to be in, with the rejection of the divine law, and the spiritual darkness that they were in at times. Upon learning of the Law, King Josiah rent his clothes, and was deeply humbled because of the sins him, and his fathers had committed. This is just one instance, and how long this continued for, I know not.

Deuteronomy 17:14-17 forbade kings to multiply wives to themselves. It gave them a reason, but that is not the only reason, as Jesus later showed that multiplying of wives to oneself is in fact adultery.

This is why Jesus said to divorce someone for wrong reasons, and to marry another was to commit adultery. In God's eye's, you are still married to the soul you have unjustly left. While married to one, you cannot go and marry another. This is adultery, and Jesus explained that.

Polygamy is adultery. Customs of the world are not to choose what is right and wrong in the Bible. It's the other way around. God's Word is to judge the customs of the World, and to put a stop to all works of the flesh.
 

Selene

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Yes i believe polygamy is permissable,as i have stated in earlier posts on this topic,I dont know why people are so horrifed about it.It is a common practise in many parts of the world.

Christians are not of this world. We are different because we are not of this world. Polygamy is a common practice among non-Christians, who are of this world.
 

Raeneske

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ZebraHug said:
So is monogamy.

The fact that polygamy became so widespread doesn't mean it was any less of a sin. It ceased to be looked upon as sin by some of God's people, even His highly blessed. Polygamy is absolutely sinful, and is a lust of the flesh. Monogamy? Not so. The Bible tells you that it is not a sin that they marry.

When you start trying to add wives, you are adding sin. Jesus was very plain.

Not sure your stance Zebra, just saw that post, and thought you were trying to say Monogamy is of the world. No, the world may lay hands upon God's sacred marriage, but it's not of the world. Polygamy, and same-sex marriage are two examples of the world laying hands upon God's sacred ties.
 
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