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Polygamy

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by FR7 Baptist, May 9, 2010.

  1. FR7 Baptist

    FR7 Baptist Active Member

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    I have a hypothetical question for you all. Let's say there is a pagan culture that allows men to have multiple wives. One of the men there is reached by a Christian missionary and becomes a Christian. Does he get to keep all of his wives or only one of them?

    I asked my grandfather, whom I live with. He got a Masters in Sacred Theology from Luther Rice Seminary before going into a completely unrelated field of work. He said that in this case the man could keep his wives because polygamy was tolerated in the Old Testament even though the Christian standard is one wife, he just couldn't take any more wives.

    I also asked the assistant pastor at my church who has a PhD from Southeastern Seminary and he said that the man in this example could only keep his first wife because she is the only one that he's really married to.

    So, who is right, my grandfather or my assistant pastor?
     
  2. mcdirector

    mcdirector Active Member

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  3. sag38

    sag38 Active Member

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    Don't you just love these hypothetical questions? Personally, I think your grandfather is right.
     
  4. Jon-Marc

    Jon-Marc New Member

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    It doesn't matter who is right if the law says that having more than one wife is illegal. That man will be arrested and prosecuted. We are no longer living by the Old Testament standards, practices, and laws. Everything changed when Christ came.
     
  5. Onlybygrace

    Onlybygrace New Member

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    Forget your grandfather and your pastor...my concern is the man with many wives!!!!

    For goodness sakes stop griping and debating the theology of the matter and somebody help the poor guy...he must be in such pain!:laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh

    One woman for one man for one lifetime! That's God's plan or He would have made, Eve, Jane, Mary and Judy for Adam.

    But this is not an ideal world...Is divorcing the other wives any better than keeping them all?
     
  6. bodyofchrist32

    bodyofchrist32 New Member

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    I believe your pastor is right
     
  7. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
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    Oh you SO deserve a rolling pin......
     
  8. Thinkingstuff

    Thinkingstuff Active Member

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    I lived in Africa and I agree with your Grandfather. Often men would want to put all of his wives away so as not to support them but there is a condition of their marriage. I guess my answer would be keep the wives and support them and teach the children that this was wrong and that their father was not a believer to begin with and that for them it is forbiden but out of mercy, responsibility their father maintained his wifes and fulfilled his obligation to them and their (his wives) families.
     
  9. ccrobinson

    ccrobinson Active Member

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    The consequences for having multiple wives is having multiple mothers-in-law. :eek:
     
  10. preachinjesus

    preachinjesus Well-Known Member
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    Have you investigated how the early church dealt with this issue? It surely would have come up.
     
  11. righteousdude2

    righteousdude2 Well-Known Member
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    When I was Younger.....

    I always thought that it would "big-of-me" if I had more than one wife :laugh: :thumbs:

    Great topic, especially with the recent law enforcement interest in the Mormons committing this sin. Then there's the Cable Network Show: Big Love. It has provided me with a better insight into what these folks are thinking, and why they do what they do.

    It is all a huge lie and major deception, and it treats women like owned property and baby making machines. This series has explained to me just how deeply the deception of polygamy reaches. And how it exploits the females within their cult, and even more so, how it exploits the males that they kick out of the cult, to live on their own.

    Polygamy is a huge social sin, and it is my hope that our government can stop it, the sooner the better. However, it is a very old practice, and it is deeply rooted in the other side of the Mormon beliefs.

    Thanks for bringing this subject before the forum to address, It is a good topic. As for the answer to your question. I believe that the NT allows a man to have ONLY one wife. The days of more than one wife are long gone, and our society frowns on such practices. And Jesus told us to render unto Cesar what is Cesar's, and the law of the land allows but one wife, period!

    Pastor Paul :type:
     
  12. saturneptune

    saturneptune New Member

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    Two or more wives, you have got to be kidding. Remember with each wife comes another mother-in-law.
     
  13. John Toppass

    John Toppass Active Member
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    First, I am assuming this is in a culture and country where polygamy is a legal and accepted practice.

    I would explain God's plan is one man and one woman as long as they live. Not one at a time. I believe that he would have a responsibility to all the wives and children for continued support. The next generation should be taught that multiple wives are wrong and that Dad did this before he knew and became a Christian. (I do not believe that there is a such thing as a child born being a mistake to God)

    Here, we do not tell a divorced person who has remarried to leave the present spouse and remarry the first. Even tho divorce and remarriage is not God's plan. I have seen God bless many couples not in their first marriage.

    God has tolerated many things we have done that are not according to his plan. His tolerating something does not mean it has His approval. God blesses us even when we do not follow in His plan. Why?? Because God said He would bless us and after all, He is God. Can you imagine how blessing-less we would be if we had to earn all the blessings from God?

    I think it would also be appropriate to teach the him that his first wife should be the only one he sleeps with.
     
    #13 John Toppass, May 11, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: May 11, 2010
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