Polygamy and the bible (ritual, church, pray, spiritual, divorce)

[pray4me]

With all this news of the Polygamist sect being raided it brought the question to my mind. Certain parts of the bible seem to encourage polygamy while others seem to point the other way. What does everyone here think, is polygamy biblical and should it be practiced today?

[Big_TJ]

Originally Posted by pray4me

With all this news of the Polygamist sect being raided it brought the question to my mind. Certain parts of the bible seem to encourage polygamy while others seem to point the other way. What does everyone here think, is polygamy biblical and should it be practiced today?

Polygamy is against the law in several countries, thus it should not be practiced in those countries. The question, however, is whether or not polygamy should be outlawed. Personally, I am more of a liberalist. I think that what two consented adult (of the opposite sex) does, providing that it does not infringe on others rights, should be OK. I do not see why there should be a problem if one man wants to marry 2 women when both women is ok with it. Who am I to say it is " wrong?" What makes it "wrong?". The practise of child marriage or insest or abuse is separate and apart from polygamy. Therefore, the recent uproar about the raid should not the polygamy being practised, but other issues such as molestation, child abuse, etc (if those were in fact taking place).

[dawny0826]

Originally Posted by pray4me

With all this news of the Polygamist sect being raided it brought the question to my mind. Certain parts of the bible seem to encourage polygamy while others seem to point the other way. What does everyone here think, is polygamy biblical and should it be practiced today?

Polygamy is illegal in most if not all states, isn't it?

Marriage is defined in the New Testament. I see no mention of polygamy being acceptable in the eyes of God.

[pray4me]

Some would say that the instruction that a deacon must be the husband of one wife, in 1 Timothy 3:2, presupposes that polygamy is not only practiced but acceptable for everyone but church leaders.

[Poshrocker]

The question was is polygamy biblical?

Let us find the answer in the bible then.

2 Cor 7:2

"Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband."

Some of you may argue that this verse does not state literally that their should only be one wife. In that case let us read 1 Tim 3:2

"A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;"

The mirriam webster dictionary states the definition of a Bishop as "one having spiritual or ecclesiastical supervision." Therefore, common sense would dictate that if the head of the Christian congregation in the bible is allowed to be the husband of only one wife, it will not make sense to argue that polygamy is allowed to the members.

Futhermore, Matthew said: (19:9)

"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."

It is pretty clear and straightforward isn't?

[Poshrocker]

Originally Posted by pray4me

Some would say that the instruction that a deacon must be the husband of one wife, in 1 Timothy 3:2, presupposes that polygamy is not only practiced but acceptable for everyone but church leaders.

Matthew 19:9 refers to everybody.

[pray4me]

My father believes that polygamy is okay and he interprets Matthew 19:9 to mean only if a man gets divorced to remarry and not to do with marrying multiple wives at the same time. He doesn't practice it by the way since he is a minister.

[whereismynotecard]

I think that as long as everyone involved is okay with it people should be able to have as many wives or husbands as they want.

[crystalonyx]

Originally Posted by whereismynotecard

I think that as long as everyone involved is okay with it people should be able to have as many wives or husbands as they want.

Except this almost inevitably leads to wife and child abuse. Check out the recent incident in Texas, and we don't here about most of them.

[whereismynotecard]

Originally Posted by crystalonyx

Except this almost inevitably leads to wife and child abuse. Check out the recent incident in Texas, and we don't here about most of them.

But then the wives and children would not be okay with it... Wife and child abuse happens all the time without polygamy as well...