Why not polygamy? :)

[joachim_s]

Hi!

I'm just wondering if anyone knows why Christians (in general) don't approve of bigamy or polygamy? I know the verses in Genesis chapter 2 or 3 where it says that a man should leave his mother and father and stick to his wife. Still, King David was a man of God's heart and he had a harem?

/Joachim

 

[elmarna]

While it may be a concept that at 1 time helped to sustain the family because there was high mortality rates in children & the more to help share with the load made a easier time. It is now a world much different. When I was in the middle east a man legally could have up to 4 wives. I never saw any. To protect the overzelous man & insure that the women were taken good care of they have by laws so that only the rich can "afford" more than 1 wife.
i really do not know enough on the subject. At best I can say that there are still mormans who find nothing wrong with the concept & if you are willing to support a way of life or a train of thought you are not likely to see a wrong to it.
As for myself: I prefer the 1 on 1 interaction & a devotion to my husband I could not imagine shareing because i grew up seeing it that way. It is not selfish. There is just no great reason to consider the other way.

 

[Pegg]

Hi!

I'm just wondering if anyone knows why Christians (in general) don't approve of bigamy or polygamy? I know the verses in Genesis chapter 2 or 3 where it says that a man should leave his mother and father and stick to his wife. Still, King David was a man of God's heart and he had a harem?

/Joachim

The Kings of isreal, no matter how righteous, still disobeyed Gods law in some respects. Even the much respected King David did so on numerous occasions. So just because they did it, does not mean that God approves of that standard.

The law to kings was given by Moses
Deut 17:15 "...From among your brothers you should set a king over yourself. ... 16 Only he should not increase horses for himself, nor make the people go back to Egypt ...17 He should also not multiply wives for himself, that his heart may not turn aside; nor should he increase silver and gold for himself"

The king was to set the right example for that nation. "he should not multiply wives" would rule out polygamy....yet most of the kings (probably all of them) did multiply wives against Gods direct command.

Christians must learn the spirit of the mosaic law in order to understand how God wants us to live. It is clear that he did not want polygamy to be a normal way of life and anyone who seeks his friendship would take that to heart and apply his laws in ones own life. The Apostles, led by holy spirit, understood the spirit of the mosaic law and they set the requirement that men marry only one wife and stick to her.

Just as God originally purposed, so we must do likewise. And as a woman, i am very grateful for this rule.

 

[joachim_s]

Christians must learn the spirit of the mosaic law in order to understand how God wants us to live. It is clear that he did not want polygamy to be a normal way of life and anyone who seeks his friendship would take that to heart and apply his laws in ones own life.
[...]
Just as God originally purposed, so we must do likewise.

So, would you stone a girl to death if she had sex with someone before she had with it her husband without telling him? Let's read on a couple of chapters later...

Deuteronomy chapter 22:

"13 If any man take a wife, and go in unto her, and hate her,
14 And give occasions of speech against her, and bring up an evil name upon her, and say, I took this woman, and when I came to her, I found her not a maid:
15 Then shall the father of the damsel, and her mother, take and bring forth the tokens of the damsel's virginity unto the elders of the city in the gate:
16 And the damsel's father shall say unto the elders, I gave my daughter unto this man to wife, and he hateth her;
17 And, lo, he hath given occasions of speech against her, saying, I found not thy daughter a maid; and yet these are the tokens of my daughter's virginity. And they shall spread the cloth before the elders of the city.
18 And the elders of that city shall take that man and chastise him;
19 And they shall amerce him in an hundred shekels of silver, and give them unto the father of the damsel, because he hath brought up an evil name upon a virgin of Israel: and she shall be his wife; he may not put her away all his days.
20 But if this thing be true, and the tokens of virginity be not found for the damsel:
21 Then they shall bring out the damsel to the door of her father's house, and the men of her city shall stone her with stones that she die: because she hath wrought folly in Israel, to play the whore in her father's house: so shalt thou put evil away from among you."

 

[Pegg]

So, would you stone a girl to death if she had sex with someone before she had with it her husband without telling him? Let's read on a couple of chapters later...

Deuteronomy chapter 22:

"13 If any man take a wife, and go in unto her, and hate her,
14 And give occasions of speech against her, and bring up an evil name upon her, and say, I took this woman, and when I came to her, I found her not a maid:
15 Then shall the father of the damsel, and her mother, take and bring forth the tokens of the damsel's virginity unto the elders of the city in the gate:
16 And the damsel's father shall say unto the elders, I gave my daughter unto this man to wife, and he hateth her;
17 And, lo, he hath given occasions of speech against her, saying, I found not thy daughter a maid; and yet these are the tokens of my daughter's virginity. And they shall spread the cloth before the elders of the city.
18 And the elders of that city shall take that man and chastise him;
19 And they shall amerce him in an hundred shekels of silver, and give them unto the father of the damsel, because he hath brought up an evil name upon a virgin of Israel: and she shall be his wife; he may not put her away all his days.
20 But if this thing be true, and the tokens of virginity be not found for the damsel:
21 Then they shall bring out the damsel to the door of her father's house, and the men of her city shall stone her with stones that she die: because she hath wrought folly in Israel, to play the whore in her father's house: so shalt thou put evil away from among you."

and what is this mosaic law really about?

Is not God promoting abstinence from sexual activity until one is married? yes he is. And to do differently is a sin, and sin bring forth death.

The Mosaic law was to teach mankind the results of sin. Loosing ones virginity before marriage is a sin in Gods eyes.

 

[joachim_s]

and what is this mosaic law really about?

Is not God promoting abstinence from sexual activity until one is married? yes he is. And to do differently is a sin, and sin bring forth death.

Whatever. It's not a just a symbolic text, it's litteral.

 

[Pegg]

Whatever. It's not a just a symbolic text, it's litteral.

yes, it is literal.

It literally shows us the result of sin. When we disobey Gods laws, we die as the bible says at Romans 6:23 "For the wages sin pays is death..." the mosaic law, in all its brutality, made that point as plain as day, not only the Jews, but to the world of mankind.

Strive to live by Gods laws and the promise is made "but the gift God gives is everlasting life by Christ Jesus our Lord"