Polygamy vs adultry

[warrior]

Many of you agreed that polygamy was allowed in the Bible. If that is true, then what is adultry, why was it mentioned, how is adultry a sin and why do people say that you can have only one living spouse?

I just want answers to these questions, please.

[warrior]

Nobody seems to want to answer.

[ILG]

Originally Posted by warrior

Nobody seems to want to answer.

They will probably say that adultery is only taking a woman who "belongs" to another man. At least that is what I understood them to be saying. One of them even said a man can lust after any woman as long as she isn't married. Sounds rather convenient!!

[TRFrance]

Originally Posted by ILG

They will probably say that adultery is only taking a woman who "belongs" to another man. At least that is what I understood them to be saying. One of them even said a man can lust after any woman as long as she isn't married. Sounds rather convenient!!

Two questions
1... Who is this "they" and "them" you keep referring to?
2... What are your thoughts regarding a possible answer to Warrior's question?

[warrior]

Originally Posted by ILG

They will probably say that adultery is only taking a woman who "belongs" to another man. At least that is what I understood them to be saying. One of them even said a man can lust after any woman as long as she isn't married. Sounds rather convenient!!

Okay...... then what about someone who has a legal divorce? Would they still be considered married in God's sight?

[OP_Carl]

Originally Posted by warrior

Nobody seems to want to answer.

That would be because several forum members wore out multiple computer keyboards on this topic already!

The women are against it.

[TRFrance]

Lets use a biblical example here:

(Polygamy) David had multiple wives. God didnt have a problem with that.

(Adultery) David lay down with Bathsheba, who was not his wife. God had a big problem with that.

The concept seems pretty straightforward: "Dont sleep with someone who's not your wife/husband".

[Aquila]

Lets use a biblical example here:

(Polygamy) David had multiple wives. God didnt have a problem with that.

(Adultery) David lay down with Bathsheba, who was not his wife. God had a big problem with that.

The concept seems pretty straightforward: "Dont sleep with someone who's not your wife/husband".

Bingo.

As for divorce and remarriage, I think Jesus is pretty clear. If a person puts away their spouse for any cause other than “fornication” and marries another, they’ve committed adultery…and anyone marrying someone who was put away for another other cause commits adultery. Technically, it’s an unholy union and shouldn’t be blessed by the church. There will be difference in opinion as to if such a union can be forgiven and maintained.

That’s my understanding on divorce.

As for “lusting”….if any man looks upon a woman, “to lust after her” has committed adultery with her in his heart. The issue isn’t admiring beauty or having an attraction. The issue isn’t having “thoughts” or even “fantasy”. The issue is looking upon a woman with the express intent of pursuit. A single man may have thoughts and even fantasy about his bride to be or the woman he’d love to marry (Song of Solomon is full of this). However, if these thoughts become“intent” to actually “pursue” and use another outside of the confines of marriage it’s adultery in the heart.

[DividedThigh]

for a man to look on any woman with lust in his heart is adultery, if she is not his wife, bible, lol, dt, divorce and remarriage, be grateful if you have never had to deal with it, and love your wife or husband more than yourself so you wont, imho,dt

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by DividedThigh

for a man to look on any woman with lust in his heart is adultery, if she is not his wife, bible, lol, dt, divorce and remarriage, be grateful if you have never had to deal with it, and love your wife or husband more than yourself so you wont, imho,dt

Amen.

But here's what I'm trying to say. It's easy to say, "for a man to look on any woman with lust in his heart is adultery" (I'm thinking single or married here). The question is: What is "lust"? How does it differ from sincere attraction, interest, etc.?

I actually had a brother engaged to be married crying one night about having "lustful" thoughts and fantasies about the girl he was going to marry a week later. LOL I looked him dead in the eyes and said, "Get out of town bro! That's not lust. That's NORMAL. I'd be worried if you wasn't finding it difficult not to think and fantasize about her." He just laughed and said, "But these are thoughts man..." And he described them. Yes, they were a bit wild...but I asked him, "Are you planning on running over to her house tonight and taking her to a hotel to do these things?" He said, "No. That would be wrong, I'd never do that!" I said, "Bro, then you ain't lustin'."

I had a teenage boy actually talking suicide because he had "thoughts" and "fantasies" about girls. I asked him, "Do you plan on going out and actually doing any of this?" He said, "No way!" I said, "You're not lusting. You're a young man and your hormones are all over the place, you're normal. Now the moment you decide that you're willing to act on or actually do anything you've thought about you've crossed the line. That's lust."

In both cases these guys looked like the weight of the world fell off their shoulders and the young man cried like a baby because he had thought God hated him and had so much condemnation it's unbelievable. I reminded him that in spite of anything he does or ever will do, he's still a man and men are men. He's a normal human being. That kid made a comeback, shook the condemnation, got into Bible quizzing, and is married and faithfully serving in a church today.

I think we have to define some things properly because there are countless numbers of men and young men walking around in condemnation for just being human beings.

So since Jesus said that looking upon a woman "to lust after her" is adultery in the heart...we really should properly define it or many normal and good men could find themselves in so much comdemnation they give up on even trying to live for God. Or worse...they learn to be hypocrits and PRETEND they never have thoughts or fantasies. And sadly, the cycle repeats itself and spreads through the men until they are all pretending to be virtual eunuchs for the kingdom's sake....but the reality is otherwise.

It's ok to be a man. And it's ok to have normal thoughts, feelings, and interests.

Just my thoughts bro.