Polygamy in the Bible

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

Dr. Vaughn,

If you give polygamy a pass based on allowances in the law and practices recorded in scripture, then mustn't you excuse divorce by the same token?

Miss Brattfield.... there is one difference between Polygamy and Divorce.... God himself endorsed and encouraged Polygamy.. he always forbid and condemnded divorce and remarriage... he is a God of Covenant and he sees marriage as a Covenant

[ILG]

You explain away your own lusts and the disrepect towards women using the Bible to do it. I find that shameful and sad. Remember how the Pharisees interpreted scripture to their own benefit and Jesus rebuked them and interpreted it in such a way that was righteous? The Pharisees hated Jesus, called him all manner of things and crucified him because he exposed their lusts cloaked behind religion. I find the same thing here. I find men using scripture to degrade women instead of lift them up, using it to excuse their own lusts, using it to give themselves privelege and deny the same privelege to the women.

Here is an example of a woman who escaped polygamy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJAvqc5u9KM

I know the men here for it will say it doesn't have to be that way....but the end result of polygamy, although it may not be abuse, will always leave women second class citizens with fewer rights than men and unfulfilled in their relationships. Why a God-fearing man would want that and/or promote it in any fashion is beyond me.

This is my last post on the subject because I simply find it too disturning to think that men in the Apostolic church would fight for this supposedly based on the "Bible" to back it up. You can back up anything you want if you twist your views hard enough. Like I said, I don't find polygamy a sin as in making someone hellbound, I simply find it ignorant to promote as a good thing to do and ignorant to believe that polygamy can be an ideal.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by ILG

You explain away your own lusts and the disrepect towards women using the Bible to do it. I find that shameful and sad. Remember how the Pharisees interpreted scripture to their own benefit and Jesus rebuked them and interpreted it in such a way that was righteous? The Pharisees hated Jesus, called him all manner of things and crucified him because he exposed their lusts cloaked behind religion. I find the same thing here. I find men using scripture to degrade women instead of lift them up, using it to excuse their own lusts, using it to give themselves privelege and deny the same privelege to the women.

Here is an example of a woman who escaped polygamy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJAvqc5u9KM

I know the men here for it will say it doesn't have to be that way....but the end result of polygamy, although it may not be abuse, will always leave women second class citizens with fewer rights than men and unfulfilled in their relationships. Why a God-fearing man would want that and/or promote it in any fashion is beyond me.

This is my last post on the subject because I simply find it too disturning to think that men in the Apostolic church would fight for this supposedly based on the "Bible" to back it up. You can back up anything you want if you twist your views hard enough. Like I said, I don't find polygamy a sin as in making someone hellbound, I simply find it ignorant to promote as a good thing to do and ignorant to believe that polygamy can be an ideal.

All very good points.

But before judging polygamy in the Bible harshly I think we have view it in the context of biblical times...not in our modern context. Today there's no need for it. But in biblical times it was far better than the alternative that women faced.

The question that would have to be asked is what would be more degrading to women in a biblical context...polygamous marriage with rights, entitlements, and protections or being forced into slavery or prostitution? Men in the Old Testament might consider a strictly monogamous person who could marry additional women and didn't someone who didn't care enough about women to protect them from exploitation.

[Tyk]

Originally Posted by ILG

This is my last post on the subject because I simply find it too disturning to think that men in the Apostolic church would fight for this supposedly based on the "Bible" to back it up. You can back up anything you want if you twist your views hard enough. Like I said, I don't find polygamy a sin as in making someone hellbound, I simply find it ignorant to promote as a good thing to do and ignorant to believe that polygamy can be an ideal.

I agree 100%

Originally Posted by ILG

You explain away your own lusts and the disrepect towards women using the Bible to do it. I find that shameful and sad. Remember how the Pharisees interpreted scripture to their own benefit and Jesus rebuked them and interpreted it in such a way that was righteous? The Pharisees hated Jesus, called him all manner of things and crucified him because he exposed their lusts cloaked behind religion. I find the same thing here. I find men using scripture to degrade women instead of lift them up, using it to excuse their own lusts, using it to give themselves privelege and deny the same privelege to the women.

Here is an example of a woman who escaped polygamy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJAvqc5u9KM

I know the men here for it will say it doesn't have to be that way....but the end result of polygamy, although it may not be abuse, will always leave women second class citizens with fewer rights than men and unfulfilled in their relationships. Why a God-fearing man would want that and/or promote it in any fashion is beyond me.

This is my last post on the subject because I simply find it too disturning to think that men in the Apostolic church would fight for this supposedly based on the "Bible" to back it up. You can back up anything you want if you twist your views hard enough. Like I said, I don't find polygamy a sin as in making someone hellbound, I simply find it ignorant to promote as a good thing to do and ignorant to believe that polygamy can be an ideal.

For all of these women you put a video out for.. I can show you hundreds more who love their lives and have chosen to stay

[CC1]

Originally Posted by Dr. Vaughn

For all of these women you put a video out for.. I can show you hundreds more who love their lives and have chosen to stay

What do your wives think?

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by CC1

What do your wives think?

My wife wants me out of her hair and somone to help with the house work.

[Dora]

Originally Posted by ILG

You explain away your own lusts and the disrepect towards women using the Bible to do it. I find that shameful and sad. Remember how the Pharisees interpreted scripture to their own benefit and Jesus rebuked them and interpreted it in such a way that was righteous? The Pharisees hated Jesus, called him all manner of things and crucified him because he exposed their lusts cloaked behind religion. I find the same thing here. I find men using scripture to degrade women instead of lift them up, using it to excuse their own lusts, using it to give themselves privelege and deny the same privelege to the women.

Here is an example of a woman who escaped polygamy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJAvqc5u9KM

I know the men here for it will say it doesn't have to be that way....but the end result of polygamy, although it may not be abuse, will always leave women second class citizens with fewer rights than men and unfulfilled in their relationships. Why a God-fearing man would want that and/or promote it in any fashion is beyond me.

This is my last post on the subject because I simply find it too disturning to think that men in the Apostolic church would fight for this supposedly based on the "Bible" to back it up. You can back up anything you want if you twist your views hard enough. Like I said, I don't find polygamy a sin as in making someone hellbound, I simply find it ignorant to promote as a good thing to do and ignorant to believe that polygamy can be an ideal.

Thank you, ILG. Well-stated! I'm in shock!

[Michael Phelps]

Originally Posted by Dr. Vaughn

Miss Brattfield.... there is one difference between Polygamy and Divorce.... God himself endorsed and encouraged Polygamy.. he always forbid and condemnded divorce and remarriage... he is a God of Covenant and he sees marriage as a Covenant

Can you give me instances of sanctioned polygamy in the New Testament?

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Michael Phelps

Can you give me instances of sanctioned polygamy in the New Testament?

I have only heard of one reference to it. Jesus gave a parable about 10 virgins who were awaiting their groom. These are regarded by some to be a party of 10 women awaiting their marriage as was customary among women given as brides between nations, tribes, or large families. A the groom would often make an arrangement for a certain number of wives and come for them unexpectedly. Well...five were wise and prepared but five were foolish and found locked out of their wedding.

Some have said that if Christ found polygamy detestable he wouldn't have used it as an example to illustrate a righteous spiritual teaching.