Polygamy in the Bible

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by TK Burk

This is why Jesus said we must count the cost.... Evidently he did and it was too high.

Tough choices had to be made by those in the First Century also. If you were a Jew, you forfeited everything to become a disciple of Jesus Christ. Even today, Muslim converts often convert knowing it may cost them horrendous persecution or even their lives. But regardless of the cost, if it's right, it's right! (See Mark 8:34-38; 1Peter 4:13-16)

Let's consider a very real scenario played out in churches all across the United States....

A man and his wife and kids come to church and get saved. It is discovered that she was married before and she and her first husband separated in a "no fault" divorce.

Here's the deal bro...they have an adulterous marriage. She wasn't divorced on the pretenses of sexual infidelity and so according to Jesus this man is committing adultery by living with her. Jesus said,

Matthew 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.

According to your logic....

"Tough choices had to be made by those in the First Century also. If you were a Jew, you forfeited everything to become a disciple of Jesus Christ. Even today, Muslim converts often convert knowing it may cost them horrendous persecution or even their lives. But regardless of the cost, if it's right, it's right."

Do you think the man should be forced to divorce his wife and children to end an adulterous marriage?

Frankly, this is more serious than polygamy because it's directly addressed with clear prohibition. Many would say, ....

...."Well, God forgives sin. We'll just have to pray that God puts it under the blood and help minister to them as a family."

Others would resort to "justification"....

...."Well, this second marriage was adultery so I guess she committed sexual infidelity and so that divorce is NOW valid."

Get real. The issue is that she was put away for something other than forbidden sexual relations. She was put away over "irreconcilable differences". The "adultery" is the second marriage itself, because technically she still belongs to her first husband.

So we have a choice when faced with these situations. We can acknowledge the less than favorable circumstances, pray for God's grace and forgiveness, and then move forward with what is best for all the individuals involved.....or we can demand that the letter of the law be applied and demand that this man and his wife divorce.