One Husband - Many Wives?

[Overaged]

In many societies polygamy—one husband with more than one wife—is accepted as a normal and legal form of marriage. For Christians living in most Western countries polygamy is both sinful and illegal. For decades Christian churches have debated what to do with polygamous families who are converted to Christianity. Should the family be broken up? Should church membership be granted to polygamists?

[MariaS]

Interesting to think about Overaged, I wonder what will other people say. I am eager to read..should you have the answer, do share.

GBU

[Gerr]

In many societies polygamy—one husband with more than one wife—is accepted as a normal and legal form of marriage. For Christians living in most Western countries polygamy is both sinful and illegal. For decades Christian churches have debated what to do with polygamous families who are converted to Christianity. Should the family be broken up? Should church membership be granted to polygamists?

IMHO, it would be more sinful to break up the families that have children. Where no children are involved, then let the woman/women decide whether to leave the polygamous relationship.

[MariaS]

How about a couple who have commited adultery, got married and realised later they should go back to their own families they were married to earlier. The interesting part is, the second marriage has produced one child.

BTW, the man did not divorce his frist wife..

Question is:

Should he leave the second young wife and go back to the first wife?

[Gerr]

How then did it happen that he was able to marry the second without divorcing the first?

[Woody]

Quote:

Should he leave the second young wife and go back to the first wife?

The 2nd one is illegitimate. It doesn't stand. It's simply an affair.

[SivartM]

Should he leave the second young wife and go back to the first wife?

It depends on if the first wife would even want him back.

[Gail]

Biblically he would not have been allowed to return to the first one.

[carolaa]

Biblically he would not have been allowed to return to the first one.

Do you have a reference for that?

[carolaa]

Quote:

Should he leave the second young wife and go back to the first wife?

The 2nd one is illegitimate. It doesn't stand. It's simply an affair.

Is that your opinion, or is that from another source?

[Gerr]

Originally Posted By: Gail

Biblically he would not have been allowed to return to the first one.

Do you have a reference for that?

Jer 3:1

[Gail]

Originally Posted By: Gail

Biblically he would not have been allowed to return to the first one.

Do you have a reference for that?

Jer 3:1

Deuteronomy 24:1-4, where there are laws regarding divorce

[Overaged]

Jer 3:1, in context, is God addressing the nation of Israel; not marriage. The analogy He uses here, is not proven to be a "command" for today.

[hch]

In many societies polygamy—one husband with more than one wife—is accepted as a normal and legal form of marriage. For Christians living in most Western countries polygamy is both sinful and illegal. For decades Christian churches have debated what to do with polygamous families who are converted to Christianity. Should the family be broken up? Should church membership be granted to polygamists?

[Gerr]

Originally Posted By: Gerry Cabalo

Jer 3:1' date=' in context, is God addressing the nation of Israel; not marriage. The analogy He uses here, is not proven to be a "command" for today. [/quote']

If Jeremiah thought that what Moses wrote (Dt 24:1-4 many centuries before was applicable in his time, what makes you think it is no longer applicable in our time? Can you show me where God changed His mind about this being no longer evil?

While Jeremiah was indeed addressing Israel's spiritual adultery, why would he make a spiritual application something that would have no literal moral force?

[Overaged]

Did I say "God changed His mind?" Read my post again. I asked if the text actually means what you say it does. It is easy to make an individual verse mean what we think it does. For eg

Psa 37:6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.

Now some would get all feel-good about this, while others flee to this:

Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Which is it that you are saying about marriage Gerry? Filthy Rags or Light? Can you prove your answer, so that we have a Biblical explanation for the OP?