Results 1 - 6 of 6
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Does God endorse polygamy? | 1 Kin 11:3 | Swordman007 | 68959 | ||
I have been very busy, so answering everyone has been a luxury I have been afforded these past few days. If I may, I have backed off from using words like "endorse" and "ideal" since such words can be carried to the extreme, depending upon who you find yourself talking to. That is why I have maintained my position against God's allegedly having "condemned" polygamy. The numerous attempts by various individuals to place me on the defensive by asking questions that stretch my words beyond the extreme are exactly what I have avoided for obvious reasons. It makes no sense to defend what one never said in the first place. Now, Steve, the vigor of my defense does not automatically mean that I am assuming that God fully endorses polygamy for all men. I have repeatedly stated that polygamy is NOT for all men since I know that all men could not/would not handle such a family structure. Not all men have a desire for more than one wife. However, as some have indicated to me before, for anyone to assume that a man desires more than one wife strictly on the basis of lust is just as idiotic as saying that a man's desire for one wife is based strictly on the basis of lust. We ALL know that this is not a general rule for all men. It is astounding to say the least just how heartless men in this country can be toward the many single, believing sisters who admit on a regular basis that they cannot find a decent, reliable man to love. Many men in this country of ours are simply dysfunctional as REAL men. I know that there are those who would argue aginst this, but then all one has to do is perform a general consensus among different churches and find out that it is quite true that women in churches outnumber men. I am not presenting this as an apologetic FOR polygamy since only the word of God can answer that issue. However, the rabbid bias against polygamy might be better tempered if due consideration were given to those who DO seek a loving family to become a part of, but simply cannot find a godly man to fill that void. Most men simply do not care at all what many of the single sisters are going through. Feminism has done more harm than good in our culture. I also realize that my words may very well be twisted out of context by some....again. I have mentioned the above concerning the many single sisters because it is part of what is NOT being considered in the midst of all this anti-polygamy rhetoric. That is essentially what I have been getting all along so far, rather than clear Biblical teaching to back the anti-polygamy position. I have already dealt with the "husband of one wife" issue in Titus and 2 Timothy, and I have also dealt with the elusive, and outright non-existent command of only one wife for each man sinply based upon what Adam was given. And yet the nonsensical arguments continue to surface, even to the extent of accusing me personally of living in sin and lust. (I am not talking about you, Steve.) If personal attacks (ad hominem) are the final resort of those who fail to realize that their case is weak at best, then it is only logical to leave those individuals hanging without due consideration. Now, Steve, to address your reference in James, the word of God is right. If polygamy is wrong for you, then by all means avoid it in your own life. But to try and force God's word into conformity to your own personal conscience concerning polygamy simply because it does not set well with you personally (consdiering that the Word of God clearly does not condemn polygamy), well, I find that to be highly questionable. Don |
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2 | Does God endorse polygamy? | 1 Kin 11:3 | srbaegon | 68964 | ||
Hello Don I agree with your assessment concerning dysfunctional men in western society and the situation in which women find themselves. But as to your allusion, cultural situations are not proper for apologetics. Scripture is. So far you have adhered to a preceptive hermeneutic--what is and is not explicitly stated. However, you have overlooked the important area of patterns. This is why we see Adam and Eve, Eph 5, etc. as such strong arguments for monogamy as the biblical standard. When looking at the lives of known polygomists we find either: 1) men of low character and complete disregard for God or 2) God-fearing men whose families were ruined from internal strife. David is an exception because his family was ruined by his adultery and murder. As an aside, your posting sounded more like postmodern relativism than sound exegesis. You should be careful about that. Steve |
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3 | Does God endorse polygamy? | 1 Kin 11:3 | Swordman007 | 69000 | ||
Hello, Steve. I agree that scripture is the ONLY authority for apologetics rather than cultural norms. I have reiterated that in several of my posts. I understand your observation about my comments sounding like post-modern relativism. That was quite an astute observation. I knew that there was a danger of my viewpoint coming across as such. Thank you. When mentioning culture and social norms, one always risks being labeled a relativist. I stand by an earlier comment I had made that absolute TRUTH is not at all defined by cultural or social norms. However, I still emphasize grave problems in the practice of transliterating Christ's and His apostle's comments concerning divorce. Jesus had EVERY opportunity to address the issue of plural wives in the lives of many around him, and yet He was completely silent on the issue. It is a given that most commentaries rest part of their case against polygamy on the comments concerning divorce. These are entirely different issues. How one can honestly bring the two together without any feelings of guilt escapes me entirely. To my own way of thinking, I could not in good conscience say to someone that because God gave king David several wives that He expects all men to go out and seek plural wives. We both know that such an approach is intellecutally dishonest. When Jesus spoke on the issue of a man marrying his dead brother's wife in order to fulfill an obligation to provide an heir for the deceased brother, He said nothing against the fact that the Law made no mention that the living brother HAD to be single in order to take on that brother's widow as his own wife. He had every opportunity to address this alleged "weakness" in the Law, and yet He was completely silent about the issue of plural wives. Was He not smart enough to realize the implications of this? Certainly He knew the Law and its implications better than any man who has ever lived. Now, as for your comment concerning the problems within polygamous families portrayed within the scriptures, there are a few. Jacob had problems of jealousy becasue he had married two sisters, which is a direct violation of God's Law. Moses did not have problems assiciated with his having two wives, neither did Abraham after the death of Sarah (He had two more wives after Sarah's death). We are not told that Gideon had problems with his many wives. His problems were of a personal nature, not family related. In reality, your observation is not only very narrowly applied, but not in keeping with known facts. Too many people assume that ALL polygamous families had problems with strife and jealousy. What monogamous family has not had these same problems at one time or another? There is no such thing as a perfect marriage among men on this earth, so your point is not well taken in this regard. Sorry, but I simply disagree on the basis of what is within scripture AND within the context of personal expeirence with numerous families with plural wives who are living out polygamy in a Godly fassion that brings glory to the Lord. Thanks, brother Yours in Christ Jesus Don Dean |
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4 | Does God endorse polygamy? | 1 Kin 11:3 | Reformer Joe | 69004 | ||
"Jesus had EVERY opportunity to address the issue of plural wives in the lives of many around him, and yet He was completely silent on the issue." That is because polygamy was not practiced in 1st-century Judea. --Joe! |
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5 | Does God endorse polygamy? | 1 Kin 11:3 | Swordman007 | 69058 | ||
You appear to have quite a liking for intellectual suicide. Well, until you are willing to study history for yourself, nothing anyone else says will have any real power of conviciton for you. Your bent on utilizing ad hominem tactics to try and win your case are....well....what can one say about such things? Do you know what "ad hominem" means? If not, then let me know and I will explain it to you. Now, I welcome a Biblical perspective of plural marriage if you can come up with one that is valid rather than nonsensical. |
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6 | Does God endorse polygamy? | 1 Kin 11:3 | Reformer Joe | 69163 | ||
I'd like to point you do guideline number 1 of the Lockman foundation with regard to the nature of your posts. When you reply to this, please make a note of it right before you hit the "submit" button. | ||||||