As a matter of fact, we CAN'T answer this question from Scripture, for God nowhere made a specific declaration either way. (If you DO find one, please let us know -- we've been looking for YEARS. :shock: )
So we have to turn to reasoned arguments. Many of them (pro or con) are pretty easy to poke holes in. However, here is an answer that seems to make a great deal of sense. Form your own conclusion ... :roll:
Perhaps in a perfect (ideal) world, monogamy IS ideal! Think about it ...
In that perfect world, there would be an exactly equal number of perfect children born to perfect parents. They would have a perfect childhood, neither dying nor losing a parent to death or divorce. At the perfect moment, they would meet each other, have a perfect courtship and marriage, a perfect life together, and either live forever or die after many hundreds of years within moments of each other. (Happy, happy, joy, joy! :lol: )
But we don't live in a perfect world. Kids die, parents die, divorce happens, demographics are skewed ... must I go on?
In that ideal world, there would be no need for adoption, right? But in this world, adoption is God's perfect provision for an imperfect world. Though we humans don't follow through as well as we could, the provision means that every child could grow up in a home instead of an orphanage.
Similarly, in that ideal world, there would be no need for polygamy. But it is God's perfect provision for our imperfect world. Though we humans don't follow through very well, and often mess up when we try to, still, the provision means that every adult could live out their life in a marriage relationship -- an ideal which CAN be defended from Scripture.
Not everyone is able to handle adoption, nor is everyone suitable for polygamy. But just as we applaud those who choose adoption and handle it well, perhaps we should applaud and support those who choose and do a good job of polygamy.
Perhaps even consider either or both for ourselves ... :roll:
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