The pastor who baptized me last year - I know goes to Africa to evangelize. I remember he mentioned to me last year (before the Lord lead me to truth in terms of Biblical marriage), there’s a lot of polygamous men there.
I haven’t been in touch with him for a while. But last week I sent him a message. Below is the conversation:
My message:
I’m doing very well - praise King Jesus. Michael is doing amazing, and he’s a year and half right now. He’s growing up big time.
But I was reading an article today on Catholicism - and how when they go to African nations with polygamous men - they would recommend the men to divorce their extra wives which in some cases causes the women to go into prostitution. I remember you mentioned you go to Africa to evangelize as well. I was just curious where you stand on that?
His reply:
This is a complex question that I not sure a text can fully answer. But, I will try to condense my biblical understanding in this answer. I believe marriage is to be between one man and one wife (Genesis 2:24 and Matthew 19:5). In fact God in the OT says not to multiply wives (Deuteronomy 17:17). So if they want to be pleasing to the Lord there is to be no sexual relationship outside of their wife and no polygamous relationships. Regarding the “extra wives” as the man has created this situation they I think they do bear a financial responsibility to help those women and any children that might have resulted.
If you have more questions or would like to study this just let me know.
My reply:
Thanks for your reply David. This is a longer message, but hope you go through it all; and pray on it to our Heavenly Father in Jesus’ mighty name:
Deuteronomy 17:17
And he shall not acquire many wives for himself, lest his heart turn away, nor shall he acquire for himself excessive silver and gold.
Multiplying wives is in the same category as multiplying wealth. Do we also teach Christians they can only have (1) car? Only (1) house? Only (1) oz of Gold?
Furthermore, if the Master had no problem with his servant, David, having roughly 20 wives, then who are we to judge?
2 Samuel 12:8 (to king David)
I gave you your master’s house and his wives and the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. And if that had not been enough, I would have given you much, much more.
Also to king david:
1 Kings 15:5
For David had done what was pleasing in the LORD’s sight and had obeyed the LORD’s commands throughout his life, except in the affair concerning Uriah the Hittite.
Therefore the Master, King Jesus Christ, had no issue with david taking care of multiple women and children through marriage. The marriage bed can not be defiled - but God will judge adulterers and fornicators (Hebrews 13:4).
A man (husband) becomes “one flesh” with any woman he has sex with. Even a prostitute, therefore, he can become one flesh with more than one woman:
1 Corinthians 6:16
Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.” Flee from sexual immorality.
What about what Paul wrote regarding everyone having his own wife and her own husband? If you read what the Holy Spirit had Paul write in the original Greek Language, you’ll see that it’s an entirely different Greek word between the man and woman:
“Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own [heautou – exclusively owned] wife, and let every woman have her own [idios – shared] husband.”
If the Holy Spirit wanted monogamy only - then the Spirit could had Paul write “heautou” for both the husband and wife. No human translation is perfect - only the Holy Spirit is Perfect 🕊
New Matthew Bible (from William Tyndale who was martyred. This came before the kjv):
Matthew 5:28
But I say to you that whosoever looks on a “wife,” lusting after her, has committed adultery with her already in his heart.
Almost all translations translated the Greek word “γυναῖκα” to “woman” instead of correctly translating to “wife.” But for that same Greek word “γυναῖκα” they translate correctly to “wife” in every other verse. Including just 3 verses later:
Matthew 5:31
It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife (γυναῖκα) must give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife (γυναῖκα) except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery.
1 Timothy 4:3
1 Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in later days people will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons. 3 They will “forbid marriage.”
Many churches, I believe, have been deceived by the adversary in terms of the Biblical Family Unit. It’s very clear from scripture that a man has a God given right to add multiple wives - as long as he meets Jesus’ guidelines for it. Of course any marriage vows (forsake all others) would dis qualify such a man. Of course - it’s illegal in the western world if you wish to get it done through the government
But for polygamous men in Africa - I don’t think it’s right to recommend them to divorce their wives without cause. Because it’s written - Jesus “hates” divorce. Also it’s written any man that divorces his wife for any reason except for her committing sexual immorality - and if she sleeps with another man - that man caused her to commit adultery. But this blame could be carried over to anyone that encouraged him to divorce his plural wives too. This is why I believe it’s very important to study this matter much more closely, and pray on it.
Been about 5 days - no response.
I haven’t been in touch with him for a while. But last week I sent him a message. Below is the conversation:
My message:
I’m doing very well - praise King Jesus. Michael is doing amazing, and he’s a year and half right now. He’s growing up big time.
But I was reading an article today on Catholicism - and how when they go to African nations with polygamous men - they would recommend the men to divorce their extra wives which in some cases causes the women to go into prostitution. I remember you mentioned you go to Africa to evangelize as well. I was just curious where you stand on that?
His reply:
This is a complex question that I not sure a text can fully answer. But, I will try to condense my biblical understanding in this answer. I believe marriage is to be between one man and one wife (Genesis 2:24 and Matthew 19:5). In fact God in the OT says not to multiply wives (Deuteronomy 17:17). So if they want to be pleasing to the Lord there is to be no sexual relationship outside of their wife and no polygamous relationships. Regarding the “extra wives” as the man has created this situation they I think they do bear a financial responsibility to help those women and any children that might have resulted.
If you have more questions or would like to study this just let me know.
My reply:
Thanks for your reply David. This is a longer message, but hope you go through it all; and pray on it to our Heavenly Father in Jesus’ mighty name:
Deuteronomy 17:17
And he shall not acquire many wives for himself, lest his heart turn away, nor shall he acquire for himself excessive silver and gold.
Multiplying wives is in the same category as multiplying wealth. Do we also teach Christians they can only have (1) car? Only (1) house? Only (1) oz of Gold?
Furthermore, if the Master had no problem with his servant, David, having roughly 20 wives, then who are we to judge?
2 Samuel 12:8 (to king David)
I gave you your master’s house and his wives and the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. And if that had not been enough, I would have given you much, much more.
Also to king david:
1 Kings 15:5
For David had done what was pleasing in the LORD’s sight and had obeyed the LORD’s commands throughout his life, except in the affair concerning Uriah the Hittite.
Therefore the Master, King Jesus Christ, had no issue with david taking care of multiple women and children through marriage. The marriage bed can not be defiled - but God will judge adulterers and fornicators (Hebrews 13:4).
A man (husband) becomes “one flesh” with any woman he has sex with. Even a prostitute, therefore, he can become one flesh with more than one woman:
1 Corinthians 6:16
Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.” Flee from sexual immorality.
What about what Paul wrote regarding everyone having his own wife and her own husband? If you read what the Holy Spirit had Paul write in the original Greek Language, you’ll see that it’s an entirely different Greek word between the man and woman:
“Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own [heautou – exclusively owned] wife, and let every woman have her own [idios – shared] husband.”
If the Holy Spirit wanted monogamy only - then the Spirit could had Paul write “heautou” for both the husband and wife. No human translation is perfect - only the Holy Spirit is Perfect 🕊
New Matthew Bible (from William Tyndale who was martyred. This came before the kjv):
Matthew 5:28
But I say to you that whosoever looks on a “wife,” lusting after her, has committed adultery with her already in his heart.
Almost all translations translated the Greek word “γυναῖκα” to “woman” instead of correctly translating to “wife.” But for that same Greek word “γυναῖκα” they translate correctly to “wife” in every other verse. Including just 3 verses later:
Matthew 5:31
It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife (γυναῖκα) must give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife (γυναῖκα) except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery.
1 Timothy 4:3
1 Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in later days people will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons. 3 They will “forbid marriage.”
Many churches, I believe, have been deceived by the adversary in terms of the Biblical Family Unit. It’s very clear from scripture that a man has a God given right to add multiple wives - as long as he meets Jesus’ guidelines for it. Of course any marriage vows (forsake all others) would dis qualify such a man. Of course - it’s illegal in the western world if you wish to get it done through the government
But for polygamous men in Africa - I don’t think it’s right to recommend them to divorce their wives without cause. Because it’s written - Jesus “hates” divorce. Also it’s written any man that divorces his wife for any reason except for her committing sexual immorality - and if she sleeps with another man - that man caused her to commit adultery. But this blame could be carried over to anyone that encouraged him to divorce his plural wives too. This is why I believe it’s very important to study this matter much more closely, and pray on it.
Been about 5 days - no response.
