There is an argument for plural marriage that has been over looked. At least I haven't read it anywhere. The issue of tithing is a powerful arguement for plural marriage. You see nowhere in the New Testament are we commanded to tithe (give 10% of our income). Jesus mentions it in Matthew but keep in mind He lives under the law. The only other place it is mentioned is hebrews but it is describing Abraham tithing to Melchesadek and how Christ priesthood is superior to Aarons. It is descriptive not prescriptive writing. Now the New Testament does command us to give but never specifies how much. Yet we see just about all mainstream christianity teach tithing for today as a new testament principle. What is their arguement for it. Let me paste it. Bible Answer: You asked a great question. I get this question all the time.
Tithing began before the law was introduced. The Law simply regulated the tithe. Abraham tithed to Melchizedek, 400 years before the time of Moses and the Law, and according to Romans 4:12 we are to walk in the footsteps of the faith of Abraham. If tithing was good for him, it should be good for us, too.
We give tithes like Abraham gave them—not by the Law but by faith. And beside that, if the people of God paid ten percent before the Law, and ten percent under the Law, shouldn't we, who live by grace, be doing any less when we have a better covenant (Heb 7:22).
It looks like they pick and choose. In fact that looks like a good argument for plural marriage. I learned this argument on tithes in college to defend it. But I realized I had a double standard here, when it came to plural marriage.
This was the beginning of my change of mind on this issue. Substitute the word tithe with polygyny and see if it does not fit perfectly. It seems they like Gods money ideas but not his marriage ideas. Next time they try to make you defend your marriage ideas, make them defend their money ideas and you see where to go next. This truly is the only defense for New Testament tithing, so if they want to throw out polygyny you must throw out tithing. Please give me feedback on this post and let me know if it helps you.
Tithing began before the law was introduced. The Law simply regulated the tithe. Abraham tithed to Melchizedek, 400 years before the time of Moses and the Law, and according to Romans 4:12 we are to walk in the footsteps of the faith of Abraham. If tithing was good for him, it should be good for us, too.
We give tithes like Abraham gave them—not by the Law but by faith. And beside that, if the people of God paid ten percent before the Law, and ten percent under the Law, shouldn't we, who live by grace, be doing any less when we have a better covenant (Heb 7:22).
It looks like they pick and choose. In fact that looks like a good argument for plural marriage. I learned this argument on tithes in college to defend it. But I realized I had a double standard here, when it came to plural marriage.
This was the beginning of my change of mind on this issue. Substitute the word tithe with polygyny and see if it does not fit perfectly. It seems they like Gods money ideas but not his marriage ideas. Next time they try to make you defend your marriage ideas, make them defend their money ideas and you see where to go next. This truly is the only defense for New Testament tithing, so if they want to throw out polygyny you must throw out tithing. Please give me feedback on this post and let me know if it helps you.