Gen 24:67 And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife. And he loved her. ...

Oh dear, no official paperwork signed, no priest to pronounce them man and wife, how could they possibly be married in God's eyes?

Bigamy is illegal, not polygyny. It is illegal to officially marry more than one wife but when people marry outside the official system then the Law does not prosecute them.

It might surprise many to know Warren Jeffs was not charged with polygamy. If polygyny was illegal then the courts would be full.

Christians should obey the law of the land which is against polygamy so it is claimed by the traditionalists;
1Pe 2:13-14  Then be in obedience to every ordinance of men, because of the Lord, whether to a king as supreme, or to governors as sent by Him for vengeance on evildoers, but for praise on well-doers.

Rom 13:1-2  Let every soul be subject to the higher authorities. For there is no authority but of God; the authorities that exist are ordained by God. So that the one resisting the authority resists the ordinance of God; and the ones who resist will receive judgment to themselves.

Only when man's law contradicts God’s laws are we free to disobey men they argue, but if God elevated these “governments” above His Word, a ludicrous assumption since His Word He "magnified above all His name" (Ps.138:2);  then what basis is there for such man made classifications since Peter says “every ordinance of men”? Where does the Bible say we are to contradict the Romans 13:1-2 if man's laws oppose God's? If God placed men in authority and as Paul says "For there is no authority but of God" them we are to obey men or we have God contradicting Himself. If the Bible says every ordinance, then that is what Christians must do; Hitler had to be obeyed if the "law of the land" means what it says.

The "law of the land" says no fault divorce. Then obviously, Christians should never accept that option since Matt.19:9 strictly forbids it. Any Christian who has "used" the Law of the Land as an option for divorce other than that involving adultery is committing adultery and should never be allowed in the church pews or pulpits. Any church that winks at "no fault" divorce should remain forever silent on crying that polygyny is illegal or against the law of the land. Hypocrisy is alive and well.

A point worth considering is that maybe Roms.13:1-2 is not referring to the civil governments but the governments of God. The Lord set up governments within the assemblies during the Acts period (1Cor.12:28) and Christians had to obey the Apostles who carried the "sword" of judgment in that Pentecostal administration. Perhaps it was those God given Laws and Law enforcers Christians at that time were to obey fully?

But wait, is the Law of the Land against Polygyny? In some countries the law protects “de facto” relationships including cases of monogamous men with "mistresses" (not to be called a second wife of course). The term “extended family” is now common when such situations require judicial rulings in child support cases.

Read some legal arguments on the links page.

The law is in a state of flux in some western societies. Canada is examining its position on polygyny perhaps because it recognizes plural marriages originating in countries where it is legal but then has legal issues against such marriages inside its own borders; now there is a "what to do". Israel likewise, with a growing gap of women out numbering men looks uneasily at the polygynous enemies around them.

Legislators in other countries are likewise expressing concern at the exposure to discrimination polygynysts experience; there are many plural families within the western world who are not prosecuted since they do not "legally" marry.

Is polygamy really against the law? Christians who marry outside the state and church "legal" document system are not breaking the law and since where does the Word of God demand a marriage be under government contract and with final blessing of a minister "pronouncing" them man and wife? If this be the criteria then most marriages in the Bible are "illegal".

Christian polygynists consider God is supreme in the matter of marriage since the marriage is between God and the participants, not between denominations, governments and participants. (Acts 5:29). Those who marry outside of State and "church" administration are not breaking the "laws of the Land".

Christians are returning to God's Scriptural guidelines about marriage and the Word says polygamy has always been lawful before God.

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