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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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