POLYGAMY

Polygamy is divisive, and repugnant to the social norms of today's society. But is it against Torah? Specifically it may not be, but if we offend social norms and break the laws of the rulers Yahuah set over us, those extenuating circumstances can harm our work for Yahusha. An elder is to be the husband of only one wife (1 Tim 3:2). All the advice given concerning marriage uses the singular word "wife", not "wives." 1Co 7:2: "But because of whoring, let each one have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband." Conventions and practices we perceive historically in Scripture are different from our norms today, and were not criminal behavior at all. Arabs still allow a man to have up to 4 wives, and this pattern is not Islamic but rather extends from the ancient times as far back as Abraham, who is also their father. The practice of having one wife is the ideal example, and Yahusha made use of the ideal when He said, For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh, so that they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what Alahim has joined together, let man not separate. - Mk. 10:7-10

Adam had one ashah (woman), and Yahusha said these things in the context of the ideal marriage in the beginning. In todays Roman-based culture people tend to equate polygamists with zombies, hippies, and non-conformists. Christians of every period have thought any aberrant behavior from the norm was sin. Behavior like gambling, dancing, drinking wine or beer, showing skin above the elbows or knees, or working on Sun-day might offend the sensibilities of those trained to think these are sinful deeds, but they would eat a ham sandwich and blow out birthday candles on their birthday without a second thought. What Yahuah says for or against things should match our behavior, but teaching authorities tend to ignore His perspective and favor their own. To get a little better handle on this topic, check out this webpage, and let me know how you receive what it says: http://www.fossilizedcustoms.com/polygamy.html