HET DIE HERE POLIGAMIE AANBEVEEL?
Die antwoord is: Nee.
Maar voor ek iets verder oor poligamie sê, net gou weer die volgende:
Ja, alle oortredings van die sewende gebod moet aangespreek word, nie net van dade nie, maar ook denke, soos Christus ons leer in Matt.5:27-30.
Alle aanslae dus teen die plek waar die Here geslagsomgang geplaas het, die huwelik tussen een man en een vrou (Gen.1,2; Matt.19; Ef.5), moet afgewys word deur gelowiges volgens die Woord, soos ons bely in HK Sondag 41,
Sondag: 41 – VRAAG EN ANTWOORD: 108
Vraag: Wat leer die sewende gebod ons?
Antwoord: Alle onkuisheid is deur God vervloek1, en daarom moet ons dit hartgrondig haat2. Daarenteen moet ons kuis en ingetoë lewe3 sowel binne as buite die huwelik4.
Skriffundering:
- Levitikus 18:28
- Maleagi 2:16
- 1 Tessalonisense 4:3-5
- 1 Korintiërs 7:7-11; Hebreërs 13:4; Judas:23
Sondag: 41 – VRAAG EN ANTWOORD: 109
Vraag: Verbied God in hierdie gebod niks meer as net egbreuk en sulke skandes nie?
Antwoord: Omdat beide, ons liggaam en siel, ‘n tempel van die Heilige Gees is, wil God dat ons altwee rein en heilig bewaar. Daarom verbied hy alle onkuise dade, gebare, woorde1, gedagtes, luste2 en alles wat ‘n mens daartoe kan verlei3.
Skriffundering:
- 1 Korintiërs 6:18-19; Efesiërs 5:3-4
- Deuteronomium 22:20-29; Matteus 5:27-28
- 1 Korintiërs 15:33; Efesiërs 5:18
Nadat ons dit gesê het, is dit wel so dat sekere sake wat die huwelik aanval of laat skade lei, al meer probeer geregverdig word in ons tye, met die gebruik van die Bybel, en twee van daardie voorbeelde is homoseksualisme en poligamie. Die gay agenda word al meer aggresief in ons tye, en ons land se president is seker die bekendste poligamis in SA. Daarom is dit dat hierdie sake meer aandag kry as ander sake wat natuurlik ook aangespreek moet word.
Onlangs het ek op die volgende studie afgekom wat gedoen is oor poligamie, wat ek wil aanbeveel vir verdere studie, beide uit ‘n teologiese en pastorale oogpunt, veral omdat die skrywer tans onder die Tsongas sendingwerk doen waar poligamie natuurlik ‘n groot probleem is:
Pastoring Polygamists: Biblical Councel for the African Church
Ek haal twee dele aan uit die studie:
ABSTRACT
Pastoring Polygamists: Biblical Counsel for the African Church
Paul D. Schlehlein
This thesis explores polygamy within African culture by addressing the hermeneutical, biblical, and pastoral implications on a matter heavily debated throughout the centuries. Since the majority of passages describing polygamy occur in the Old Testament (OT), proper rules and guidelines are necessary for a suitable handling of the OT in the New Testament (NT) era.
Several OT passages appear to condone polygamy, leading some to tolerate its
practice. After all, Abraham, Jacob, David, and Solomon were godly men greatly blessed of God—all of whom had multiple wives. Many believe this is clear support for polygamous marriages. This thesis seeks to debunk those arguments by taking a closer look at the context, grammar, purpose, and application of all the relevant passages.
The crux of this thesis aims to give pastoral counsel to those ministers who are
shepherding polygamists after they are converted. Though the counsel handed down by church history gives no consensus on this point, Jesus’ teaching on divorce and remarriage does give light. Further there are a host of other NT passages that solidify the point of this thesis: Scripture never condones or legislates polygamy, nor does it mandate the formal divorce of converted polygamists, thus freeing African pastors to be shrewd and gracious in
their counsel of them.
CONCLUSION
Since the majority of passages dealing with polygamy are found in the OT, we have laid down several principles that will guide us in our interpretation. One is that Christians must follow OT truth but only as it reflects the teaching, ethical principles and implications found within the NT.
Another is that in our study of polygamy, we must determine which passages are asserting and which are illustrating, knowing that the former carries more weight. Still another is that understanding the genre and culture of the passage is also crucial.
The clearest explanation of marriage is found in the second chapter of the Bible (Gen.2:18-24), where it is defined as monogamous, restricted, permanent, and intimate. This definition does not even tacitly permit a polygamous marriage. The polygamous unions of Lamech, Abraham, Esau, Jacob, Solomon, Joash, and David illustrate the disastrous consequences that follow partnerships not in keeping with God’s plan. None of these unions were created while these men were seeking and trusting God. Their wives could not say: “My beloved is mine [only], and I am his [only]” (Song of Sol. 2:16).
The OT consistently upholds God’s created pattern for marriage, despite the examples of polygamy found therein. After careful scrutiny, none of the OT passages that appear to tolerate polygamy are found to do so. The NT confirms the OT antipathy toward polygamy, with 1 Corinthians 7:1-5 and Ephesians 5:25-32 modeling a righteous and monogamous relationship and 1 Timothy 3:2 forbidding polygamists from holding pastoral office.
Though historically various branches of the church have upheld this biblical standard, various branches of the modern missionary movement have increasingly been at odds regarding what to do with converted polygamists. Regarding the NT evidence on divorce and remarriage, we have seen that Jesus upheld a very high standard of marriage in forbidding divorce except where porneia is involved.
We have argued further that the term porneia be understood as including the sexual sins found in Leviticus 18, including polygamy. Thus, polygamy may be a legitimate ground for divorce. Though I have not argued that polygamists must formally divorce all of their spouses but the first, I did give seven reasons why a pastor should withhold church membership from a polygamous man until he chooses to live intimately with only his first wife, all the while continuing to provide for the needs of his other wives and children. If they should so choose, he should free them to enter a monogamous marriage.
Thus, I restate my thesis: Scripture never condones or legislates polygamy, nor does it mandate the formal divorce of converted polygamists, thus freeing African pastors to be shrewd and gracious in their counsel of them. The African pastor must approach this issue with a focus on the gospel, a love for people, humility in speech, and a desire for the marital unions of his flock to reflect Christ’s love for his church.
Op grond van hierdie studie het die skrywer, Paul Schlehlein, ‘n paar artikels oor die saak geskryf wat ook gelees kan word as ‘n oorsig oor die saak:
If Polygamy is wrong, why does God commend it ?
“In sum, Yahweh did not in any way sanction David’s polygamy. If God had literally given Saul’s wives to David, this would have been to encourage incest. Most likely, the verse means that David was given charge and responsibility over Saul’s house. Moreover—per the prophet Nathan—David’s sin was not only adultery and murder but also polygamy, with David later in life living as a monogamist.”
“Is polygamy adultery? Yes it is, and the church would be wise to take this into account when counseling male and female polygamists who have been converted and want to join the church. Still, because of the sensitivity of this issue, church leaders ought to approach this matter with great humility, gentleness and prayer.”
The Polygamy problem in Tsonga Culture
“There may be exceptions that allow for polygamy, something we will soon discuss, but without a doubt monogamy is God’s design for the human race. It took just over fifty verses before the author of Genesis began defining for us the meaning of marriage, and it is this passage to which we will turn next.”
“If we as parents are lax in exposing our children to immorality on TV, casual relationships, immodest clothing, unlimited internet access, and unsupervised liaisons, Verrijdt may be right that our only hope in preventing premarital sex is cloistering our teens in monasteries. And to us would fall the greater condemnation.”
“Africa needs fathers and husbands who will lead their households to Christ. Africa needs men who act as mirrors, before which their children can see an accurate picture of themselves and the gospel. African men need to abandon the cloak of pseudo-humility used to cover their bad character and instead urge their wives and children to follow them (1Co. 11:1). What Africa needs is an army of noble men.”
Book Review: Flame of Yahweh: Sexuality in the Old Testament
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My eie skrywes oor poligamie.
PRO REGNO 