Posted on 10/07/2004 10:39:13 AM PDT by skellmeyer
Americans do practice serial monogamy, multiple spouses, just one at a time, which can cause just as many problems(alimony, support, etc ...)
He was, thus the humor, you see.
Deacon was a term for spiritual church leader in the Bible.
Good article BUT there is a fact error contained within it. This article states that 70% of the population is polygamous, which is not the case. About 70% of the world's CULTURES practice polygamy, but MOST of the people are not polygamous. Most of those cultures are tiny and in out-of-the-way places (at least compared to China, India and western Europe). However, as I'm sure someone will point out more eloquently than me, a society filled with unattached (and horny) young men is a prescription for social chaos. Not that this matters to those who want to wreck the American culture and replace it with their fantasy society.
Deacon was a term for spiritual church leader in the Bible.
From Strong's: "ep-is'-kop-os, From G1909 and G4649 (in the sense of G1983); a superintendent, that is, Christian officer in general charge of a (or the) church (literally or figuratively): - bishop, overseer." 1 Tim 3:2
diakonos, "(obsolete, to run on errands; compare G1377); an attendant, that is, (generally) a waiter (at table or in other menial duties); specifically a Christian teacher and pastor (technically a deacon or deaconess): - deacon, minister, servant." 1 Tim 3:9
So, both the bishop and the deacon had to have one wife. Nobody else is said to be so restricted.
And sure, the OT may be filled with tales of woe concerning polygamy, but God doesn't forbid it. Doesn't even mention it in the NT. I guess the "argument from silence" that permits contraception and abortion also permits polygamy.
....Deut 17:17 “He must not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray......
Very old admonishment. It predates both Christianity and Islam.
The Islamic version is 4 or less. That is 4 is not many and if all can be supported in an equal manner, it's ok.
A thinker who reads the Book! I like that.
Too many people are convinced that when they "only believe", that they have to quit thinking for themselves...
..............................................................
Revelation 22:10-11
And he said to me, "Do not seal the words of the prophecy
of this book, for the time is at hand.
He who is unjust, let him be unjust still;
he who is filthy, let him be filthy still;
he who is righteous, let him be righteous still;
he who is holy, let him be holy still."
"I've always wondered how polygamists dealt with issues such as PMS, which bed to sleep in on a given night"
Studies have shown that mentrual cycles begin to align with women in close quarters, boarding schools, college dorms, polygamist domiciles... most likely due to airborne pheromones.
The poor guy may indeed not be envied at certain times of the month.
Gotcha. Sometimes, humor does not transmit to my computer.
Doesn't define "many". Does that mean two, three, four, fifteen? As Solomon demonstrates, once you pass 600, things get difficult. But less than that is unclear.
It's like the old canard about saying the Rosary being repetitious prayer. If I'm not supposed to repeat prayers, does that mean I can only say the Our Father once in my life? Once a year? Once a day? What counts as repetitious? Chances are good God was trying to get a slightly different point across in the latter case. Same argument could be made for the Deut verse.
This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
(1Ti 3:1-16)
episkopos
ep-is'-kop-os
From G1909 and G4649 (in the sense of G1983); a superintendent, that is, Christian officer in general charge of a (or the) church (literally or figuratively): - bishop, overseer.
diakonos
dee-ak'-on-os
Probably from diako; (obsolete, to run on errands; compare G1377); an attendant, that is, (generally) a waiter (at table or in other menial duties); specifically a Christian teacher and pastor (technically a deacon or deaconess): - deacon, minister, servant.
Ping.
If you can figure out how God meant for a man to have multiple wives from this verse let me know.
Good question. Talk to the patriarch Jacob. He apparently figured out a way around it that pleased God well enough - after all, the twelve tribes of Israel sprang from his loins (and the wombs of four different women, two wives, two concubines). Seems like Jacob got a bit of a blessing there, doesn't it??
No thanks!
Disagree entirely. As long as a non-abortificient form of birth control is used. Sex was created for pleasure as well as for procreation.
In any event this thread is not the correct place to argue this point. Find someplace else where it's more on topic and ping me to it.
=== As long as a non-abortificient form of birth control is used.
Like onanism?
Isn't the ancient Chinese character for "discord" a picture of two women under one roof?
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