No, I know you're absolutely correct, but I do think that majority of godly christian people are in the catholic church. It's not a requirement of salvation to know all truth, and I don't believe any of us do. The mans name is "Bishop Michael Nazir�Ali", and when a man speaks truth, I have no more problem quoting Bishop Michael Nazir�Ali than I do Martin Luther. He was absolutely right. Just because it's in the bible that Lot decided to offer his virgin daughters to be raped to appease the sodomites, it doesn't mean it was a god ordained practice. It was the act of a fearful man in a messed up scenario. It was described, but it was not prescribed. Meaning that it was told to us as a description of what was going on during the judgment of Sodom, but it doesn't mean God says that we should do it. The same logic follows for polygamy.
:peace::peace:
P.S. Dougy is a great teacher though, ain't he? He's one of my favorites, very reasonable and down to earth. Usually! None of us are perfect in knowledge.
To the sister who recieved this email, i say its a "big" one you got.
@Armin, respectful dear brother, sometimes your quotations and renditions of the bible verse makes it hard for anyone to say where exactly you are on this rampant issue. You wrote and I quote "Apostelle, you posted that 'This is not the OT times and Jesus said nothing about harems being ok.' Maybe he didn't, but did he at least say that it is -not ok-, and why it isn't?" Again, your bracing up, using the parable of the 10 virgins was something of unusual. The parable of ten virgin in Mathew 25:1-13, first was a parable. We were never told it happened (or you got prove it did). Jesus said "At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins......." Mark the expression, the kingdom will BE LIKE...It means can be likened to. Its an analogy woven by Jesus to portray his message. It never suggest 10 virgins were in a hot race to get married to one LUCKY MAN! No! We should stop helping God to suggest meaning of his words.
@Armin, You said "Maybe he didn't, but did he at least say that it is -not ok-, and why it isn't?".....for the fact that Jesus never mentioned polygamy VERBATIM does not mean he never had his teaching on it. Let me ask you, When Jesus was on earth, did he mentioned the name of your country? Did he? Hence there are many things while he was here, he never mentioned, but that do not suggest he never had his instructions on them.
While Jesus was here, POLYGAMY (please that's the name and not Pluralized marriage or whatever they shadow it as) was not the major highlight he left heaven for. It was REDEEMING us and dyeing for us that was paramount. He however said in John 16:13 "King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.) - Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come". In the Holy Spirit now here upon us and infilling us, the man born again is expected to be led. The Spirit of truth can lead you wrong!
Titus 1:6 King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.) - "If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly." How about that? Is this still not the Holy Spirit of God speaking here the things He heard from Jesus according to John 16:13? The same he is now telling the Church!
Please we must be aware of some of this dangerous doctrines that are subtle enough to find associations with the scriptures thereby deceiving many people. Believe it, not every doctrine propelled by people in these last days will always be unattached to the scriptures...Most will attempt sit atop a bible verse, yet they are erroneous.
I've always thought that the 10 virgins were more like bridesmaids or light-bearers. And it doesn't really follow that a bridegroom would cut out half of his brides because they forgot oil. Being married to 10 women at once has got to be a record if they were actual brides!
If we look into the scripture with unveiled and open eyes, we shall all see that it was a parable used by Jesus to represent an idea or convey a moral thoughts. None should help Jesus legalize them as actual representation of physical exactness in view of a scripted or unscripted character(s).
Matthew 25:1-13 - 1 �At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of the virgins were foolish, and five were wise. 3 When the foolish ones took their lamps, they did not take extra olive oil with them. 4 But the wise ones took flasks of olive oil with their lamps. 5 When the bridegroom was delayed a long time,267 they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6 But at midnight there was a shout, �Look, the bridegroom is here! Come out to meet him.� 7 Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, �Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.� 9 �No,� they replied. �There won�t be enough for you and for us. Go instead to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.� 10 But while they had gone to buy it, the bridegroom arrived, and those who were ready went inside with him to the wedding banquet. Then the door was shut. 11 Later, the other virgins came too, saying, �Lord, lord! Let us in!� 12 But he replied, �I tell you the truth, I do not know you!� 13 Therefore stay alert, because you do not know the day or the hour�
Looking at the first line of verse 1. It says "AT THAT TIME...THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN..WILL BE LIKENED...." Does this get to anyone knowing, that Jesus only compared (likened) heaven with the 10 Virgin story. If there was anything to learn in Jesus message, it must had been the message of the KINGDOM and not the 10 Virgins....
Like what the letter sender said, it is up to your conviction.
Personally I am not for a multiple wives family but reading the OT the patriarchs were into that kind of family unit. There is no mention though of a woman with multiple husbands at the same time, and divorce is even an authority or privilege? given to the husband not the wife...so such situation did happened and they were even so blessed... I am just sharing my views, I am no authority on Biblical doctrine.
Again, to my understanding, the man married to only one wife and have upright children is a requirement for those who will lead the church and so for those who are not maybe they are allowed? I am not sure...still up to your conviction. To my understanding the ten commandments is also silent on such situation, correct me if I am wrong.
Philippines is the only country without divorce (for the non-Muslim Filipinos, Muslims have divorce) but in reality multiple family of one man is common specially among our politicians and ordinary men who can afford to support, or even those who can't for child support here is not mandatory. Men here can fool as many women as they can and give child support only if they want to. Well, it is wrong but it is the reality.
