Lofton/God/polygamy

[Jlof at aol.com]

"Bobby" asks some good questions. But before I respond, let me, please, refresh our memories as to exactly what the context of our discussion here is. The context here is what Mr. Finkelman said which is: "Biblical law of course allows polygamy. If it was good enough to the Biblical patriarch and King Solomon, why isn't good enough for people today?" 
 
COMMENT: I believe Mr. F's obvious assumption that "Biblical law of course allows" polygamy because people in the Bible did it and that's good enough for us today is a poor hermeneutic that is very dangerous. OK, now to what "Bobby" writes, please.

"Bobby": "How much weight does the absence of such a quote have in a discussion of what God does or does not approve of?"

COMMENT: Didn't say there was no such quote -- though I doubt there is one showing that God APPROVES polygamy. I merely asked Mr. F for Scripture to support what he said since he was talking about God's Law. I would strongly advise that whenever you're talking about what you think God's Law explicitly or implictly "allows," and by this word "allow" you're leaving the impression that God APPROVES of that which He "allows," yes, indeed, I think what you're saying must be on a solid Scriptural basis. We should not talk loosely about God and what we believe He says, thinks, approves or "allows." Be very careful here.

"Bobby:" "What counts as God approving of a practice?"

COMMENT: If you say God approves of a practice, I'd say the burden of proof is on YOU. Tell me what makes you think what you think. Show me the basis for your thinking in the Bible. 

"Bobby": "Must the Bible explicitly say that God approves of a particular practice to infer that He approves of it? Must He specifically state his disapproval?"

COMMENT: No, I'd say certain things can be known by a reasonable inference from Biblical passages.

"Bobby": "Does God ever reproach Abraham for his marriage practices? Aren't there many practices described in the Bible of which God approves--common practices--despite God never explicitly stating is approval?"

COMMENT: By reasonable inference, as one of my Bible dictionaries says, Scripture presents monogamy as the divine ideal. The Creator made marriage as a union between one man and one woman <Gen. 2:18-24; Matt. 19:4-6; 1 Cor. 6:16>. Apparently polygamy, like divorce, was tolerated because of the hardness of peoples' hearts <Matt. 19:8>. After the time of Moses, polygamy continued to be practiced, especially by wealthy individuals, such as Gideon, Elkanah, Saul, and David <1 Sam. 1:2; 2 Sam. 5:13; 1 Kin. 11:3>. But the most famous polygamist in the Bible was King Solomon: "And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart" <1 Kin. 11:3>. The criticism of polygamy expressed in <Deuteronomy 17:17>, therefore, is not surprising: the ideal king to whom Israel's obedience can be rightly given shall not "multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away." John Lofton, Editor, TheAmericanView.com; Recovering Republican...

P.S. This Saturday (September 2), from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time), our “The American View” radio show will be on “The Faith & Freedom Network.” You can hear our program this coming Saturday by going to this Network’s Web site www.faithandfreedomnetwork.com and clicking on “Listen Now” at the top of the page. The programs you will hear this coming Saturday are, in this order: (1) A new program where Michael Anthony Peroutka (Constitution Party Presidential candidate in 2004)and I introduce ourselves with some biographical information; and we examine in detail what exactly THE American View was and still is -- a distinct view based on Biblical Christianity; (2) Our interview with Terri Schiavo’s lawyer David Gibbs who has written a new book about her murder (this is the same Program 73 which is on our Web site); and (3) An older “TAV” show in which Islam expert Robert Spencer tells the truth about Islam and we wonder why President Bush has said, repeatedly, that this faith is a religion of “peace.” 



    




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"Accursed is that peace of which revolt from God is the bond, and blessed are those contentions by which it is necessary to maintain the kingdom of Christ." -- John Calvin.