To change a woman's (or a man's, for that matter) mindset from monogamy-only to pro-polygamy is, most would agree, a Herculean effort considering how far down the road of apostacy Christendom has sunk in the sphere of marriage. Changing her 'heart-set' - the way she feels about polygamy - is without a doubt ten times harder. In these early days of the restoration of Christian/Messianic Polygyny in the Body of Christ most of the battles that are being fought are on these two levels.
Needless to say, victory in spiritual warfare is something worth celebrating, whether in the marriage arena or any other. We know that the angels in heaven rejoice every time men and women win their struggles over false thinking, feeling, and behaviour. And so there is no doubt that those men and women who have made the first steps into polygamy by aligning their thinking and feeling with the word of Elohim (God) deserve to be congatulated.
But let us be very careful here, for even as the accolades die down, we must make some important reality checks. We cannot rest on our laurels. There are many women who, having made that great and important change, are apt to think that they deserve to be treated in some exalted way as one who has done something that most other Christian/Messianic women have not. My warning here is not intended to dampen the spirit of achievement - it is not to denigrate the struggles that women must go through to realign their thinking to the polygamous way - it is not intended to discourage them from going on: rather it is to say: TAKE A PAUSE AND CONSIDER.
The fact that we have all made the transition from monogamy-only to polygamy is not some merit that we have achieved that we can claim some reward for. It is not like a Christian/Messianic going out and planting a congregation. The change from monogamy-only to polygamy-pro is, seen in its proper perspective, an act of REPENTANCE. The monogamy-only mindframe is SINFUL! The change from monogamy-only to polygamy-pro (irrespective of whether one is called to live the principle or not) is no different from a a husband ceasing to abuse his wife or a crooked pastor ceasing to steal the congregation's funds. The change from monogamy-only to polygamy-pro is an act of reformation (a very Protestant sort of thing to do) away from the spirit of falsehood.
It is a good thing to abandon falsehood for the truth but it cannot be rated on the same level as personal merit. A man and woman who suddenly thinks they are 'something special' because they have moved into the light of Biblical Marriage are deluding themselves and setting themselves up for a fall. The mentality is not too different from the Mormons who think that they are 'something special' because they are the "one and only true Church" (in this instance, though, they are wrong). Neither is it any different from the alcoholic who has done away with the demon drink and thinks he is wonderful (I have never met one). Being polygamy-positive is where ALL Christians/Messianics are supposed to be ... it is not some special 'privilege' for some of Yahweh's special pets.
The situation cannot be painted any clearer than this: the polygamy-hostile crowd are out of alignment with Yahweh's mind, heart and will and are (in that particular area) in apostacy, espousing a heretical Roman doctrine, and are in need of reformation and repentance! Not until all those who profess salvation in the Name of Christ are in agreement with Yahweh-Elohim, our Heavenly Father, as to His standards of marriage can we say that NORMALITY has returned to the Body of Christ in the area called matrimony.
At its very root, this is actually an area of demon invasion. The monogamy-only mindset is demonic (1 Timothy 4:1-3). To be rid of it is to be rid of Satan in yet another area of life. Is that anything to boast of?
Once Christians are saying: "I unhesitatingly and joyfully accept Elohim's (God's) standard for marriage - one man married to one or more women, not multiplying to excess" then - and ONLY then - do they have the right to settle down to Spirit-sanctified and blessed monogamous OR polygamous marriages ... in a word, to MARRIAGE. Only then will there be a meeting between spiritual truth and physical reality.
To be a polygamist ... or to be polygamy-pro (there is no difference spiritually-speaking) ... is something to be sober, grateful and humble about but it is most certainly NOT something to boast about. Remember, ALL boasting is evil (James 4:16) except it be of the Cross of the Blessed Crucified One! (Galatians 6:14) Hallelu-Yah! The true polygamist is one who corrects those who are in opposition to the truth in humility (2 Timothy 2:24-25), knowing that he is in a state of GRACE for being polygamy-pro and that it is not something he has EARNED. The Christian patriarch/patriarchal wife is to "to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men" (Titus 3:2-3, NKJV). We are merely doing what we are supposed to be doing, no more.
We must ever be alert to the sin of pride, which exalts self and its supposed achievements:
"Yahweh-Sebaoth (the LORD of hosts) has purposed it,
To bring to dishonor the pride of all glory,
To bring into contempt all the honorable of the earth"
(Isaiah 23:9, NKJV).
The cry of every patriarchally-minded Christian/Messianic, male and female, should be:
"O Yahweh, You are my Elohim (God).
I will exalt You,
I will praise Your name,
For You have done wonderful things;
Your counsels of old are faithfulness and truth" (Isaiah 25:1, NKJV).
Yes, His counsels of old are faithful and true. Nothing has changed for He is the same "yesterday, today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8). His marriage laws have not changed since the beginning of time and will not change. Marriage IS and no man can change it without incurring the greatest displeasure and wrath from the Most High. And what is marriage? Marriage is one man married to one or more women within the parameters set by Yahweh - PERIOD.
Author: SBSK
