Introducing Biblical Families Association

Brief History

Biblical Families Association is a ministry which began by three brothers in Christ who have a deep burden for strengthening men, women and families who accept or practice plural marriage. We are Bible believing, Christ-centered, Spirit-filled believers who are serious about serving God and His people. We do value God’s Word as the final authority for faith and practice. It is because of this high view of God’s Word that we came to embrace the soundness of Plural Marriage.

Mission Statement

Our mission is to build the church through building the family!

In order to support this mission we desire to set forth the teachings of the Bible about marriage (to include plural marriage). Within this paradigm we hope to teach clearly the God-given roles of men, women and children; while encouraging the integration of God-fearing families into local churches. In this way, we believe that we are cooperating with the vision of Christ to Build His Church, resulting in Glorifying God.

In practical terms, this mission will be accomplished in four ways, through doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer. It will be accomplished through teaching, encouraging, counseling and nurturing (doctrine). It will be accomplished through mutual edification that will take place on our online forums, emails, and telephones (fellowship). It will take place as we facilitate the breaking of bread through retreats and conferences throughout the United States and other countries (breaking of bread). Finally, it will take place through ongoing prayer for one another (prayer).

Philosophy of Ministry

Biblical Families is a ministry founded by Biblical, Christ-centered, Spirit-filled believers to nurture, defend, and encourage Biblical-based marriages, including those Christian families with (hold on to your hat, and your Bible) more than one wife.

Biblical Families is dedicated to nurturing Biblical marriages and families by providing edification, support, and strength for the journey – especially to those involved or desiring to be involved with Christian plural marriage (polygyny

Biblical Families is dedicated to defending Biblical marriages as modeled after those marriages that God has used throughout the Bible to fulfil His will. We will defend these truths from the Bible at the appropriate place and time.

Biblical Families is dedicated to encouraging Biblical marriages by providing principles for healthy, long lasting relationships, and presenting Christian plural marriage as a good and caring option for believers..

Biblical Families is dedicated to nurturing, defending and encouraging the entire Christian family by providing wisdom, counsel and principles concerning raising children from God’s Word. It is our hope that this will be one more resource to help Biblical Families raise healthy children who love God and His Word.

Note: Please note that we recognize plural marriage as an option, not as a requirement, and fully expect that most believers will never be called to participate in it – but that doesn’t mean those who do believe and/or practice plural marriage shouldn’t

Check out our forum: http://www.biblicalfamilies.org/forum2/

Pastor Randy

The Jealousy Argument (The Root of Jealousy)

As I shared in the The Jealousy Argument (Introduction), “there are some Bible believing Christians that are so against Christian Plural Marriage that they have come up with an entire new theology – the Theology of Jealousy! What is the mantra of this new theology? Simply put, this theology teaches that ‘Circumstances Create Jealousy!’ This is humanism, not Biblical theology!”

John C. Broger in his manual “Self-Confrontation” summarizes the Biblical Theology of Jealousy very well:

“Jealousy is a selfish desire accompanied by resentment, suspicion, or fear that another person is seeking to take away what you perceive to be yours (Broger, Self-Confrontation, a Manual for In-depth Discipleship, Lesson 8, Page 8)).”

The root of jealousy does not come as a result of polygynous unions!

It is from the flesh:

Galatians 5:19-21: Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations (gr.: jealousy), wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

It is from the darkness:

Romans 13:12-13: The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying (gr.: jealousy).

It is from the devil:

James 3:13-15: Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? Let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying (gr.: jealousy) and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, and devilish.

With all due respect to those who teach that jealousy is created by circumstances – don’t you think it is time to get back to the Bible!

Pastor Randy

© 2008 Biblical Families Association

The Jealousy Argument (Introduction)

Although it is stated in various ways, good intentioned Bible believing teachers argue that polygyny not only creates an opportunity for jealousy, but is also always associated with jealousy. Therefore, since it creates an environment in which sin can happen, it is bad.
(see the following websites for some of those who teach this: http://www.marriagemissions.com/polygamy-what-the-bible-says/ or http://www.eadshome.com/polygamy.htm or http://www.biblicalfoundations.org/?p=41 or http://bibleanswer.com/wives.htm or http://www.tbaptist.com/aab/pbc107.htm)

Exactly what kind of theology is this? What does it mean that “polygyny creates an opportunity for jealousy”? Is Biblical polygyny “always associated with jealousy”? Can an environment be created that causes a Spirit led believer to become jealous? Is this Biblical theology? Is this pop psychology? Is this logical? Is this sound Biblical hermeneutics?

Evidently, there are some Bible believing Christians that are so against Christian Plural Marriage that they have come up with an entire new theology – the Theology of Jealousy! What is the mantra of this new theology? Simply put, this theology teaches that “Circumstances Create Jealousy”! This is humanism, not Biblical theology!

Because this is one of the arguments used against the practice of polygyny, I will endeavor to discuss this topic thoroughly, answering all the questions that I have brought up – and more.

Blessings

Pastor Randy

© 2008 Biblical Families Association

God Does Not Condone Polygamy – Period!

It should be recognized that God does not “condone” polygamy. I believe that it is important to make this as clear and as accurate as possible. As you will see, God doesn’t “condone” the practice of plural marriage. He approves of plural marriage throughout the Bible!

Dictionary.com – “Condone”

To disregard or overlook (something illegal, objectionable, or the like):

God does not consider polygamy, specifically polygyny, illegal or objectionable. If this were the case, He would not have regulated it in the Law (Exodus 21:10; Deuteronomy 25:15), which is holy, just and good (Romans 7:12), nor would He have used Himself metaphorically as a practicing polygynist (Ezekiel 23:1-5,7,11; Jeremiah 3:1-14)! All He would have had to do was say; “to have more than one wife is not acceptable”!

God does not disregard or overlook the sin of His people. This would be like saying that God automatically forgives the unrepentant when they violate the Moral Law. After all, according to those who teach that polygyny is sin, polygynists are adulterers (Massey, n.d.)! Is this orthodox theology? What does this argument do to the atonement? This would make the cross of Christ meaningless! Hebrews 9:22 states quite clearly that “without shedding of blood is no remission” of sin.

To give tacit approval to: By his silence, he seemed to condone their behavior:

God actually gave more than tacit approval to polygyny. That is, He was not silent on the subject as some suggest. As already stated, He regulated it in His Law. In fact, not only did He regulate it, He made it so that in some cases men were forced to practice polygyny – the Levirate Law: Deut. 25:5-10!

God’s silence against His people doesn’t give “tacit approval”, for there was no need for God to speak against a practice that He regulated in His own Law. His approval was already given. The silence of God merely confirmed it!

To pardon or forgive (an offense); excuse.

There isn’t any passage where God informed His people that they needed pardon or forgiveness for practicing polygyny.

Pardon or forgiveness was never necessary for practicing polygyny.

To cause the condonation of:

The actions of practicing polygynists did not require condonation, for it is never mentioned as a sin – anywhere!

To forgive or act so as to imply forgiveness of (a violation of the marriage vow):

There was never a need for God to forgive an action that He made provision for in His Law. So, in reality, based upon the primary definition of “condone”, God does not condone, that is, overlook sin. The truth is quite simple, really. God does not condone polygamy – period!

(Massey – Retrieved on August 26, 2008 at http://www.scripturessay.com/article.php?cat=&id=605)

Blessings

Pastor Randy

© 2008 Biblical Families Association