This was taken from Vision Forum's statements of doctrine, specifically that of hermeneutics. http://www.visionforumministries.org/home/about/a_biblical_confession_on_herme.aspx
Article 11: Scripture’s Unchanging Moral Instruction
WE AFFIRM that the moral character and behavior which God requires of man are a reflection of His own holy, righteous, and unchanging character, so that all men in all ages are under obligation to the moral instruction found throughout the Bible, both in the norms given generalized statement and in the moral principles which underly Scripture’s culturally specific illustrations and applications.
WE DENY that God has a double standard of morality (one for His people and a different one for the cultures of the unbelieving world) or any notion of ethical relativism.
I note that they specifically speak of polygamy, saying:
There is also the principle of monogamy, the law by which marriage is legitimated only between one man and one woman, an ordinance enforced alike by God the Creator and God the Redeemer. Vital as its observance is to the peace and harmony of the family, it is of no less importance to the purity of the church and the welfare of the State. It is a matter for thanksgiving that no church and no Christian government theoretically tolerates the evil of polygamy. But its existence as a fact among the American people is a blot upon their civilization. It is at once a fret and a shame to the age. There is further the principle of the perpetuity, under limitations, of the marriage bond. That bond is designed to be, and ought to be, perpetual; but it is liable to dissolution by reason of sin. http://www.visionforumministries.org/issues/historic_controversies/family_religion.aspx
I have to ask, if God never condemns polygamy and allows provision for a man to have more than one wife, then how does one write a standard of interpretation in which they either add to God's Word explicitly or else allow it only for certain people, specifically Israel who was instructed by God how to carry out the practice. Of course God personally takes credit for giving David multiple wives......
I listened to a message today, Voddie Baucham was preaching. I appreciate much of his teaching, but at times he goes overboard. His message was on election and predestination, citing the birth of Jacob and Esau from Romans 9. In the process of developing the family story, he emphasized that Abraham "did not trust God" and "committed adultery", then noted Jacob's two wives and two concubines which produced 12 sons. Which is it, folks? Are they wives or is it adultery? If they are wives or concubines, it is not adultery anyway. I just wish some of these men who have the market on patriarchal teaching to the masses would pick a standard and stick to it. I get really wound up listening to them so eloquently explain deep topics in teaching and preaching, then bash Abraham and insert into Scripture a lack of faith which is not in the text nor implied either. The sin of polygamy as they call it would seem to be the one thing they are not willing to study from Scripture, yet they will spend hours attempting to explain aspects of God's character and nature to people who don't even have the brains enough to pick up a Bible for themselves to verify what is being taught. They just swallow it whole, 'cause he's got a few letters after his name, so we don't need to be Berean and check it out for ourselves.
Rant concluded
Article 11: Scripture’s Unchanging Moral Instruction
WE AFFIRM that the moral character and behavior which God requires of man are a reflection of His own holy, righteous, and unchanging character, so that all men in all ages are under obligation to the moral instruction found throughout the Bible, both in the norms given generalized statement and in the moral principles which underly Scripture’s culturally specific illustrations and applications.
WE DENY that God has a double standard of morality (one for His people and a different one for the cultures of the unbelieving world) or any notion of ethical relativism.
I note that they specifically speak of polygamy, saying:
There is also the principle of monogamy, the law by which marriage is legitimated only between one man and one woman, an ordinance enforced alike by God the Creator and God the Redeemer. Vital as its observance is to the peace and harmony of the family, it is of no less importance to the purity of the church and the welfare of the State. It is a matter for thanksgiving that no church and no Christian government theoretically tolerates the evil of polygamy. But its existence as a fact among the American people is a blot upon their civilization. It is at once a fret and a shame to the age. There is further the principle of the perpetuity, under limitations, of the marriage bond. That bond is designed to be, and ought to be, perpetual; but it is liable to dissolution by reason of sin. http://www.visionforumministries.org/issues/historic_controversies/family_religion.aspx
I have to ask, if God never condemns polygamy and allows provision for a man to have more than one wife, then how does one write a standard of interpretation in which they either add to God's Word explicitly or else allow it only for certain people, specifically Israel who was instructed by God how to carry out the practice. Of course God personally takes credit for giving David multiple wives......
I listened to a message today, Voddie Baucham was preaching. I appreciate much of his teaching, but at times he goes overboard. His message was on election and predestination, citing the birth of Jacob and Esau from Romans 9. In the process of developing the family story, he emphasized that Abraham "did not trust God" and "committed adultery", then noted Jacob's two wives and two concubines which produced 12 sons. Which is it, folks? Are they wives or is it adultery? If they are wives or concubines, it is not adultery anyway. I just wish some of these men who have the market on patriarchal teaching to the masses would pick a standard and stick to it. I get really wound up listening to them so eloquently explain deep topics in teaching and preaching, then bash Abraham and insert into Scripture a lack of faith which is not in the text nor implied either. The sin of polygamy as they call it would seem to be the one thing they are not willing to study from Scripture, yet they will spend hours attempting to explain aspects of God's character and nature to people who don't even have the brains enough to pick up a Bible for themselves to verify what is being taught. They just swallow it whole, 'cause he's got a few letters after his name, so we don't need to be Berean and check it out for ourselves.
Rant concluded
