MessianicJewish
New Member
(This is appropriate duplicate post of reply to questions given me in Introductions. This post is partially relevant to this forum.)
Yom tov to all,
Thanks for your replies and welcome and discussion. In some reply to all, I will say, first, Iam not Jewish by physical birth. I am a Gentile, professional ordained non-denominational minister. I've been in Yeshua-Jesus by vital faith since 1966. I embraced Messianic Judaism, as introductory to it, in 1999. ADONAI blessed me to be Christian ordained in 2002, and Messianic ordained in 2008. I have my wisdom and skills naturally, but due to the route by which our ADONAI has brought me to this point now, I am not an expert in rabbinical traditions and literature such asTalmud. Due to my present personal life circumstances and present activities, I am a rabbi without any Messianic synagogue congregation. However, I am connected to Beth Messiah in Norfolk, VA, near where I live. You can feel free to look up Beth Messiah Synagogue, in Norfolk, VA in its website by the same name if you are interested to see example of my affiliation.
ADONAI began teaching me about Biblical plural marriage, and drawing me to it, originally in 1993, but much more clearly since 2002. Personally, I reject the term "polygamy" because it is in our culture "polygamy" commuicates something illegal. At the same time, I feel "plural marriage" is fine for us, but it is too vague to those aware of our Biblical position. I prefer the term "Biblical polygyny." While a person may not know the term, the term itself is specific and clear and contextualized in meaning and origin. Granted, Biblical polygamy existed too, but it is not valid in US legal culture, so it is self-defeating and foolish. However, part of the beauty of ADONAI's ways abiding nonetheless is that Biblical polygyny is legal in the US and elsewhere, though I think not by intentional statute or ordinance in mainstream non-Mormon society. In summary, My view is that if Biblical plural marriage is one of ELOHIM (God)'s valid aproved forms of marriage, then we should expect it to be feasible, legal, moral, ethical, and loving, and not inherently contradictory to Ephesians 5's explanation of the ultimate meaning of marriage. Being legal in the US does not assure that Biblical polygyny is ELOHIM-approved, but Romans 13 calls us to legality; thus my moderate stance. Biblical polygamy is illegal; thus self-defeating and jeopardizing. Biblical polygyny is legal; thus acceptable to those who desire it, and to whom ADONAI enables it, which is not everyone.
Blessings & shalom
Todd
Yom tov to all,
Thanks for your replies and welcome and discussion. In some reply to all, I will say, first, Iam not Jewish by physical birth. I am a Gentile, professional ordained non-denominational minister. I've been in Yeshua-Jesus by vital faith since 1966. I embraced Messianic Judaism, as introductory to it, in 1999. ADONAI blessed me to be Christian ordained in 2002, and Messianic ordained in 2008. I have my wisdom and skills naturally, but due to the route by which our ADONAI has brought me to this point now, I am not an expert in rabbinical traditions and literature such asTalmud. Due to my present personal life circumstances and present activities, I am a rabbi without any Messianic synagogue congregation. However, I am connected to Beth Messiah in Norfolk, VA, near where I live. You can feel free to look up Beth Messiah Synagogue, in Norfolk, VA in its website by the same name if you are interested to see example of my affiliation.
ADONAI began teaching me about Biblical plural marriage, and drawing me to it, originally in 1993, but much more clearly since 2002. Personally, I reject the term "polygamy" because it is in our culture "polygamy" commuicates something illegal. At the same time, I feel "plural marriage" is fine for us, but it is too vague to those aware of our Biblical position. I prefer the term "Biblical polygyny." While a person may not know the term, the term itself is specific and clear and contextualized in meaning and origin. Granted, Biblical polygamy existed too, but it is not valid in US legal culture, so it is self-defeating and foolish. However, part of the beauty of ADONAI's ways abiding nonetheless is that Biblical polygyny is legal in the US and elsewhere, though I think not by intentional statute or ordinance in mainstream non-Mormon society. In summary, My view is that if Biblical plural marriage is one of ELOHIM (God)'s valid aproved forms of marriage, then we should expect it to be feasible, legal, moral, ethical, and loving, and not inherently contradictory to Ephesians 5's explanation of the ultimate meaning of marriage. Being legal in the US does not assure that Biblical polygyny is ELOHIM-approved, but Romans 13 calls us to legality; thus my moderate stance. Biblical polygamy is illegal; thus self-defeating and jeopardizing. Biblical polygyny is legal; thus acceptable to those who desire it, and to whom ADONAI enables it, which is not everyone.
Blessings & shalom
Todd
