In the news today, 183 women and children were taken from a ranch in Texas linked to polygamist leader Warren Jeffs. In November, Jeffs was sentenced in a Utah court to 10 years to life in prison as an accomplice to rape for forcing a 14-year-old girl to marry her 19-year-old first cousin. He’s currently in jail in AZ awaiting trial for similar things in that state.
I’ve been following Jeffs’ story for quite some time now, watching from the beginning when he was first accused in Utah. In 2006, he was placed on the FBI’s most wanted list when he attempted to flee from prosecution. Jeffs is considered to be the prophet of a Mormon fundamentalist group. Jeff’s father, Rulon T. Jeffs, had been the group’s prophet for 15 years before his death. He died at the age of 92, leaving an estimated 75 widows and 65 children. According to former followers, the prophet is considered to be God’s mouthpiece on earth. It is believed that God speaks directly to Warren Jeffs to reveal His will. And through the prophet, God directs which male members are worthy of entry into heaven (females are invited into heaven by satisfied husbands).
Before we, as mainstream evangelical Christians, consign this to just another cult teaching, we need to recognize that so-called Christian polygamy is on the rise. These are people who claim to be conservative, evangelical Christians who do not hold to a Mormon belief. Mark Henkel, founder of Truthbearer.org, (a pro-polygamy site) estimates that 50,000 Christians have become polygamists since the movement (unconnected to the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) began around 12 years ago.
How different from the plan of God! God’s standard is clear from the beginning. In verse 23 of Genesis 2, Adam said, “This is now bone of my bones, flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman’.” She shall be called woman because she was taken out of man.” God’s standard for marriage is found in verse 24: “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, cleave unto his wife, and they shall be one flesh.” How can a man and woman and woman and woman be one flesh?
The polygamy in the Bible was not God’s will – He allowed it and He described it – but it was never His plan or His will. God said in Genesis 2:24, “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother and shall cleave unto his wife, and they shall be one flesh.” The fact that godly men like Abraham, David, Solomon, and others, had more than one wife, was not directed by God, but was permitted by Him, as Christ said about divorce. But God also reminds us concerning Israel in the wilderness, “They soon forgot His works; they waited not for his counsel. But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tested God in the desert. And God gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul” (Psalm 106:13-15).
Run with Patience 
Good commentary on this terrible situation. We all must be careful to avoid trying to twist scripture to allow for our own sinful passions. Psalm 106:14 in the ESV is translated to read: But they had a wanton craving in the wilderness. “Wanton craving”, “lusted exceedingly–these things sound like so much of what we seen in Evangelicalism today. May God give us the grace to resist our own desires when they lead us outside our freedoms in Christ.
Good description of the current situation and it is indicative of the direction in which, unfortunately, (or – come quickly, Lord Jesus!!) we are going. As I think about this situation and the truth about our (the regenerated) “position in Christ”, our “union with Christ”, being adopted as sons/daughters of our Father; joint heirs with Jesus Christ, I am convinced we are in a superior position than Adam was when he was created. Although he was created pure, perfect, in the image of God; we are regenerated, a new creature in Christ and all the above. Adam was not an adopted son of God or a joint heir with Jesus Christ!! If we are truly members of the Kingdom of God (Jesus Christ) and members of the body of Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit of God, then we can think of ourselves as being removed form the wreckage and depravity produced by the fall and inherited by each of us; we have been reunited with God; we now have access into His presence and communion has been restored. The damage of the fall is removed and eliminated except for our surroundings the world) and the tugs from our fleshly bodies and the finishing of the removal of shame and guilt. We have the power to mortify the sins of the flesh and to walk in the spirit. Let’s realize that for us the results of the fall; at least those that apply directly as descendants of Adam, have been eliminated for true Christians. We have to reckon ourselves back in Genesis 1 and 2. This should be applied to our relationships between man and wife before God curses the serpent and the ground and establishes other debilitating announcements regarding man and woman’s relationship. Back to knowing no shame, pure innocence, one flesh, no hierarchy or authority, co-equal and jointly enjoying their praise, worship and communion with their Creator. Think about this…its awesome!! This can revitalize your walk with the Lord and energize the working out of your salvation daily!! Reunited/renewed/in every way. Better than before!! Eternal glory before us!! Nothing can stop God’s plan!! We are meant to vindicate His honor and glory for eternity!
May God Bless, 🙂
Robert
Richard,
Thank you for your kind words about the commentary. I agree that it does sound very much like what is happening today. It’s so easy to think that lust and “wanton cravings” (gotta love that translation! 🙂 ) are things of the past but it doesn’t take much looking around to see that they are still a big part of life. As Scripture says, there is nothing new under the sun.
Robert,
Yes, men and women are joint heirs in Christ – complementary but equal in Christ. You are also right in that, if we could just grasp hold of a true understanding of who we are in Christ, the understanding of Scripture becomes clearer. We will be less likely to wander down the path of misusing God’s Word for our own lusts and desires; less likely to allow pride to cause us to “lord it over” others; less likely to injure one of God’s adopted heirs. Good thoughts.