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Question: I am troubled by a group of so-called "liberal" Christians that teach polyamorous relationships (multiple relationships or marriages) are acceptable and actually taught in the Bible. I know a number of people that claim to be scholars certainly are not. But I would like to have someone comment on this, since it seems like a question that a lot of people either cannot answer or are uncomfortable with.Answer:
You should be upset concerning this group of so-called 'liberal' Christians who teach that Polyamorous relationships (multiple relationships or marriages) are acceptable. Be advised, however, that the wise man of old said in Ecclesiastes 1:9 "...And there is no new thing under the sun." Sinners of all ages have gone to great lengths to excuse their immorality. In fact, the apostle John warns us of such people in Revelation 2:14 and 15. "But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate."
We read in the previous two verses of the doctrine of Balaam and also the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes. The doctrine of Balaam can be referred to in Numbers 25:1-9 and 31:8, 16.
Simply stated, Balaam was hired by ungodly people to put a curse against Israel. God would not allow him to curse Israel, so the next best thing for him was to teach the people of Israel to commit a trespass against the Lord and to cause the Israelites to intermingle and intermarry with the heathen.
The doctrine of the Nicolaitanes was a different thing, however. One commentator says that the Nicolaitanes were followers of Nicolaus, a heretic. There was supposed to have been a sect of Gnostics who practiced and taught impure and immoral doctrines, such as the community of wives, that committing adultery and fornication was not sinful, and that eating meats offered to idols was lawful. This was similar to the doctrines of Balaam and Jezebel of Thyatira.
Concerning some of the men in this group you write about, stating that the Hebrew language actually refers to Adam and his wives, not wife. Also, that in the early church time extra-marital sex was acceptable as long as it was done in the sense of a "loving relationship", and that it was actually abusive relationships that the Apostle Paul condemned, I feel that these people are reaching pretty far out to justify their sin.
God has never condoned this type of behavior. In fact, you can read from Matthew 19:1-8 and realize that Jesus allowed multiple marriages because of the hardness of men's hearts. I urge you to look carefully at Matthew 19:8 where Jesus said that from the beginning it was not so. There was to be no putting away of wives from the very beginning.
There are many passages of Scripture in the New Testament dealing with immorality, and for these people to actually believe that the Apostle Paul condoned immoral relationships is another example of their grasping of straws to try to excuse their wicked behavior.
I would urge you also to read the words of Apostle Paul in Galatians 5:19-21. Concerning the Greek word porneia, or porneo, I admit there are some different opinions as to the translation of this word.
I believe one of the translations that is worth noting is in the following words: "same as adultery, besides all manner of other unlawful relations."
The words in Galatians 5:19 are very interesting. Paul refers to adultery, fornication, uncleanness, and lasciviousness. One Bible commentator's opinion of lasciviousness is this: "Lasciviousness is the promoting or partaking of that which tends to produce lewd emotions, anything tending to foster sex, sin and lust. That is why so many worldly pleasures have to be avoided by the Christian-so that lasciviousness may not be committed."
Paul was certainly right when he wrote in II Timothy 4:3 "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine: but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears."
I would urge you to read all of the epistles of Paul. I believe that you will find out that in no uncertain terms Paul is against immorality of any kind.
While reading these epistles by Paul will strengthen you and cause you to be firm in your morality, I would caution you that they will probably do nothing to dissuade the people who are bent on committing sexual sins. The reason for that is simply, they do not want to change their lifestyles.
There is so much more that could be said concerning your letter, but I believe enough has been said to give you the encouragement you need top keep believing that which is right and true.
May the Lord richly bless you as you fervently serve Him!
