“What should a Born-Again Believer in Christ do if he is already married to – and have children with-more than one wife?”

(READ FIRST)

This teaching does NOT permit, endorse, justify, encourage, excuse, or normalize polygamy for believers in Christ.
It addresses ONLY those who were already in polygamous marriages BEFORE conversion, usually due to cultural, legal, or social systems, and asks how Scripture instructs us to respond after salvation, without compounding harm.
📌 Any believer knowingly entering polygamy after conversion is in direct rebellion to biblical teaching.

CORE BIBLICAL POSITION (NON-NEGOTIABLE)

God’s Design (Unchanging)
One man, one woman (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4–6)
Polygamy is never presented as God’s ideal
The New Testament assumes monogamy as the Christian norm
Cultural Reality (Acknowledged, Not Approved)
Scripture recognizes broken systems
God often regulates harm rather than explode families

1. First Principle: Conversion Does NOT Undo Moral Responsibilities

When a man is born again, he becomes a new creature in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17),
but conversion does not erase past responsibilities, especially toward:

wives
children
dependents

Salvation transforms the heart — not the legal and moral consequences of prior life decisions.

Scripture never teaches that repentance means abandoning people you are already responsible for.

2. Is Polygamy God’s Ideal?

No. Scripture is clear.

God’s Original Design

“Therefore shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”
— Genesis 2:24

Jesus reaffirms this as God’s ideal standard (Matthew 19:4–6).

Monogamy is God’s design, but Scripture also recognizes fallen cultural realities.

3. Does the Bible Acknowledge Polygamy Without Commanding Divorce?

Yes.

Polygamy appears in Scripture without God commanding men to abandon wives:

Abraham
Jacob
David
Many Old Testament leaders

⚠️ God regulated polygamy; He did not command mass divorces.

God often works redemptively within broken systems rather than destroying families.

4. New Testament Teaching: Stay Where You Are—Live Righteously There

Key Apostolic Principle

“Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.”
— 1 Corinthians 7:20

Paul applies this to:

marriage
slavery
social conditions

📌 The gospel reforms life forward, not destructively backward.

5. Would Forcing Divorce Create New Sin?

Yes—multiple sins.

If a man divorces all but one wife:

wives are abandoned
children are destabilized
families are economically and emotionally harmed

“God hates divorce.”
— Malachi 2:16

📌 God does not fix one sin by creating several others.

6. Biblical Precedent: Leadership vs. General Believers

Important Distinction

The New Testament does restrict polygamy for leadership, not salvation.

“A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife.”
— 1 Timothy 3:2

This means:

A polygamist may be saved
But he cannot serve as an elder/pastor while in that condition

📌 Salvation ≠ qualification for leadership

7. The Most Biblically Faithful Response

A. He Should NOT Abandon Wives or Children

There is no New Testament command to dissolve existing polygamous families.

B. He Must Live Righteously Going Forward

No additional wives
No favoritism
Faithful provision for all dependents
Christlike love and responsibility

“If any provide not for his own… he hath denied the faith.”
— 1 Timothy 5:8

C. Teach His Household the Gospel

His home becomes a mission field, not a moral cleanup project.

8. What About Repentance?

True repentance is:

turning from sin
changing direction
not repeating the behavior

📌 Repentance here means no future polygamy, not destroying current families.

9. Historical & Missionary Consensus

Most missionary movements (Africa, Asia, Middle East) reached the same conclusion:

✔ Existing wives are retained
✔ No new wives permitted
✔ Leadership roles restricted
✔ Families cared for responsibly

Why? Because:

Scripture supports it
Justice demands it
Love requires it

10. Final Summary

A born-again polygamist believer should:

Remain married to all existing wives
Provide faithfully for all children
Practice monogamy moving forward
Accept limitations on church leadership
Grow in Christlikeness within his current responsibilities

The gospel redeems people — it does not abandon them.

11. Key Statement

“Christian repentance corrects direction without destroying responsibility.”