(In a Nutshell) Your Hermeneutical Approach

[Mojo]

I point out to them that this particular "red herring" is actually anti-Biblical "Atheist Argument 101" --
among the 'Torah-literate,' and dating back centuries, that particular process is called the mishpat, or judgment, "that has NEVER been done."

There is no record in history of any son actually being stoned. But LOTS of 'em have been threatened with it...

It is intended as a deterrent.

I’m sure you’re correct, and have no cause to doubt that it’s never been recorded as having been conducted, but the point was made to point out that maybe some of us aren’t as hyper literal as we claim. If we’re “by the book” then this would be a simple prescription we’re wiling to engage in if we have an unruly child. If we’re not, then do we leave ourselves open to the argument:

“Just because the Bible says we can do it, we have to exercise judgment and not always engage in activities that scripture says we can and should engage in.”

 

[The Revolting Man]

Who defines the qualifications?

Are they just naturally self evident?

The reader has to decide for himself. Study to show yourself approved, but yes. It all seems pretty self evident to me.

 

[The Revolting Man]

Maybe not you individually, but offering that child up to the elders and men of the city.

Deuteronomy 21:18-21
“If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and, though they discipline him, will not listen to them, then his father and his mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his city at the gate of the place where he lives, and they shall say to the elders of his city, ‘This our son is stubborn and rebellious; he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton and a drunkard. Then all the men of the city shall stone him to death with stones. So you shall purge the evil from your midst, and all Israel shall hear, and fear.”

This situation has never come up for me. So I can be a hyper-literalist and not stone my sons.

 

[Mojo]

The reader has to decide for himself. Study to show yourself approved, but yes. It all seems pretty self evident to me.

A little circular?

“I’m right”
Why?
“Because you’re wrong”

 

[Mojo]

This situation has never come up for me. So I can be a hyper-literalist and not stone my sons.

99.9% of believers don’t ever have polygyny come up either. It’s an N/A. They pass up the verses with polygyny as mere window dressing on their way to more pressing issues in their lives. This approach is what most take. I know I did for most of my adult life. It doesn’t absolve the conundrum of its validity, though.

 

[The Revolting Man]

A little circular?

“I’m right”
Why?
“Because you’re wrong”

What’s wrong with that? You don’t get to impose your beliefs on anyone else. If someone thinks they right and you’re wrong then your options in the interaction are extremely limited. We don’t believe in popes around here.

 

[Mojo]

What’s wrong with that? You don’t get to impose your beliefs on anyone else. If someone thinks they right and you’re wrong then your options in the interaction are extremely limited. We don’t believe in popes around here.

Not impose, but impress upon them.

Our options are only limited if the other person says they won’t entertain your explanations.

If they’re willing to listen, then game on.

 

[frederick]

99.9% of believers don’t ever have polygyny come up either. It’s an N/A. They pass up the verses with polygyny as mere window dressing on their way to more pressing issues in their lives. This approach is what most take. I know I did for most of my adult life. It doesn’t absolve the conundrum of its validity, though.

This is the reality for many people in regard to their own interest/study of Scripture. It's the serious issue at that particular moment in their lives that they might want to know what it says in the Bible about a matter. Until a person is forced to learn he or she is rarely motivated enough to dig deep into the Word of God. Unless there is a crisis moment, most will just continue to believe what they're told and go merely down the broad road.

 

[Mojo]

Unless there is a crisis moment, most will just continue to believe what they're told and go merely down the broad road.

And that is how many arrive at this site.
Life throws them a curve and they are forced to either push away this crisis and cast it away as a sinful desire in need of crucifying...or a serious deep dive into scripture to see what is said.

The final result for most of us here is a necessity to adjust our hermeneutics to accommodate our newfound reality.

Which is why I started this thread.

“What is your current approach to scripture that allows you to accept polygyny when your previous hermeneutic didn’t?”

 

[frederick]

The final result for most of us here is a necessity to adjust our hermeneutics to accommodate our newfound reality.

I think that would apply to everyone. The fundamental question we all have to address is, how do we correctly understand what is actually written? It is the methodology we use to arrive at the answer to that question that often needs refinement.

 

[Maddog]

But many fundamental and devout Christians can quote them. They reject polygyny. What’s your reply after that?

11. Thou Shalt have one wife.
Make the rules as you see fit.

 

[Maddog]

This is the reality for many people in regard to their own interest/study of Scripture. It's the serious issue at that particular moment in their lives that they might want to know what it says in the Bible about a matter. Until a person is forced to learn he or she is rarely motivated enough to dig deep into the Word of God. Unless there is a crisis moment, most will just continue to believe what they're told and go merely down the broad road.

I was semi-forced to learn about poly when my first wife divorced me. Now what am I gonna do? I am a divorced pastor!
*depression and panic ensues* I needed to be married so I wouldn't fall into temptation but who wants a divorced pastor? Not the fundamentalist baptists! So I went to AG bible college for a different major and they weren't too keen on it either. One of my fundamentalist brothers thought I was living in sin for getting married a second time and had very little to do with me. I had to figure it out. Now as a serial polygamist others have tried coming down on me. I don't care anymore what they think.

 

[frederick]

One of my fundamentalist brothers thought I was living in sin for getting married a second time and had very little to do with me.

Whoaaa... that's crazy. I think I've led a very sheltered life to not have encountered crazy stuff like that. So many of my American friends seem to have been divorced and remarried. It's like changing shoes there... new pair every year.

 

[Maddog]

crazy? yup!

 

[The Revolting Man]

Not impose, but impress upon them.

Our options are only limited if the other person says they won’t entertain your explanations.

If they’re willing to listen, then game on.

But that prerogative rests with them. Ultimately it is the individual who decides what is right and wrong.

 

[Mark C]

I’m sure you’re correct, and have no cause to doubt that it’s never been recorded as having been conducted, but the point was made to point out that maybe some of us aren’t as hyper literal as we claim...

“Just because the Bible says we can do it, we have to exercise judgment and not always engage in activities that scripture says we can and should engage in.”

I made a slight correct correction: He says SHOULD do when He means it. Not when it's available as a threat or punishment.)

("Divorce," especially "putting away," without genuine tamim is another great example.)

 

[Mark C]

11. Thou Shalt have one wife.
Make the rules as you see fit.

More than once, Scripture records men who all "did what was right in their own eyes."

Which doesn't constitute approval.

Nor does it mean that we shouldn't walk in obedience to His Written Instruction so as to TRY to ensure that what is right in OUR eyes is also in accord with His will.

 

[Mark C]

Not impose, but impress upon them.

Our options are only limited if the other person says they won’t entertain your explanations.

If they’re willing to listen, then game on.

There also comes a time when we are told to NOT "keep silent."

The key is obedience to Him, and wisdom.

 

[Mark C]

But the point was that Christ marries the ecclesia plural (members of the body) not just that he has more than one bride.

Hence the "ten virgins" parable. (Or is it the "ten bridesmaids", as twisted?)

It's a weak argument. Until they recognize that He didn't re-write His own "statutes, judgments, and commandments" - about anything! - they will REFUSE to see things like that.

 

[Maddog]

More than once, Scripture records men who all "did what was right in their own eyes."

Which doesn't constitute approval.

Nor does it mean that we shouldn't walk in obedience to His Written Instruction so as to TRY to ensure that what is right in OUR eyes is also in accord with His will.

I trust you see the sarcasm.