THE BIBLE ON MARRIAGE

ONE of the questions often asked by numerous Africans in this present age is, “Which form of marriage is lawful and right?” monogamy (marrying only one wife) or polygamy (marrying more than one wife)?

In many parts of Africa where idolatry and Islam are still holding sway, untold numbers of souls have experienced the awful and detrimental consequences of polygamous living, while only a few have enjoyed the blessings of monogamous living. It has been accepted by many Africans that polygamy is the means by which their race is continued and fostered. Past generations regarded it as a custom which boosted their material prosperity and maintained their posterity. Therefore, the few who adopted monogamy did not get many followers. After the advent of Christianity in Africa, more people became monogamists, and as a result, the question often arose in cities, towns, and villages as to which form of marriage is right and proper.

Some Africans attribute monogamy to the white race and polygamy to the black. This is not correct. Monogamy is not just a European custom, and polygamy cannot rightly be regarded as an African custom. There have always been controversies on this issue in various religious circles and it is painful to see how the majority give their full support to polygamous living. There are divers civil laws on this subject, but the laws which God has made for marriage are uniform for all.

“And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him” (Genesis 2:18).

For the sake of the few honest hearts who dread the severe judgement of God on the violation of His statutes, and for those who sincerely desire to know the right course to take regarding marriage, we are writing this discourse to set forth the principles laid down in God’s Holy Word on the subject. We would also like to state clearly to our readers the difference between marriage, and divorce and remarriage; for many have been misled to accept divorce and remarriage as lawful and right.