QUESTION

In my Shona Culture men marry two or more wives. Can the 2nd and 3rd wives be baptized in the church of Christ?

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ANSWER

The Lord Jesus used the fact that God made one male and one female in the beginning as precedence to prove that one man should be married to one woman for life. In the original Greek text of the following verse the words "commits adultery" in the Mark 10:11,12 are in the continuous present tense. They should read "Is committing adultery" as follows:

Mark 10:11 " And he said to them, Whoever puts away his wife, and marries another, is committing adultery against her. 12 And if a woman puts away her husband, and is married to another, she is committing adultery."

So anyone entering into further marriages whilst the first partner is still alive is committing adultery. Note that it is the committing of adultery which is condemned. So if the man is continuing in a physical marriage relationship with the subsequent wives he is committing adultery. This relationship must finish. If the husband is persisting in a bigamous marriage he should not be baptized until he repents.

However, the 2nd and 3rd wives, including any children, will be dependant on him for their food, clothing and shelter. So he has incurred the responsibility of their maintenance, this means that he must discontinue the marriage relationship but continue to maintain them since he has made them dependant on him.

The second and third wife may be baptized if they have repented and are not wilfully continuing in a marriage relationship but if they are being forced by the husband against their will then it is not their fault. They are being raped. They may be baptized. This kind of situation should be handled with care and understanding.

Jude 22 "And of some have compassion, making a difference: 23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh."

For more on the subject of divorce and re-marriage, see "For This Cause"

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