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What is the Bible and Quran saying about polygamy?
Recently there has been discussions about marriage specifically regarding the issue of polygamy and whether the Bible endorses it or not.
A WhatsApp video I watched showed an ‘Osofo’ justifying why he has more than one wife with quotes from the scriptures supporting his actions. Other pastors also have preached against polygamy also with quotes from the Bible and so which is the correct stand of the Bible?
Our traditional setting allows for polygamy and it is part of our culture but because it is part of our culture, does not mean the Bible endorses it?
When we go to the Muslim religion and therefore to the Quran, we see that the Quran does not forbid polygamy but wait a minute, there is a condition that when obeyed allows a Muslim to engage in polygamy but it is impossible to obey, hence Muslims who know their Quran well, abhor polygamy.
There is a historical background as to why our forefathers engaged in polygamy. In the olden days farming was the order of the day and because agriculture was not mechanised, it was labour intensive so it made a lot of sense to marry more to produce more children and therefore readily available labour to engage in various farming activities.
Now let us go into the Bible and examine whether the Bible endorses polygamy or not because a lot of people make the argument that the Patriarchs were all polygamous.
The first patriach was Adam and he had only one wife called Eve. The next patriach was Noah and he had one wife. The striking thing is that God did not instruct him to marry more than one woman even though he was going to destroy the entire human race except Noah and those in the ark, which should have been the logical thing to do so he can quickly replenish the population after the flood.
The next patriach was Abraham and he had one wife. Some will argue that he slept with Hagar and got Ishmael but the fact is that he did not marry her. Next was Isaac and he had one wife followed by Jacob who had more than one wife but his case is the exception and not the norm. He was tricked by his uncle into marrying a woman she did not love and so had to marry the one he really loved later on in addition.
David married more than one but check the problems that came his way and his son Solomon whose lust was way beyond normal. He too, just look at the problems he encountered.
In the New Testament the Bible is clear on marriage. It is one man one wife. It should be noted that the New Testament dispensation is where the whole world falls under in terms of how God wants everybody to live to please him.
The Old Testament was mostly specifically designed for the Israelites, the chosen people of God but the New Testament is for the whole of mankind.
In Timothy the Bible states categorically the qualifications of some desiring the office of a leader of a Bishop which among others include “…the husband of one wife…” according to 1 Timothy 3:2. Jesus, the Saviour himself, who according to John 1:1 was there at the very beginning of creation, in response to a question about divorce has explained that marriage was instituted by God and that it is one man one wife issue according to Mathew 19:4-5.
It is therefore quite disheartening to hear people who claim to be men of God declaring that the Bible does not speak against polygamy. What they ought to realise is that the word of God does not adapt to any culture rather it is the culture that must adapt to the word of God.
Therefore if your culture permits polygamy, you need to align it to what the Bible says and not the other way round. Out of ignorance, others out of desire for sinful pleasures want God to endorse what God’s word does not permit and go about deceiving people.
It is one man one wife, finito.
Laud Kissi Mensah
THE typical itinerant salesman in Sikaman is a herbalist. He is normally a slim macho with the capacity to perambulate the expanse of area covering the triangle of Accra-Tema-Ashiaman. In short, he can walk a total of 60 miles a day, marketing a product that cures every disease, including poverty. 
The door-to-door herbal pharmacist advertises his product by word of mouth. He has nothing to do with the Food and Drugs Board (FDB). After all, his concoctions do not feature on FM stations.
Those herbalists who cannot walk to propagate the herbal gospel, liaise with drivers of mass transportation and their mates. They are, therefore, given the chance to sell their products on Benz buses that ply the routes.
Normally, the herbalist starts his sales message with a prayer and Bible study. He asks the passengers to bow down their heads in supplication to God the father, the son, the Holy Spirit.
When a herbalist asks the passengers to close their eyes and bow their heads, Moslems on board naturally feel offended. They feel that the herbalist has no right to assume that every passenger is a Christian. They think such an assumption is an affront to Islam.
So a Moslem on board will raise the hand for a point of order. He’ll remind the herbalist that it would be in his own interest to mind his language.
“Be careful the way you address people in a public place. Not every person here is a Christian,” he’d state assertively.
Of course, the herbalist will promptly ignore him, but would all the same “watch” his tongue. Who knows whether or not the Moslem brother is inspired by Quoranic zeal to defend the tenets of Islam to the hilt?
When he starts saying, “Wallahi!” and “Inshallah!” it could be the beginning of proclaiming Islam as supreme, a point which must be driven home with talibanic precision.
So the herbalist must tread carefully lest he steps on fire.
The herbalist could even add a measure of mirth to it all, by announcing that Christians on board today have very interesting company on the journey, but that should not detract from the business of the day.
The Moslem brother will weigh the words carefully and offer a wry smile.
He must be careful the occasion does not degenerate into the use of semantics and proverbial oration to deride his conviction that public utterances must be mindful of religious sensibilities. He has made his point very clear and expects that it is taken in good faith in the interest of a peaceful journey.
The herbalist will now open the New Testament and preach salvation, stating clearly that salvation can come only through Jesus Christ and NOBODY else.
The Moslem brother will now start twitching his moustache. The visible and almost revolutionary reflexes of his upper lip can be an indication that sentiments have begun superseding reason, and the outcome could well be tragic now shift uneasily in his seat.
The time has come for him to also express his right to the religion of his fore-bears. He’ll put his hand into his pocket and rise to his feet. The time has indeed come!
This article was first published on Saturday, September 9, 2006
When the cause of a particular problem like sickness, disease, sudden illness, a social issue etc. are not known, it stands to reason that resolving it becomes a huge challenge.
Citizens would understand the government when public announcements are made to the effect that government is trying to find a solution to the issue, even though it is taking a while for it to be resolved because citizens are rational beings.
On the other hand, if the solution to a particular issue is known to everybody but the government for whatever reason, is dragging its feet in resolving it, citizens become frustrated and begin to lose trust in their leaders.
One such issue is the heavy traffic along a section of the Kasoa – Odokor road. A short stretch of bad road between the traffic light at the Weija Government Hospital and the entrance to the entrance of the overhead that leads to the N1, is the cause of the problem but nothing is being done about it, day after day, week after week, month after month. Thus is clearly unacceptable.
Another issue that requires urgent attention is the lack of pavements along a lot of streets in parts of the various Municipal Assemblies. Exercise is a prerequisite for long life and healthy living and for those of us who it has become a way of life, this issue of people putting up structures right to the edge of the drains beside the roads, are making life difficult for us.
We are compelled to walk along the roads, putting our lives at serious risk. Pedestrians should never be compelled to compete with vehicles on our streets and roads. Roads and streets are made for vehicles and pavements are made for pedestrians. That is the norm. Any attempt to normalise a situation where pedestrians are mingling with vehicles is insanity.
It is the road regulations that makes it so and therefore district or municipal assemblies are to take responsibility and ensure that spaces for pavements are not encroached upon. Citizens have rights that must be protected by their leaders and making pavements available to pedestrians, is one of them.
When we hear of teachers having sex with students, it appears it is something recent. It is not a new phenomenon. It has been there since Adam. Perhaps this issue is getting much attention due to the proliferation of social media. It was an open secret in times past when Teachers were in relationships with female students and some married them immediately after completion of school.
Some teachers were also known to be having unholy interactions with female pupils but due to the times that these acts occurred, human rights issues and the awareness around it, allowed such unscrupulous teachers to get away with their crimes.
Now we are in a different era and so a Headmaster is now in hot waters. He is alleged to have raped about 19 female students and as usual, some officials tried to cover it up and are also in hot waters and their actions or inactions in the matter are under investigation.
Why the man has been allowed to roam freely without being arrested is simply mind boggling. It appears that the law applies differently, depending on who you are. This issue came to public attention sometime in August this year, yet the police had not arrested or invited this man for question regarding the rape allegation.
It has come out that he is a Constituency Secretary of the ruling party and the question in the public domain is that, is it because he is a political figure that is why he is still walking around without questioning? I believe in the rule of law so let us hold our breadth and let the proper thing be done.
The police must however be seen to be active in this matter. God bless.
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