I cant see the dilemma at all, dont waste your time trying to argue with people who refuse to be 'faithful to the wife of their youth'.
Well, it isn't so much an argument as it is a discussion. The exchanges are very cordial, and nobody is getting angry. I simply present my case, and they counter with their own information from the scriptures.
Something earthshaking (at least, for me) I learned very quickly is how I was using the same type of fallacious argumentation we Christians reject when used by cults in defense of their own doctrines. I couldn't believe I had fallen into that trap, but it's a very prolific practice (and very hypocritical) among us Christians I hope to avoid in the future.
Men like this want lots of women, thats what it comes down to.
That's what I thought. What they asked me is if I was going to remain consistent by pointing that same finger of accusation at the Patriarchs of our faith as Christians. "Are we now their accusers?" they asked me.
I gotta admit, that brought me up short. So, I then resorted to the claim that they were simply acquiring plural wives because that was the practice back then to replenish the earth's human population, and that we no longer needed to bother with that. I was challenged to find where the Lord ever withdrew His command to be fruitful and multiply.....
Needless to say, I had no reference for such a command.
In actuality, it was after I posted that one the other day and went to the mall that I realized how feeble it was. I used it because it seemed reasonable at the time, but then I realized we're talking about moral foundations, not population. I violated all the rules of discussion by using a diversionary tactic rather than staying the course.
They want to treat women and children as second class citizens and lie to them, telling them that it is Gods will for them to have to share their husband instead of 'each woman having her own husband' as the Bible says.
So, do I tell them that the Patriarchs of our faith are also guilty of having violated the principle of remaining faithful to the wives of their youth? I need to know for sure because I don't want to look the fool because if men today are guilty of that charge, then the Patriarchs are equally guilty since God's moral absolutes didn't change with the coming of Christ Jesus in the flesh.
Also, what do I tell them when they remind me once again that the Lord GAVE men plural wives, and that the logical conclusion to the parallel you've drawn, of it being a violation of remaining faithful to the wives of a man's youth, essentially makes God Himself guilty of having violated His own command?
In other words, what I'd be telling them is that the Lord is guilty of having violated all those first wive's marital standing when He gave their husbands plural wives.
That one gives me a headache because I verified the truth that the Lord gave David at least two of his already plural wives, as revealed by Nathan the prophet when he was speaking in the authority of "Thus saith the Lord....."
Do you suggest that I say to them that the Lord isn't guilty where David is concerned since David had allegedly already violated that principle since he already had five wives by the time the Lord gave him two more? Upon reflection, based on what you've said earlier, each subsequent wife would be yet another violation of the "wife of they youth" parallel you've drawn. Is that correct?
Maybe just concentrate on doing right yourself and leave them to Gods judgement.
That's not so easy for me, because if they're living in sin, they need someone to challenge them with legitimate, scriptural application. Here's why I say that:
Ezek 3:18 When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou
givest him not warning, nor
speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way,
to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but
his blood will I require at thine hand.
I take that very seriously because for me to do otherwise, I'd be in direct disobedience to the command of the Lord. In my heart, He has sent me to those people to warn them, but I can't do that on the basis of flawed apologetics.
They will never listen, until the Holy Spirit convicts them.
I think that's true of us all. I realized that I had become far too comfortable with relying on my feelings about things, and that I was allowing those feelings to govern my theological viewpoint rather than reading the word of God for what it actually says. These people have challenged me to divorce my feelings from my Bible reading, which was similar to removing the blinders of socially engineered theology from my eyes so that the Lord's word could speak to me from the simplicity of its clear language:
2 Cor 1:12 For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that
in simplicity and godly sincerity,
not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.
That verse speaks volumes to my heart, and it's a privilege to share it with others.
BTW