Polygamy, Principle, and Christian Practice: Rethinking a Long-Held Assumption
By Fred Allan Nyankuru Within many Christian communities today, the phrase “one man, one woman” carries the weight of unquestioned truth. It is treated not merely as a recommendation for order and peace, but as a moral commandment whose violation is branded sinful. Yet when examined with calm honesty and deeper theological reflection, this principle struggles to hold up without contradictions. In fact, the tensions it creates, especially in real-life situations, suggest that the stance is grounded more in cultural preference than in divine prohibition. This is not an attempt to romanticize polygamy, nor to deny the genuine challenges it brings. It is, instead, a call to be frank with Scripture, consistent with logic, compassionate toward people, and humble about where God has spoken clearly and where we may have spoken for Him. The Conversion Dilemma: A Principle That Buckles Under Its Own Weight Let us begin with a simple but revealing scenario: A man lives as many men in various...