The reason why we can, and should say that it would be a sin to take another wife, and so (ordinarily) subject a professing believer to discipline, despite civil laws to the effect of permitting such sin, is that in the case of a man who formerly did wrong then came to faith--to divorce one or more of his wives would add sin to sin. Repent and move forward. Live with the imperfect stuation, and make the best of it. But Jesus said to do things God's way, and for a Christian to go against that is to go against conscience.

Now, the man marries a second wife against the Lord's will. He was advised of the sin. He may have been counseled against his action. He later admits he was wrong, and repents, and the church attempts to deal with the awkwardness that sin creates. But not by adding sin to sin. Once a man is married before the magistrate, he is married. God has instituted the magistrate. The sin-soaked society has still not changed its habits and permissions, and this church has to operate in a world which often does not censure truly bad behavior, even sanctions it. But times and social mores do change.

__________________
Rev. Bruce G. Buchanan
ChainOLakes Presbyterian Church, CentralLake, MI


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