When Yul Edochie announced his second marriage to Judy Austin, social media quaked, and this has sparked debate about polygamy.
By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
The action of Yul Edochie in marrying a second wife has triggered a debate on polygamy.
Recall that Yul recently announced Judy Austin as his second wife with whom he said they both have a son.
Yul is believed to be a Christian. In June 2019, after escaping a ghastly motor accident, he said he has become Born Again Christian
Polygamy is not a common practice among Christians. Among Muslims, its is a normal practice, and there is no hoopla when a Muslim man marries four wives, which is the threshold permitted by the religion. In fact, some even exceed the number, like Ned Nwoko, who also claims to be a practicing Muslim. He used to have six wives, until one of them quit the marriage. Nollywood starlet, Regina Daniel is his last wife so far.
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But when Yul Edochie announced his second marriage to Judy Austin, social media quaked, and this has sparked debate about polygamy.
Some clerics, including the Senior Pastor of Awaiting The Second Coming Of Christ Ministry, Adewale Giwa, and Reno Omokri, a former aide on social media to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, said there is no sin in polygamy.
Omokri said: “Polygamy is not a sin. God Himself gave David many wives-2 Samuel 12:18. Polygamy is only forbidden for Bishops, and elders in the church-1 Timothy 3:2. Monogamy is a Western construct, not a Christian one.”
Giwa’s argument is more extensive. He said: “Abraham had three wives, Jacob had four. In Matthew: 8 v 11, specifically, Jesus Christ said to his followers that many would come from the East and West and take their place at the seat with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
“However, I’m not saying this to support who wants to marry as many as possible but to just set the record straight that polygamy is not a sin.
“As a polygamist, you must serve God wholeheartedly, maintain justice, equity and fairness between your wives. When God created Adam and Eve, he did not tell them to sleep with each other. After the devil must have deceived Eve to eat the forbidden fruit, then their eyes were opened and sin entered the world.
“There is no marriage in heaven according to Matthew: 22 v 30. When a group of questioners came to meet Jesus Christ, asking him series of questions about a certain woman who married seven husbands. They asked Jesus that at the resurrection, who will be the real husband of the woman, Jesus answered and said, at the resurrection, people will neither marry nor be given in marriage.
“In Genesis chapter: 2 v 24 that people refer to today, that says a man will leave his father and mother and unite with his wife, the statement was originated from Adam, not God. People should read that chapter very well. Any law that is against polygamy in the bible, originated from people not from God.
“Enoch gave birth to Methuselah while Methuselah produced Lamech who first married two wives in the bible. Look at Enoch, the bible says Enoch did not see death. So he produced Methuselah, Methuselah produced Lamech who started polygamy in the bible. Lamech.
“A man who marries two wives without having a concubine but maintains fairness, justice and equity between them is more honourable in God’s eyes than a man who marries one wife and still sleeps around with different women.
“Polygamy is not criteria to enter into the kingdom of heaven. Your attitude, behaviour and relationship with God and the people will determine whether you will make heaven or not. keep the Lord’s Commandments and serve Him diligently.
“The way and manner in which God spoke directly to Christian saints in the Old Testaments who married multiple wives, He is not speaking directly to the ones with “One Wife” nowadays. Because many have moved away from God, but now worshipping and gathering earthly treasures that cannot stand the test of time.
“Polygamy is a crime against humanity, not against God. Our holy God does not give us the law or conditions to marry one or multiple wives.”
Other Christians have rejected the arguments of Omokri and Giwa, insisting that Jesus’s death has restored humanity to the original plan of God which is one-man-one-wife, hence, citing Old Testament characters for being polygamists no longer suffice.