By Habeeb Ibrahim
A United States-based pastor, Israel Ford, has announced his marriage to a second wife, arguing that the belief that a man should have only one wife is not supported by the Bible.
Ford, who is associated with LifeWorks Church in Wickliffe, Ohio, made the announcement on Facebook on Sunday, introducing his new wife, Shakayla Ford, alongside his first wife, Lydia Ford.
In a post accompanying a video recorded in the church, the pastor said the teaching that a man should have only one wife was an idea passed down through society rather than a biblical requirement.
“As a nation we have been taught that a man should have one wife only. This is unbiblical,” he wrote.
Ford urged his followers to watch a full sermon on the subject, which he said would be uploaded later in the week.
He described his position as an unpopular truth that many pastors were unwilling to preach, adding that he would not abandon his beliefs to gain public approval.
“I have no plans to choose pleasing man over what God has revealed,” he stated.
The pastor also acknowledged that his position could lead some people to distance themselves from him, saying he was prepared to accept their decision.
“People may not accept this and choose to disconnect, and that is ok!” he wrote.
Ford’s announcement has brought renewed attention to differing interpretations of biblical teachings on marriage, particularly the distinction between biblical accounts of polygamy and the expectations of monogamy in many Christian denominations.
Although the Bible records several figures, including Abraham, Jacob and David, who had multiple wives, Christian traditions differ in their interpretations of those accounts and their implications for marriage today.
Many Christian denominations teach monogamy as the standard for marriage, often citing passages such as Genesis 2:24 and the New Testament’s teachings on marriage. Other interpretations point to biblical accounts of polygamous unions to argue that the practice is not categorically prohibited in scripture.
Ford said he expected some people to disagree with his position but maintained that he would stand by what he believes God has revealed to him.
