Spread the word
A United States-based pastor, Israel Ford, has sparked controversy after announcing his marriage to a second wife, Shakayla Ford, while describing the belief that a man should have only one wife as unbiblical.
Ford, who is associated with LifeWorks Church in Wickliffe, Ohio, announced the marriage in a Facebook post on Sunday, accompanied by a video recorded at the church.
The pastor introduced Shakayla as his second wife and identified his first wife, Lydia Ford, in the announcement, which has drawn attention to his views on marriage and biblical teachings.
Ford said the belief that a man should have only one wife was a teaching passed down through society rather than a requirement of the Bible.
Pastor challenges monogamy teaching
In his Facebook post, Ford wrote, “I would like to introduce to the world, my second wife, Shakayla Ford!!!”
He subsequently challenged the widely held belief in monogamous marriage, arguing that the teaching that a man should have only one wife was not biblical.
“As a nation we have been taught that a man should have one wife only. This is unbiblical,” he wrote.
The pastor urged his followers and other members of the public to watch his sermon on the subject, which he said would be uploaded in full later in the week.
Ford described his position as an unpopular truth that many religious leaders were unwilling to discuss publicly.
“I encourage you to watch today’s sermon in its entirety (uploaded later this week). I understand that this is an unpopular truth that we have gotten away from and many Pastors will not preach,” he said.
Ford insists he will not bow to public opinion
The pastor maintained that he would not change his position simply to gain public approval, insisting that his decision was based on his understanding of God’s revelation.
“I have no plans to choose pleasing man over what God has revealed,” he stated.
He also acknowledged that some people might disagree with his position and decide to distance themselves from him because of his views on marriage.
According to Ford, he was prepared for such reactions and would remain committed to his convictions despite possible criticism.
“People may not accept this and choose to disconnect, and that is ok! This life will be over soon, and we can all laugh about it in Heaven. Until then, God bless,” he wrote.
Full sermon expected later in the week
Ford encouraged his followers to watch the complete sermon to understand the biblical arguments behind his position on marriage.
Although he announced Shakayla as his second wife, he did not provide the full details of his theological argument in the Facebook post. He said the sermon would be made available later in the week.
The announcement has brought renewed attention to differing interpretations of biblical teachings on marriage, particularly the question of whether Christian scripture permits a man to have more than one wife.
Christian traditions and denominations have varying understandings of marriage, with monogamy recognised as the standard in many contemporary churches.
Ford, however, maintained that his position was guided by what he believed God had revealed, rather than prevailing public opinion.
His announcement was accompanied by a video shared on Facebook, with the pastor encouraging viewers to watch the forthcoming sermon for a fuller explanation of his views.
Spread the word