Preparing.org - Celebrity Couple Reveals 'Open Marriage'

Celebrity couple reveals 'open marriage'

Mr. & Mrs. Will Smith Honor Alternative Vows

When most of us hear the word polygamy, what immediately comes to mind is Utah and Joseph Smith. But now there's a brand new development in multiple partnerships - Hollywood and Will Smith.

In a recent interview for the Daily Mail, a magazine in the UK, actor/rapper Smith admitted to having "sexual feelings" for other women, and said that he and his wife Jada have what they refer to as an "open marriage."

The celebrity couple, also featured in this month's Essence magazine, said that if either of them wanted to have sex with someone else, they would simply "...get permission first." Smith said, "In our marriage vows, we didn't say 'forsaking all others.' The vow we made was that you will never hear that I did something after the fact."

This revelation has shocked and disappointed some of Smith's female admirers. One woman said, "I am so hurt to hear this, because I honestly looked up to this marriage, and I loved Will Smith ever since he was 'fresh.' I am so freakin' hurt."

Obviously, engaging in illicit sex is wrong. With that being said however, I'm not going to throw stones at Will and Jada Smith...

I believe that although they've been misguided and ill-informed, their intentions are good. I believe they should be commended for genuinely trying to maintain a level of honesty and trust in their relationship.

After all, much confusion exists concerning what marriage, family, divorce, adultery, and fornication actually are. We live in a society that promotes Greco-Roman cultural values while passing them off as biblical principles.

Obviously, a so-called open marriage, although not hypocritical like 'mandatory monogamy', is not the same as biblical polygyny. Marriage is about covenant relationship; whereas merely having "sex with others" is nothing more than adultery or fornication...

Adultery, if the man has relations with another man's wife, or the wife with another man of any marital status. Fornication, if the man engages in sex without the benefits of responsibility and commitment.

Of course, many people, both men and women, carry on secret "affairs" outside of their marriages, and cover them up with lies. The initial lie triggers a "snowball effect" of deceit - one lie is told, which of course, leads to more deception. This eventually causes a breach of trust that leaves both partners emotionally devastated.

Thus far, biblical polygyny has been condemned outright in the Western world. In fact, most Americans have shown more tolerance for "same-sex marriages" than plural marriages...

However, when we search the scriptures, we find many examples of the patriarchs of Yisrael having a very different cultural approach to marriage. Many men of YAH had more than one wife; while of course, their wives had only one husband.

Let us not forget - Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed because of homosexuality; whereas the nation of Israel was founded on the righteous order of polygyny. Our father Ya'aqov (Jacob) begat 12 sons by 4 different wives, whose sons went on to father the twelve tribes of Israel.

In going public with their personal decision, the enormously popular and well-respected Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith have done more than just "opened" their marriage. They've opened the floor for much needed dialogue and honest debate on the issue of polygyny in America.

Prophet's Commentary