What should a Muslim who has more wives do when he becomes a Christian?

Question:

We have a question which we received from some Muslim friends, to whom we proclaimed the Gospel, and we were not sure about the answer. So, what should a Muslim, who became a Christian do, if he has 2-3 legal wives in his country, when the Bible teaches that he must have only one wife? Which of his legal wives is more or less a wife for him, is it fair to them to be left now that he became a Christian? If they remarry someone else, aren’t they committing adultery in this case? Thanks, wish you many blessings in the gospel ministry.

Previously I wrote the article “What does the Bible say about polygamy (when a man has several wives)?” in which I answered most of the questions which I have been addressed.

In my opinion, it is definitely forbidden for a Muslim man who has become a Christian to leave their wives, neither one of them, because he entered the covenant of marriage with each of them, and therefore, he must remain faithful to the covenant which he made. He is obliged to take care of all his wives and his children, to tell them the gospel and lead them on the way of salvation.

If any one or all of his wives will no longer want to live with him and wants to divorce him, it is her own choice. In this situation, the Christian brother is not bound and has no right to stop the decision which she has made.

Another important thing is that such a man will never be elected in a ministry of leading the church, such as pastor, deacon, teacher, etc. and can not be ordained, as the Scripture says. This thing is specified three times in the New Testament, namely:

An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach. (1 Timothy 3:2)(NASB)

Deacons must be husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households. (1 Timothy 3:12)(NASB)

For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you, namely, if any man is above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of dissipation orrebellion. (Titus 1:5-6)(NASB)

May God give salvation to all people in all countries through faith in Jesus Christ because Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life and no one comes to God except by Him.

Translated by Felicia Rotaru