Rich Tidwell — a little-known pastor from Missouri — suddenly found himself trending on X and Instagram this week.
He made headlines after announcing he’s taken a second wife — now pregnant with her first child and his eighth. 🤯
Now, Tidwell isn’t the first to take a second wife. And he’s certainly not the last to drag God’s name into his mess.
What made him viral, though, was his defense — saying “plural marriage” is biblical, and that God Himself was a polygamist because “He had two wives — Israel and Judah.”
He’s loving the spotlight — posting photos of his wives and children, smiling smugly, and firing back with cherry-picked verses.
The Devil Still Likes Conversations
All week, I’ve seen the same thing — Christians influencers “discussing” this online. Verse against verse. Argument against argument.
Exactly what the devil wants.
His strategy hasn’t changed. All he needs is for you to engage him in a discussion.
He doesn’t mind (and isn’t scared) if you know Scripture. He knows it too — and how to twist it, quote it out of context, and make God look bad.
It worked in the Garden.
One question. One seed of doubt. One clever distortion of God’s Word — and Eve fell, taking Adam with her.
Rich Tidwell’s just the latest pawn in the same old play. Stirring the pot. Dragging believers into endless online arguments about the Sabbath, patriarchy, toxic masculinity, Zionism — and now, polygamy.
The enemy knows how to pick his topics. Because let’s be honest — we all have something to say.
The Strategy That Works
Don’t engage. Don’t debate. Don’t “just have a conversation.”
Eve is the perfect example — of what NOT to do. You can’t have a harmless discussion with the double-tongued serpent or his followers.
They’ll gladly use God’s Word to pull you down.
That’s why Scripture warns us not even to receive them into your homes or greet them (2 John 1:10).
When things seem “grey”
When Scripture feels unclear, here’s what I do. It’s advice from an old mentor — and it’s served me well.
The Bible is descriptive, not prescriptive.
Yes, it records what people did — the good, the bad and the foolish.
Scripture describes men who took multiple wives and the heavy price they paid for their choices. But it never prescribes it.
Go back to the first mention — and then to what Jesus said about it.
In Genesis, when God instituted marriage, He made one woman for Adam — not many.
And when Jesus spoke about marriage in Matthew 19, He reaffirmed it: “…a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh….” Notice — He said wife, not wives.
Don’t Be Like Tidwell
We live in a fallen world — that’s no secret. Some of us like prodigals repent and turn back. Others justify sin and blame God for it.
Just like Adam, who said, “The woman YOU gave me…,” or the wicked ‘1-talent’ servant who accused his master of being a “hard man.”
Tidwell’s doing the same — blaming God for his sin.
That’s not ignorance. That’s not confusion. That’s defiance. It’s taking God’s name in vain — and weaponizing the Bible to “sanctify” sin.
Protect the Weaker Brother
False teachers thrive on attention. Applause or outrage — they don’t care.
Every comment, every debate, every reaction fuels them. It gives them oxygen.
Their goal is simple: to stand on your shoulders and amplify their deception.
While you join these devil-inspired discussions, weaker brothers and sisters are watching — seeing God’s Word quoted, distorted, ripped out of context… and stumbling because of it.
Sometimes, the only wise response is the one Jesus gave:
“Get thee behind me, Satan.”
We’re not called to out-argue error.
We’re called to outshine it.
Be the light — not a noisy gong.
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