THE CHRISTIAN MUST PAY THE DOWRY?

The word "dowry" in Hebrew is "Mohar" which means "purchase price of a wife or Money of wedding", the dowry has two definitions, the first is the dowry "Mohar "PURCHASE PRICE OF WIFE or MONEY of WEDDING" and the second is "Shilluwach" which means "SEND BACK, FAREWELL GIFT".

THE DOWRY "Mohar" The dowry was part of the civil laws of the Mosaic law was practiced when a virgin girl was violated, the rapist had to pay a amount of money as compensation for the damage caused and he had to marry this virgin this was a law that God had established to protect and defend the virgin girls. Here's what the Bible says about it:  And if a man entice a maid that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely endow her to be his wife. If her father utterly refuse to give her unto him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins. Exodus 22v16-17.
This dowry was only for virgins raped, it was not a question of law to apply to all marriages, but men have made it a custom, so that everyone who wants to marry a girl absolutely had paid a dowry, while it is not what God's word says. Some say that Abraham gave the dowry for Rebecca, which is not true, Abraham's servant gave gifts to Rebecca, her brother and her mother, voluntarily, her father had not demanded dowry. (read Gen 24v34-61). 

We have the practice of dowry in our African customs, the family of the girl requires dowry to the man before giving her in marriage, and they do a ceremony to seal the dowry, and often ceremonies around the dowry are linked to the mystical practices etc.

The dowry does not concern the Church of Jesus Christ, but unfortunately this practice is entered into the Church, which poses many problems to those wishing to be marry, there are families that demand to their future son in law, the large sums of money with objects that are extremely expensive while the most of future bridegroom do not have the resources, and so they get into debt, others fall into the sin of fornication by lack of resources, even pastors demand dowry before giving their daughters in marriage, you see how the customs and traditions of men are entered into the Church? Often, girls or women who marry are not virgins, and some are children, so this practice of dowry has no biblical foundation.
The apostles of Jesus Christ struggled against their Jewish parents, because of those who wanted to impose their traditions to the Church of Christ, but today there are some churches I would say "African" who struggle to impose their customs and traditions in the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ, so, what use is Christ's sacrifice on the cross?

Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. Col 2v8.

When we accept the Lord Jesus Christ in our lives, we leave our traditions and customs to adopt the principles of the kingdom of God, and thus we become new creatures. It is Christians to tell their parents who do not know the Lord, that customs and traditions are not feasible in the new life in Christ, Christians must pray that the Lord touch the hearts of their parents so that they no longer demand the dowry because it is contrary to life in Christ. The Bible says: Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Gal 5v1.  If the future groom wants to give gifts, he is free to do so, but this should not be imposed to him. Neither Jesus nor His apostles taught the dowry, so we must return to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

SO THE PRACTICE OF DOWRY IS UNSCRIPTURAL REPENT!

THE DOWRY "Shilluwach":  "send back, give and farewell gift", Jetrho Moses' father in law, SENT BACK to Moses, his wife Zipporah and his two son. (Exodus 18v2); Pharaoh made a FAREWELL GIFT to his daughter, wife of Solomon (I Kings 9v16).


God bless you! H.E.Maiga