So yesterday at our weekly study, my pastor made an extremely controversial statement. In Jeremiah 16:2, Pastor Mike made the point that this is the only place in the Bible where he ordered the Isrealites not to have children. He also pointed out that God ordered, “Do not get MARRIED and have children.” Through out the Bible God uses children as a blessing, beginning in Genesis where He tells Adam and Eve to go forth and multiply. He then blesses Noah and Abraham and their decedents by saying that their children will be as numerous as the stars.
Pastor Mike then went on to say that having sex and inhibiting the ability to produce children is not biblical and it is extremely selfish. Pastor Mike went on to explain that when you take the ultimate intended blessing out of sex, you make it about you. This then turns the act of sex a selfish act which could then spiral to pornography, sexual immorality, adultery, and even homosexuality.
I’m not sure how I feel about that statement or concept. However, it is consistent with God’s character with regards to lack of selfishness and fruit being produced when in His will and not our own. Does this mean we are all sinning when we take our birth control or use “protection”? Are we misusing His design for happiness and thus missing out on blessings? Just some food for thought…
Obviously, those who aren’t married should not be having sex and therefore shouldn’t be using birth control.
Many married couples use birth control to delay having children until they are more mature, financially stable, emotionally stable, etc. That is not selfish at all. It’s to provide the child and family a better life.
A lot of people refer to Genesis 38 to say birth control is wrong. It’s not birth control that is wrong in this passage, though, it’s the motivation behind using birth control. Just like the verse about how the love of money is the root of all evil. it’s not the money that’s wrong; it’s the motivation.
Also, 1 Corinthians 7 it talks about how married couples shouldn’t abstain from sex except for prayer and fasting. The Bible is clear that couples are to sexually satisfy one another, which means coming together on a regular basis. God has provided us a way to do that without having children. God provides the best for his children, and I believe he would want parents to do the same for their children. Having too many children makes that more difficult and in some cases impossible. I think having too many children, more than the parent’s resources (financial, emotional, time, etc) allow, is irresponsible and not God-honoring. I think there’s some verses in the epistles that talk about how a man should be able to care for his family or something like that (but i think the verses might be referring to widows not children. I don’t know. I can’t remember. Regardless, it’s the same concept.).
Also, I think the commands God gives to people in the Bible to “be fruitful and multiply” are specifically for those people and not for ALL married people.
I agree in not abstaining from sex or denying your spouse. However, I am not 100% in agreement either way with planning your children or the selfishness concept. I’m not saying God is going to punish you for using birth control, but I do think again, just like abortion (per the comment I made on your blog), its playing God and taking control out of God’s hands. Who are we us to decide when the “right time is”. I don’t think that is biblical. I don’t see anywhere in the Bible where people planned their children. If someone were to say that now we are in different times and things have changed, I would then challenge what things change and what things remain the same? I do respect one’s desire to have a plan to be financially stable to provide for their children, but again, how can we know for certain we can, especially with today’s market? Even if we save a ton of money prior to giving birth, what if our economy collapses? God is faithful and will provide for us regardless. I have seen many people who have lost over half their savings and retirement funds this year alone with our horrible market. No one is safe unless they have faith that God will continue to provide for them. In fact, God tells us not to worry about tomorrow and to rely solely on Him in the following scriptures Luke 12:28 Matthew 6:30-34 and James 4:12-14
Again just some food for thought