The Narrow Path Ministries

I have a question that has been a divisive issue in my marriage. Is using birth control a sin? Or is it just a matter of conscience? My wife and I both have strong opposing views on this subject, but I don’t want to make a decision based on feelings. What does God say about it?

Please help!

-Ben

Ben,

Personally, I don't think it's a sin per se, aside from the abortive types of B.C. (which I have read they all have the potential to be). But the thing is, the bible says that children are a <b>blessing</b> from God (Ps. 127). Not only would I want all the blessing that God chooses to give me, but I would worry about the fact that I don't believe God when He says that, which is ultimatly what we are saying by our actions if we take birth control. It is the same as saying "I think I know when I am ready better than Him".

Personally, I would just trust Him with the matter. It is in His hands ultimatly either way, with or without birth control. I suppose it is a matter of faith though.


God bless you,
Derek

P.S. since we're on the subject-- My wife and I are desperatly trying to have some kids so if anyone feels led to pray for us (Derek and Alicia) I would appreciate it. Thanks!

I have a question that has been a divisive issue in my marriage. Is using birth control a sin? Or is it just a matter of conscience? My wife and I both have strong opposing views on this subject, but I don’t want to make a decision based on feelings. What does God say about it?


I've heard Doug Batchelor who i consider a good bible teacher speak on this and he said that as long as it prevents conception it's permissable. It's true what Derek said children are a blessing but you have to want to have them. And God did say be fruitful and multiply but that was when the earth was sparsley populated wheras now we have 6 billion people so i don't think that part is an issue. I wish i could quote specific scripture but i'm not aware of any.
Derek i will pray for you and your wife, God bless.

as long as it prevents conception it's permissible.

From what I have read, "ovulations occur in between 1 and 5 percent of cycles in which no pills were missed" "It's possible that an egg might be released and fertilized in the fallopian tube only to have the embryo arrive at the uterus to find an unfavorable endometrium" The uterine environment could potentially be incompatible with human life, and the embryo would die" (a quote from Christian Medical Association's William Cutrer and Sandra Glahn from the Contraception guidebook. Quote is taken from "A Hardpill to Swallow" by Agnieszka Tennant in Christianity Today Nov. 05)

So it would seem, that there is a chance, however small, that an abortion could take place unknowingly. It is an incredibly small possibility apparently, but not a chance I want to take.

I haven't read much more than this article on the subject, so I could hardly speak authoritatively on the subject. My objections to birth control stem mostly from knowing that God tells us it is a blessing.

And God did say be fruitful and multiply but that was when the earth was sparsley populated wheras now we have 6 billion people so i don't think that part is an issue.

I would like to point out that the world hardly has enough Christians. We have the opportunity to actually make them from scratch. Godly arrows to fire at the enemy. It's really a wonderful thing. If the world were to be overpopulated (which it is nowhere near being) then it would be a great problem to have if Christians were the cause of it.

Thank you so much for the prayers brother. I really appreciate it.
God bless you!
Derek

As Christians, we must be careful to observe the following principles:

1) Children are a blessing (even when they seem otherwise ) but are also a tremendous responsibility. Raising them to love God is the most important thing you'll ever do aside from following God yourself.

2) Avoid all methods of birth control that have effect after conception. The most common form of birth control in our day is "the pill" Unfortunately, one of its "methods" of prevention is to weaken the lining of the uterus to make it difficult if not impossible for a zygote to implant. Statistically, the chances of this happening are small. However, that is still abortion, and like Derek said, I'd rather not take my chances.

On a personal note, my wife and I stopped using the "pill" as a method of birth control when we learned what I describe in (2).
However, we still do practice birth control (naturally) until we are ready for the next one. We feel that raising children is such a huge responsibility (and priviledge) that we carefully plan the frequency of our children.
In our estimation regarding Scripture, having lots of children does not intrinsically make a family more Godly, but it is how you raise the children that God has given you.
I know of many Godly families with lots of children and many Godly families who've decided on a lesser amount of children.
A husband and wife should decide this per Scripture and conscience.
There is freedom in this issue for Godly couples to differ.


Derek - You have my prayers. Remember, it is also a priviledge and a calling to adopt.

God could have created the universe in 1 nanosecond, but for some reason (He didn't tell me why) He chose to stretch it over 6 days. After that He could have continued to create all sorts of other things, but for some reason He said, "That's enough."

Could we as humans take a cue from our Father and choose to pace our "creation" plans and even come to a point where we say, "that's enough"?

Dolphin, your post reminded my of my own situation as the youngest in a family of five children. Lorraine, one of my sisters, 15 years of age, wastn't totally pleased about my birth. She thought mother was "too old" to have more children.

At the dinner table, shortly after my birth, my mother asked the family, "What should we call the baby?". Lorraine turned to my mother and said, "Why not call it Enough?"

I don't know how much I can contribute to this, but here it goes. I pretty much agree with everything schoel says. I would simply add that I think that we should be just as desirous for children as Solomon was in Psm 127:

3 Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him.
4 Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth.
5 Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate.

The difference is that, as believers under the new covenant, we have the opportunity to have spiritual “children” as Paul did in Titus (Titus 1:4) and Timothy (1 Tim 1:2). Paul likely had no biological children, yet I dare say he has more descendants (in the faith) than I will ever have, biological or otherwise. Spiritual children will contend with my enemies just as well as biological children will, and maybe better if they don’t walk with the Lord.

Paul also lays out our priorities when he talks about marriage in 1 Cor. 7. He says it is better to remain single, if possible, to avoid being divided in devotion to the Lord. Since marriage is a prerequisite to having children it seems that Paul is also giving us some insight into the priority of having children. Our devotion to God is of first priority, and I wouldn’t hold it against anyone who wanted to limit the size of their family to maximize their devotion to God. I suspect that many people want to limit the number of children they have for selfish reasons, but that isn’t for me to judge. I’m not even ready to say selfish reasons aren’t acceptable reasons to limit family size. Some people just aren’t “kid” people, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have a valuable role in the Kingdom of God. Personally, while I love my children (2 with 1 due in 2 weeks) dearly, I don’t want to be changing diapers when I am 50. Even Solomon seems to favor “sons born in one’s youth”, and I doubt he changed any diapers. He makes no mention of sons born in middle age or beyond. That said, I am very desirous and would never want to limit my number of spiritual children. I'm also asking God to give me His heart for biological children, so He may change me in this respect.

Your mileage may vary.

I don't think we can find any scripture indicating that practising birth control is sinful.

Those who think it to be morally wrong usually base their argument on the fact that it thwarts nature, and God is the one who created the universe, with its life forms, to operate as it does.

On the same basis, it would be wrong for a man to cut off his beard, or cut his hair, or a woman to dye her hair, cut it, or to wear jewelry. It would also be wrong to have an operation to remove a part of the body.

I'm sure you can think of many other such examples.

These practices just ain't natural.

[On the same basis, it would be wrong for a man to cut off his beard, or cut his hair, or a woman to dye her hair, cut it, or to wear jewelry. It would also be wrong to have an operation to remove a part of the body.
quote]

We were born nekkid too so remember that clothes are against nature but thank goodness for clothes.