Children

[annsni]

For those who are tired of all of the comments of many children (even when I was just expecting my fourth, I got a comment of "I'm sorry" from someone), here's a funny site with some great (and some mean) comebacks:

http://www.plomp.com/largefam/comebacks.htm

Some of my favorite:

To - "Are they all yours?"
* No, this is not all of them, my oldest is at home with the triplets.
* No, actually two are the mailman's and I am not sure whose is that one.....
*No, I picked up a couple extra in the produce aisle
*Yes. But if you have any you don't want, I'll gladly take them, too


To: "Don't you know what causes that?"

*Oh yes, we finally figured it out and we now keep the tooth brushes in seperate glasses!



To: "I don't know how you do it - I can't even handle my two"

*Yes, you don't strike me as the type who could handle more kids than that.
*Oh, I just do it. Wake up in the morning, do what you have to do all day, go to bed when it's done.



To: "Are you planning to have any more?"

* I've been wondering about this and maybe you can explain it to me: I always thought you had to plan NOT to have more.
* Before we were married we planned on having 2, but I didn't know that my husband couldn't count!


To: "I hope you're not planning to have any more!"

* You mean, I just figured out what I'm really, really good at, and you're telling me to stop doing it?

 

[Brandon C. Jones]

Hello,

We discussed this recently in our church. I think the difference between a blessing and a command is that the former recognizes it as a good thing among other good things to pursue, while the latter implies that it is wrong or even sinful to not pursue it.

I have difficulty with the position that it is a command, considering Paul advised against it for ministry purposes (noting that there are good reasons to pursue it nonetheless) and Christ, being the second Adam, did not pursue it either.

Brandon

 

[iasusxrist]

Best argument I've heard yet (maybe because I've had the others refuted :lol, Brandon! Thank you Very much.

 

[webdog]

My wife and I took it literally...we multiplied...went from 2 to 4

 

[Johnv]

I'd like to ask you as well, how do we come to the view that a blessing is not a command?

The question is how a person can view a blessing as a command. There are many conditions in scrpture that are blessings. That's not a command to engage in those conditions. There's a difference.

It seems that most verses refer to a blessing that no one in their right mind could reject

On the contrary. The beatitudes are a good example. The beatitudes are examples of blessings because of something. They're not a command to do something. Not everyone will be in a position of being a piecemaker. Not everyone will be in a position of being persecuted. etc etc. It's an affirmation that, when we are in those positions, we will be blessed. We don't tell christians "persecution is a blessing, therefore, if you're not out getting persecuted, then you're disobeying God".

 

[iasusxrist]

Thanks John.

 

[preachinjesus]

Preaching, this is my issue:
If children are a blessing, from God: How dare we say, we don't want it?

Not all people have the same blessings. We each are called to different walks of life and thus different forms of God's blessing.

Is it ever right to turn down His blessing?

Let me reply with a question: what do we say to the couple who, because of God's plan, are barren? Are they neglecting a blessing?

My position is that it is a deeply personal matter for each couple. They need to determine God's path in their lives. For Mrs. PJ and I we waited until we were firmly settled before having children. Yet we knew God desired for us to have two littles ones and thus we have them.

Not all Christians are called to receive the same blessings from God. Blessings aren't like a certificate of completion, they are something mightily different.

 

[donnA]

to - "are they all yours?"
* no, this is not all of them, my oldest is at home with the triplets.

lol


.........

 

[annsni]

Let me reply with a question: what do we say to the couple who, because of God's plan, are barren? Are they neglecting a blessing?

Why would they be neglecting what is not given to them? Trust me - a couple that is barren would climb the highest mountain to gain that blessing that is not for them. But then again, there are other ways to receive the blessing - to do as my parents did and gratefully accept someone else's blessing as their own.

 

[iasusxrist]

John and Preachin,

What do you do with, "Be fruitful and multiply?"

 

[Johnv]

What do you do with, "Be fruitful and multiply?"

In college, I did a rather lengthy group paper on this topic. The phrase "be fruitful and multiply" is given to a group, not to individuals. It has a specific purpose and intent when given. It's given on a numer of occaisions (not just in Gen1). It is not specific to individual persons. In other words, it's not a command saying "each person must have at least one child".

 

[annsni]

In college, I did a rather lengthy group paper on this topic. The phrase "be fruitful and multiply" is given to a group, not to individuals. It has a specific purpose and intent when given. It's given on a numer of occaisions (not just in Gen1). It is not specific to individual persons. In other words, it's not a command saying "each person must have at least one child".

So the fact that Jesus gave a group the Great Commission means that some of us can ignore it? As long as some people take care of it, we get the choice to "opt-out"?

 

[Johnv]

Apples and oranges.

 

[preachinjesus]

John and Preachin,

What do you do with, "Be fruitful and multiply?"

We have been.

 

[annsni]

Apples and oranges.

You speaking of "be fruitful"?

 

[Johnv]

Hey, it fit :wavey:

 

[saturneptune]

Debate:
Are we commanded to have children, if possible?
The whole, God opens and closes the womb, be fruitful and multiply, children are an hertiage from God etc.

I'd like to hear all comments from both sides of the argument, please!

I will just give my experience as to why I think they are a gift of God. I was 24 when I got married. The years passed and no kids. We went on an adoption list, and nothing happened. Finally, seven years later, the first one came along. Then two years later, here comes the second. Well, she had trouble with the second, so we had no more. We also came off the adoption list to give those behind us a better chance. They turned out pretty good despite me, and the Lord has really blessed their lives and ours by allowing us to raise them. They both have degrees and are doing fine. My hat is off to all the parents that raise their children in a Christian home, and to those who have a large number of kids.

With all the abortions and kids being raised by parents that are zonked out on drugs, alcohol, or rotating partners, there is nothing more tragic. There are so many good couples that cannot have them, why cant we in this country, since we are changing everything anyhow, why cant we have adoption reform, and let these couples adopt much faster and give these kids a chance?

 

[Johnv]

...why cant we have adoption reform, and let these couples adopt much faster and give these kids a chance?

Albeit off topic, I think that's an absolutely fantastic idea!!!! :applause: :applause: :applause:

 

[Winman]

I think the reason Christians should have children is to spread the gospel.

The Muslims clearly understand this. I have read several articles that say Muslims are taking over Europe. Here is one article.

http://www.energypublisher.com/article.asp?idarticle=20122

I forget where I read it, but one article said the average Muslim family has 8 children compared to less than 2 in America and Europe.

Whether people realize it or not, this is a huge challange to "Christian" nations. We will see the results of this soon.

 

[Trotter]

We have one child, our daughter. We lost a son before we had her, and we lost a son after her. My wife almost died several times trying to carry our second son. Due to this we decided to stop trying to have children.

My wife, an only child, wanted 12 children. I am the first of two and just wanted a daughter. God gave us three and let us keep one. We decided to be satified with that and took steps to ensure that we would not have any more children. I would love any kids we might have, but I do not want to lose my wife trying to get them.