Contraception

Jeffrey, in answer to your question, God does not change....He is "the same yesteday, and to day, and for ever," but we do change. As to contraception I believe it is a personal matter between you and God as long as it does not involve in any way the death of an unborn child.

 

We changed, and for the better. We began to take responsibility within our economic base, and for how many children we could raise responsibly.

Abortion as a means of birth control is just not acceptable, in my opinion. Every other method is at least a step forward.

Cheers,

Jim

 

Very well put, Bro. Jim.

 

Actually I don't think Christians should use contraception (even barrier methods) without a VERY good reason. The Bible never describes having children as anything other than a blessing. The motives for limiting family size to two or three children are often, if not usually, purely motives of material gain or, at best, of ambition displaced to the children (there is no law in the Bible that every child has to go to university!).

However since in most churches we haven't even got hold of the the idea that ABORTION is wrong, let alone that abortifacient birth control is unacceptable, arguments against all contraception are fairly well down the list of priorities in my opinion.

Liz

 

My take exactly ...

PJ

 

1 Tim. 5:8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

With modern economies, having an abundance of children makes it extremely difficult to provide for large families. Responsible birth control is a way to make sure that one can provide for one's family.

 

By the phrase "birth control", my feeling is that we usually mean taking specific actions to prevent the joining of the sperm and egg. So if we want to discuss the whole nature of birth control, we may need to tackle issues of whether or not a couple can choose to abstain during fertile days. I know a man that will not allow his wife to refuse him...thinks thats biblical. They have 9 and are trying for #10.

I think God expects us to be good stewards of the resources we have. That means using our brains, too.

 

Jeffrey,

They were not wrong for their time. Do remember, that women were less than human in those days...legally and politically....for example, they didn't get to vote in Canada until 1918 and in the USA in 1920. The woman was to be available for the pleasure of the man at any time, and often all the time. Thankfully, things have changed for the better.

Whilst God's word does not change on eternal matters, customs do change. We wear shoes now and not sandals; we wear dress suits and not robes. As the song goes, "Times they are achanging..."

Cheers,

Jim

 

I agree, Tater ...

PJ

 

A friend of mine who was a banker told me that in 1975 they staretd counting the wife's income as income. That allowed a couple to buy more home. But the prices followed rather quickly too. So now the US has expensive homes and wives working. While the avergae worker does not make what he did years ago for the same job figuring the cost of living increases. The cost of insurance has sucked up a lot of that money.

 

I think Jesus said, "Trust God." If God will give you a blessing in the form of a child, then can we not trust Him to provide for that child? Check out the Sermon on the Mount.

Is our economy worse that in the great depression? People had more children back then also!

I believe that most often people use birth control for selfish reasons and then slap on the reason "just being responsible." People cannot buy as much "stuff" if they have more children, they don't have as much time (for themselves) if they have more children, they cannot afford all the "wants" for the family.... SELFISHNESS. As I look at my youngest daughter, I see a beutiful baby given to me by God. Maybe I should see her as a liability encroaching into my personal freedom and draining my bank account! No, I see her as a blessing from God who is giving us a quiver full of warriors in God's army!

 

I feel the same way, Jensen. Neither or our girls were "planned" but they have been the biggest blessings in our lives, ever. However, that doesnt mean that if I choose not to "be exposed" certain times of the month, that I am being selfish.

I understand your point about society using "birth control" for selfish reasons. But I also know that on this small pastor's salary that we have (and we are thankful for it ) we couldn't just keep having and having babies, and pay for it without government assistance.

 

TatorTot,
I understand small salary! My 26 K /yr goes to support me, my wife, and my 4 girls. (My wife stays at home and homeschools the girls). But I trust that God will support everyone of His children, despite what I might think. God has a way of suprizing me....just when I believe He could not provide, He proves He is God! And God don't lie! Even when it comes to supporting, what we think, is too many children. AMEN. Trust God! He'll blow your mind!

 

I do trust God, and Has provided abundantly more than I could ask or think. But if we choose to abstain at fertile times, I dont believe that to mean that we are NOT trusting God.

 

And what about those who take surgical measures to refrain from having more?

 

I don't believe for one minute that God might protect my foolishness should I blindly walk into a den of rattlesnakes. I think He intends that we should employ the common sense He enabled us to learn.

Cheers,

Jim

 

TatorTot,
I did not say you didn't trust God. A person who doe not trust God to provide for their needs (not wants) does not trust God. No Trust = lack of faith = sin.

Jim1999,
You are compairing apples to oranges in your post. For most people, common sense means that in order to be saved they must "do" good things (i.e. obey the 10 Commandments)....I don't trust my common sense! The Bible tells us that the righteous shall live by what? Common Sense? Trends & habits of society? or FAITH!

Again, I believe that most (not all) people choose to limit God and His blessings of giving children for purely selfish reasons. Maybe you could give examples of why you (or others) choose to use birth control?