I’ve been reading this morning arguments from both sides, and I think I still stand where I do.
Thing not mentioned in the board were
1. the blessings of adoption - 'pure and undefiled religion’ should also consist in caring for the 153 million orphans (Orphan Justice, Johnny Carr; Laura Captari). Seeing the motionless bodies of little ones in China and India is an earthquake in your gut. And it is no less painful to give life to one of these little ones in Jesus’ name, nor less rewarding, than bearing ‘according to one’s own kind’. I think that is YHWH’s heart (Ezekiel 16:6 "I passed by you and saw you lying in your blood, and I said to you as you lay in your blood: Live! Yes, I said to you as you lay in your blood: Live!"
2. the primacy of the gospel task, though one guy mentioned 1 Cor 7 and serving the kingdom.
3. I agree that 'multiply and fill the land' is a command, initially to Adam, then to Noah, but also to everyone afterwards just as much as “every moving thing will be food for you”, “you shall not eat meat its blood”, and “whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed”.
4. When Sarah laughed, or Abraham went into Hagar, or Rachel envied Leah, the implications of that initial command become clear.
5. However - when Paul the apostle responds to the Corinthians that “it is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman” but his concession is that “because of sexual immorality each should have their own spouse”, it seems that we have come to a completely new paradigm.
6. Paul continues, “I wish that all were as myself [single], but each has his own gift from God [celibacy - 'some eunuchs who have been so from birth, by men, or themselves for the Kingdom'] [ spouse -
7. Family planning becomes society planning, which gets sticky when people bring up India and China. It’s a challenge for backwoods American Baptists to form knowledgeable judgment statements about pagan nations.
8. I think what we have here is a failure to differentiate between Old Covenant beginning of the world ideological practices, and New Covenant end of the ages ideas and practices. Jesus said, “a new command I give you”, and ‘Jesus commanded them, “Going, make disciples of all nations”.
9. He didn’t forbid marriage or childbearing, but his focus was much larger, and it seems to me that the Adamic and Noahic covenants were fulfilled, so that Jesus was able to say, go to all nations, since at that point the earth had been filled.
10. Christians debating about free birth nowadays are debating a moot point. The main thing now is Jesus’ last command to us.
11. Child rearing is not brought up by Paul, except in the household codes of Eph and Col, not to mention 2 Tim, but I think the same ideals of love and support apply. The mystery Paul reveals is that God the Father of all of us, something pagans in Moses' day didn't know, and that Jesus the Christ will be married to the Assembly / Gathering / Church - these are the more relevant spiritual realities.
12. American Baptists want clear commands, I get it, we are a law abiding people who see the universe governed by laws. We can’t run a stop sign without fearing heaven’s wrath. But to step back and see the big picture, I think, informs a Christian regarding God’s ultimate plan. To not step back still invites grace and mercy to the sincere believer to do what they perceive as correct in a muddled issue like this.
13. lastly, we who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, to build each other up in the faith. If a couple desires babies, they should have them. If they don’t desire to do so, who is coming around with Genesis in their hands, heartlessly thumping people’s hearts?
