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Family Planning

Salty

Salty

20,000 Posts Club
Administrator
In another thread - Steve stated he is opposed to Family Planning.

Now, Gen 9:7 states: And you, be ye fruitful, and multiply; bring forth abundantly in the earth, and multiply therein.

So is it wrong for a couple to practice family planning ?

Some will say that, we have accomplished that mission,
and now, we should practice family planning so we do not
overpopulate the earth

Open for discussion
 
S

Steven Yeadon

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
1. Genesis 9:7 and Genesis 9:1 are given to Noah and his family and seems to be in effect to this day. At least we have no scriptures that countermand these commands.

2. Genesis 1:28 hasn't even been accomplished yet. This almost sounds like the Lord is ordering us to domesticate the whole planet, a feat a ways off except within the borders of some Asian nations.

3. Genesis 35:11 could be argued to not just be for Jacob (Israel) but all Israelites and all Christians. The gist seems to be that we are blessed along with our children more than others, and that we should thus increase our blessed number.

4. Genesis 17:4 shows that a huge part of the Lord's whole promise to Abraham is that from he and his wife will come mighty nations and kings. This seems to be a wonderful promise through his offspring that all of us should desire in some way.

5. Psalms 128:3 talks of a man who fears the Lord's wife being like a grapevine. This is supposed to be a huge blessing. Psalms 127:3-5 agrees with this general sentiment as does Leviticus 26:9.

6. Proverbs 20:7 also sets out that many descendants are a blessing from God, especially as they will be highly blessed like their righteous father.
 
A

Alcott

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
We did some family planning.... picnics, football games, vacations, holiday meals,...
 
JonC

JonC

Moderator
Moderator
If we approach the subject in terms of a commandment (that we are commanded to be fruitful and multiply in terms of having children and raising families) then this was perhaps Jesus’ only sin (one that Paul shared). Abraham himself only had two children.
 
Reynolds

Reynolds

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Steven Yeadon said:
1. Genesis 9:7 and Genesis 9:1 are given to Noah and his family and seems to be in effect to this day. At least we have no scriptures that countermand these commands.

2. Genesis 1:28 hasn't even been accomplished yet. This almost sounds like the Lord is ordering us to domesticate the whole planet, a feat a ways off except within the borders of some Asian nations.

3. Genesis 35:11 could be argued to not just be for Jacob (Israel) but all Israelites and all Christians. The gist seems to be that we are blessed along with our children more than others, and that we should thus increase our blessed number.

4. Genesis 17:4 shows that a huge part of the Lord's whole promise to Abraham is that from he and his wife will come mighty nations and kings. This seems to be a wonderful promise through his offspring that all of us should desire in some way.

5. Psalms 128:3 talks of a man who fears the Lord's wife being like a grapevine. This is supposed to be a huge blessing. Psalms 127:3-5 agrees with this general sentiment as does Leviticus 26:9.

6. Proverbs 20:7 also sets out that many descendants are a blessing from God, especially as they will be highly blessed like their righteous father.
Click to expand...
Get back to me on it when you have 15 kids.
 
Sapper Woody

Sapper Woody

Well-Known Member
I look at it as someone has already stated. If it was a command for us to follow today, then Jesus sinned by not following that command.

Obviously, I don't believe Jesus sinned. Which means that we are not being told that we can't prevent ourselves from having children.

Personally, I have three. The wife and I have thought about having one more, as we have three girls and if like to have a boy. (Sidenote, my siblings all have only girls, too. So a boy would be nice to have in the family.) But right now, we are not financially in a place where we should have a fourth.

So, if I had another, we'd be a drain on society, and I wouldn't be able to provide for my own. If it was a command to have more, if have to break other commands in order to over that one. And God doesn't give us contradictory commands.

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S

Steven Yeadon

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Jesus lives like a eunuch for the Kingdom, as did Paul (Matthew 19:11-12). Eunuchs for the Kingdom radically increase their service to the Lord because of their lifestyle choice (1 Corinthians 7:32-35). This is even a gift from God (1 Corinthians 7:7). So, I do not see how this affects having children because I see two options:

1. Marriage in the image God created it to have.
2. Living like a eunuch for the Kingdom and living a life of service to the Lord.
 
Sapper Woody

Sapper Woody

Well-Known Member
Steven Yeadon said:
Jesus lives like a eunuch for the Kingdom, as did Paul (Matthew 19:11-12). Eunuchs for the Kingdom radically increase their service to the Lord because of their lifestyle choice (1 Corinthians 7:32-35). This is even a gift from God (1 Corinthians 7:7). So, I do not see how this affects having children because I see two options:

1. Marriage in the image God created it to have.
2. Living like a eunuch for the Kingdom and living a life of service to the Lord.
Click to expand...
You realize that is a non-answer, right? Either you have to have as many children as possible, or you don't. Saying that being a spiritual Eunich is ok is saying that there is no command to have children at every opportunity.

It's also saying that I can rationalize not having more children since it would hinder my work for Christ.

Either way, you have nullified your entire argument in your own.

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S

Steven Yeadon

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Sapper Woody said:
You realize that is a non-answer, right? Either you have to have as many children as possible, or you don't. Saying that being a spiritual Eunich is ok is saying that there is no command to have children at every opportunity.

It's also saying that I can rationalize not having more children since it would hinder my work for Christ.

Either way, you have nullified your entire argument in your own.

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Click to expand...

1. What I am saying is that your argument to avoid child-bearing through family planning goes against the design God had for marriage, which was to be fruitful and multiply. The bible allows us to avoid marriage through celibacy, but married people should pursue children as an "of course."

2. Also, family planning goes against the spirit of how the bible views family, since each child is an enormous blessing. Why not be fruitful and thus more blessed?
 
Jerome

Jerome

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
The Southern Baptist Convention has spoken on this in a Resolution it passed:
WHEREAS, It is the responsibility of parents to determine the desirable size of families and the spacing of children so as to provide adequately for them as well as for the well-being of the parents....Be it therefore RESOLVED, That the Southern Baptist Convention commends to those married couples who desire it and who may be benefited by it, the judicious use of medically approved methods of planned parenthood and the dissemination of planned parenthood information.
Click to expand...
Southern Baptist Convention > Resolution On Population Explosion
 
TCassidy

TCassidy

Late-Administator Emeritus
Administrator
Steven, how long have you been married and how many children do you have?
 
S

Steven Yeadon

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Jerome said:
The Southern Baptist Convention has spoken on this in a Resolution it passed:
Click to expand...

Whoa, isn't that resolution Malthusian in that it addresses "population explosion," "mass starvation," and "overpopulation." It seems to lack faith that God will provide for us through at least technology.

I'm also disappointed in the convention for flat out ruling against those like myself instead of leaving it a matter of discussion.
 
S

Steven Yeadon

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
TCassidy said:
Before doing any family planning you may want to:

#1. Find a wife.
#2. Marry her.
#3. Discuss the issue with her.
Click to expand...

The problem is that I have debated this for a while, and if a woman I am interested in decides that she wants to do family planning, then that makes or breaks the relationship. The reason being that I would not be willing to go against my conscience on this issue, because I believe it would be a sin to.
 
S

Steven Yeadon

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
TCassidy said:
How do you do that? Are you Post-Mil/Reconstructionist?
Click to expand...

No, sorry I fail to understand what you are asking. At my church for years, and also at a United Methodist seminary I went to back in my more liberal days, we have talked about contributions of Christian service of any type being to Jesus Christ and his Kingdom. I may just be confused by my churches' jargon concerning the wider world.

I do want to state though that being a moderate evangelical was wrong, and I do not believe I have been saved until after I embraced fundamentalist Christianity over a year ago.

-EDIT-

I am definitely post-tribulation rapture, pre-millennial.
 
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