As Christians, we have an absolute duty, if married, to obey the biblical mandate to procreate, as given to both Adam and Eve and Noah and his family:
And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth. (Genesis 1:28)
Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth. The fear and dread of you will fall upon all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air, upon every creature that moves along the ground, and upon all the fish of the sea; they are given into your hands. Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything. (Genesis 9:1-3)
But how many children is too many? And is it immoral to use any kind of birth control? And is it immoral to overpopulate the earth?
1. Do Christians have freedom of conscience with respect to fertility?
The short answer is yes, if you follow the dictum of
In the essentials, UNITY
In the non-essentials, LIBERTY
In all things, CHARITY
Fertility is NOT a central Christian doctrine, and as per the application of Romans 14 to non-essential matters of conscience, we absolutely do have freedom to choose apart from church authority, and still be able to consider ourselves Christian in an orthodox sense.
But this does not make the decisions equally biblically justifiable – in fact, we may argue that certain biblical principles apply, and make some decisions less biblical, and therefore perhaps less moral, than others.
2. Should Christians EVER limit the number of children they should have?
There are more principles at stake than just “be fruitful,” although some would quote the scriptures that indicate that children are to be viewed as a blessing (Psalm 127: 3-5), which is NOT the prevailing selfish, anti-human view, there are a few important balancing principles.
A. The ability to PROVIDE for your children.
While some may want to say “I just trust God for material provision,” there is also the issue of EMOTIONAL provision. Do you and your spouse really have the TIME to be emotionally engaged with your children? Not if you are a two-income family. And even if one parent stays at home, it is hard to be emotionally engaged with large numbers of kids.
I am not saying that parents of large families are being irresponsible, because there are many ways to aid the parenting of many children. This includes the help of extended family, mentors, and teaching the older children to care for the younger, which, if not done in too burdensome a way, actually prepares them well to be parents themselves.
But the opposite must be acknowledged – in light of some parents’ resources, they may NOT be able to faithfully care for more than a small handful of children, given their other responsibilities and resources. Of course, they must consider whether a lifestyle of consumer debt or other poor value system is actually stripping them of the ability to be present for their children, but it is conceivable that some couples may want to limit their family size out of a desire to obey the command to PROVIDE for their families.
B. The mother’s health
One point that should not be overlooked is that child birth is very hard on a woman’s body, and it may be in her interest to stop having children. Not only does this save the woman’s life, but it allows for continued emotional and physical provision for the children.
C. The ability to HELP OTHERS in need, especially other children.
We live in a world where children around the world are not wanted, and die daily for lack of care. We may want to limit our biological progeny for the sole reason that we want to help other children through sponsorship, foster care, or adoption. This care for “orphans and widows” is one of the chief values of Christianity, as declared by James, the brother of Jesus (James 1:27)
D. Overpopulation and world resources
I do NOT believe that this value should be considered as Christian, nor part of a biblical decision to limit the number of children one has, except as it applies to your own ability to care for others (point B above). The reason is, I do NOT believe that overpopulation is the true root of today’s resource issues, and biblically speaking, we see no command or principle governing population limits.
Are there limits? If so, how do we determine them? Does God expect us to increase forever, and allow plague and starvation keep us to the right numbers? Or should we be proactive?
While I think the latter question is the right stance, we should take careful action, acknowledging that our models for living space, lifespan, and food and energy creation and consumption greatly influence our conclusions. And I seriously doubt that population is really the root cause of today’s problems with so many orphans.
As many have argued, the real problem is not overpopulation, but corrupt governments, war, abuse of natural resources, and resource distribution. Also, anti-population gurus often ignore the plain facts that (a) we have not even come close to reaching the limits of agriculture or land use, and (b) they regularly ignore the role that technology plays in making our use of resources more efficient, sustainable, and scalable.
Now, in the short run, we may want to make as much room in our own family to adopt the unwanted, but to say that population is a problem is probably the wrong cause, even if we are employing a valid solution to the real problems of orphans caused by poverty, war, politics, and irresponsible parents.
3. How many children are enough?
While every couple must determine this for themselves, I will offer a number – at least THREE. Why three? While I have no direct biblical mandate, I note that, in order to at LEAST replenish themselves, parents need to have two children. And to be fruitful and multiply (or at least ADD to) the current population? You need one more. As has been noted, we each need to provide about 2.3 children to at least maintain our national numbers.
Interestingly, nations like Germany and France are having failing economies, not just because they run expensive welfare states, but because their shrinking populations (death rate greater than birth rate) are eroding their tax base. Not only does this affect their economy, but it means that they will have lesser prominence in the future world economy, and less influence overall since their lower population will by default mean they represent less of the world population, and so should wield less influence in world politics.
I’d like to say this – that it is not only our duty to provide more children in obedience to God, but it may be our PATRIOTIC DUTY to provide more children to a free America. There, I said it. Now, I don’t really believe that, but it’s worth considering. A better way to provide more freedom-loving Christian patriots, of course, may be to also convert more of the immigrants and unbelievers in our country as well. And with the influx of Catholic Mexicans, this is already half done for us (in that even unredeemed Catholics usually share our values.)
Interestingly, even Al Mohler, who preaches these same ideas, does not put a number to the “how many is enough” question, but he also warns that some types of birth control are probably immoral.
4. What kind of birth control is acceptable, if any?
To be entirely safe, I’d say there are only two, doctrinally speaking – abstinence or sterilization. Many evangelicals are rethinking the ethics and morality of birth control , and I’ve even read lately that some Christian writers are saying that the reason we have been unsuccessful in defeating abortion is that we evangelicals are tolerating birth control, including such know abortifacients as the mini-pill and IUDs.
CONCLUSION
I am obeying my own conscience by stopping at three children. This leaves me room to adopt in the future, and it also means I have at least replaced my wife and myself. I go for a vascectomy in a few weeks. And I’m going to be able to fully enjoy interacting with my three children. Of course, I’ll teach them to be thinking Christians, and Christian patriots. And Christian parents who have at least three children apiece. :D
I'd like to say this – that it is not only our duty to provide more children in obedience to God
I absolutely disagree.
God never says that we have a duty to "provide" children.
When he tells Adam and Eve to be fruitful and multiply it is not a command it is a blessing.
So do you disagree with the second half of the "command" also, which is to subdue and have dominion over the earth? Is that merely a blessing also? Why?
Interestingly, Al Mohler has written an interesting commentary on how willfull childlessness is rebellion against God
We are blessed with abilities to subdue the earth. We are not commanded to do that either.
And willful childlessness is sometimes the greatest sacrifice a person could make.
My sister who is bipolar is not ever planning on having children. I think that is one of the most sacrificial things a person can do. She realizes her inability to take care of another person. She can barely take care of herself most of the time.
Now, I understand that people who do not have children in order to "maintain their lifestyle" are being disobedient to God. But their disobedience has nothing at all to do with God's blessing for people to have children! Their disobedience, I think you can safely say, has more to do with selfishness.
It is obvious God blessed us with the ability to procreate (have kids) and use the Earth's resources to survive, but show me where he commands people to have children, and how many to have?
He does not. You've already said so :)
I think anyone is justified in thinking through how many children they want, because what they want is an indication of how much they can handle. However, God does not give a person more than they can handle. So accidental babies are blessings just the same as on purpose ones :)
God does not say anywhere in his word "Do not attempt to control how many children you have."
Although he does say not to murder, thus it is obvious that having an abortion would be debatable at the very least. And also he says to take care of the least of his kingdom, and so I think a person who would give their own child away would not be acting in a christian manner at the time.
He really emphatically repeats himself that we are not to commit fornication (and therefore we would not have to worry about having a child without the help of the other party involved) which would solve a lot of the abortion issues.
And then he does say to older women "teach the younger women to love their children"… Which I believe starts with what he says just previously, to teach them to love their husbands.
Because, I think part of a "loving" marriage relationship is a desire to procreate another person who is very like ourselves, and our spouse. At least it is a way for that loving marriage relationship to grow.
And I do think people who do not have children (even those who wished to, but couldn't) have more trouble being loving in their marriages than if they did have children.
show me where he commands people to have children
I guess the question is, which of the Old Testament commandments apply to us? The commands given to Adam/Eve? To Noah? To Moses?
By what hermeneutic do you say that God's command to Noah to fill and subdue the earth does NOT apply to all humanity?
I'm not saying you are wrong, just thinking it through out loud.
I mean, Christian environmentalists use this command to show that God expects us to care for the earth. By your interpretation, that's not a command, just an option.
I like your approach above, it basically says that if you are married, loving your spouse includes sex, and sex means children. I guess the real question is, can we avoid reaping children through birth control? And if so, which kinds?
By what hermeneutic do you say that God's command to Noah to fill and subdue the earth does NOT apply to all humanity?
It says "Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them: Be fruitful and …fill the earth….Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything [to eat].
He was blessing us (Noah's descendants as well as Noah's family at that time) with our natural habitat and natural ability to reproduce :) In other words he was giving us a gift. Not a commandment; although he does give commandments later concerning how we treat both our children and our earth! :)
I like your approach above, it basically says that if you are married, loving your spouse includes sex, and sex means children.
Yes, and actually children are something most people naturally (eventually) WANT. Those who do not ever want children definitely do not have a good attitude toward God's blessings He gives us. I am not so sure they are really so keen on obeying God, or being grateful to God in the first place, which to me is the bigger problem.
I guess the real question is, can we avoid reaping children through birth control?
I'd say yes we can avoid having children by using bc. There is no problem as long as we are not causing our spouse to sin by with-holding something from them that they have every right to (sex), or murdering anyone (abortion). Both of these are actually biblical principles. Christ said do not murder, and Paul said render to your spouse due benevolence :) And also the marriage bed is specifically talking about sex with your spouse.
And if so, which kinds?
Anything that does not contradict God's commands for us concerning having a spouse and family. :) See above :)
If you can point out somewhere else that effects that we should have as many children as we possibly can, I would love to read it. I could maybe convince my dh that he has to have 10 kids then!! haha (I'd love nothing more than having a ton of kids) ;)
Wondering if you have ever read "Dangerous Radicals of the Religious Right" on Yahoo and Google. It is not copyrighted and should be reprinted on many blogs. Clara
Are you referring to this?
Wow, seriously. God is great, Jesus is the saviour, humans are the center of the world and are better than all other living creatures. We should all have as many babies as we can manage to squeeze out because we are so awesome and thus should share our awesome genes with the future generations.
This is just same old tripe by the same old people with the same old concept that they are right in every single way because they believe in God. Maybe you should get your heads out your asses, bibles and mirrors and stop pretentiously preaching to the public.
Seriously, stop whining; Have as many kids as you want. Don't wishy-washy it with what God supposedly wants, just do it. It's not like your church is gonna kick you out if you don't have atleast 2.34786 children. If God really cared about how many children you pop out then China wouldn't exist (along with the majority of the world's population). Oh, yeah, I forgot the Chinese are not Christians and therefore don't count because y'know the world revolves around you guys.
Is this what happens this is what happens when you let people interpret old mythological text into a literal and modern lifestyle? Honestly, I've seen abandoned buildings with more logic and common sense.
No thanks for breeding,
Nina
We should all have as many babies as we can manage to squeeze out
Is that what you understood this article to be saying? No one is whining, just saying that the bible may have something to say about having children – how many, under what conditions, how to raise them.
Studying the collected wisdom of generations is not foolishness, in fact, it is foolish to ignore it, and to think that your contemporaries are alone wise.