Morning Meditations: Who Controls The Birth?

I know this post is not going to make me popular at all. I'm not doing this to shock or offend anyone. I'm just rightly dividing the word for what it says. I have struggled for two days with writing this post, whereas I usually write an article in less than a half an hour. If you any questions or counter points, please feel free to comment.

If we are going to be effective Christians we have to recognize and apply Biblical patterns to our lives. That being said, this is a hard bit of scripture to deal with. I have been wrestling with with this pattern for more than a year now.

From my morning devotion:

Genesis 38:8 And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother's wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother. 9 And Onan knew that the seed should not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother's wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest that he should give seed to his brother. 10 And the thing which he did displeased the LORD: wherefore he slew him also.

There are methods of birth control that we use in this modern age that conform to no Biblical pattern. Some barrier methods and any method in which the seed is spilled (i.e. does not reach the inside) fall under this category.

Genesis 29:31 And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.

Any method which mutilates a woman's body so that the womb is surgically opened or closed does not follow a Biblical pattern. It is God's prerogative which wombs are open or closed. Barrenness was a sign of curse. But we look at a woman who voluntarily takes on this curse and declare them "fixed". It is a perversion of the truth to view it in this way. See also: Genesis 25:21, Genesis 30:22, Genesis 20:18, Exodus 23:26, Deuteronomy 7:14, and many many more.

Exodus 21:22 If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman's husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. 23 And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life, 24 Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 Burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.

The Bible recognizes the personhood of the unborn at any age. Abortion is absolutely not allowed. It is absolutely antithetical to any Biblical pattern.

Daniel 2:20,21 Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: 21 And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:

Methods of birth control which regulate the body's hormones in such a way that prevent ovulation change the seasons and times. If there are any methods which prevent the generation of sperm, you are doing the same thing.

1 Corinthians 7:5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

Marital celibacy is acceptable for seasons of prayer and fasting, but not as a method of birth control.

1 Corinthians 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

Methods of birth control which mutilate the body go against this Biblical pattern. This includes vasectomy or any method of surgically preventing pregnancy.

Now for a little bit of Q & A that always shows up when someone starts talking about this subject:

So what's the pattern for birth control? The pattern for control is that he controls it. Don't spill the seed, don't kill the unborn, don't deprive each other, and don't change your seasons. You should pray about any birth control method which near 100% effectiveness. That chance at pregnancy is your chance at a blessing!

What's the big deal, why do I need to worry about birth control? The problem isn't so much birth control, but that we start thinking about children in the way God thinks about them. They are a reward and a blessing. (see Psalms 127, Matthew 19:14 & Matthew 18:6)

So God commands us not to use birth control? No, he commands us to be fruitful and multiply (Genesis 1:28) then tells stories that reveal his attributes and attitudes. From these we should be able to discern some pattern to follow.

Should we maximize our child output? That is between you and God. If you raise your children right and have a lot, churches will fill and there will be more people to do God's work. For far too long we've had 1 or 2 children and not raised them correctly and churches are dying!

Am I sinning if I use any method of birth control? Generally no. But not doing God's will for your life is sin. (2 Peter 2:21)

But I don't feel convicted about it!: If you read the word of God and don't feel convicted about something you should search your heart and ask God why you don't.

What about cases where the life of the mother is at risk? Who says her life is worth more than that of the child?

What method of birth control do you use? My wife is pregnant right now but we are prayerfully considering our options.

What methods of birth control might be acceptable? That is between you and God. You should prayerfully consider any method you will use, if you use any at all.

But what if I don't have the money to have more children? God will provide for what he asks you to do. (Matthew 6:31) Typically the issue is not money but lifestyle. You can't have a lot of children with a me, me, me attitude, you have to learn to give a lot. Maybe he wants a lifestyle change from you.

Here's a rundown of birth control methods I consider closest to Biblical acceptable, not perfect but acceptable:

• Ecological Breastfeeding: This is a form of child care that normally spaces babies about two years apart on the average. The body will naturally prevent ovulation while breast feeding.


• Female Barriers: Diaphragm, cervical caps, or Lea’s Contraceptive - unlike the female or male condom the seed is not spilled. Read the directions and use them correctly.


• Systematic NFP: This is a system that uses a woman’s signs of fertility to determine the fertile and infertile times of her cycle. Dedication to prayer and fasting during fertile times of the month is technically acceptable. Fertile periods typically last about 5-6 days. You can fast for that long, right?


• Spermicide: Sponge or Gel Spermicides - The seed is not spilled.

Lord, I truly regret not considering your will in this matter. Please forgive me and give me direction for my life. In Jesus name I pray, amen.