What does the Bible say about birth control?

Q: What does the Bible say about birth control?A: I believe that the Bible allows birth “control” as one of the stewardships that we exercise under God. But as in all things we must allow the Lord to lead us and be obedient to His will concerning our number of offspring. The Scripture commands believers “to be fruitful and multiply” (Genesis 1:28). The predominate assumption in Scripture is that we will WANT to have children, because children are a “blessing” (Psalm 127:3-5).

Sue and I were like most Christians. We bought into the world’s view of children: that they cost too much, that they were a burden, that we would be hurting the world’s resources by having more than two. However, as we read the Bible God began to change our thinking. Basically the world views children as a curse, not a blessing or at best the world looks upon them as a necessary evil. Listen to the comments that people make about children (”I can’t wait ’til September and the kids are back in school” or “She’s a teenager and you know how they are”, etc.).

Sue and I read books like “A Full Quiver” (by Rick & Jan Hess, Wolgemuth & Hyatt, Publisher) which transformed our thinking and began to change our attitude about children. We began to seek the Lord’s direction for each pregnancy and to ask God how many children He wanted us to have. We were stretched by each child that came along. But we discovered new ways of managing a household, raising a family, thinking about college, and reducing expenses.

Having a large family has been a great adventure that I would not trade for winning a million dollar lottery or becoming the world’s most successful businessman. Sue and I have grown in character. We have gained much wisdom in doing things God’s way, rather than our culture’s way. And we have been able to do what many people (parents, relatives, neighbors, and other Christians) told us was impossible. Without being prideful, the success is satisfying: knowing that God has been faithful to do what the world thought was impossible.

After our eighth child (9th actually, we had one miscarriage which we named “Singer”), Sue and I both “felt” that our family was complete. We made the decision (we believe under the Lord) to end our family by tubal ligation. We made this decision based on Sue’s health, our family stress level, the lack of an extended family support system, and circumstantial guidance that we asked the Lord to provide. Ten years later, we still believe that was the right decision and we are enjoying a new season of life that does not involve late night feedings and diapers. ;>

Let me say a few words about birth control. (You will read Christians that differ with me on this, including the Hesses who wrote “A Full Quiver,” but I offer my opinion based upon my understanding of the Scripture.):

1. There is no clear-cut Scripture reference advocating birth control, nor is there one condemning it. We must construct our beliefs based on Biblical principles rather than a clear birth control rule or commandment from God.

2. The Roman Catholic view regarding birth control is based on the belief that sex is given primarily for procreation (Genesis 1:27-28). Therefore, if you are having sex without the possibility of procreation, you are misusing sex (i.e., sinning).

The Protestant (and I believe Biblical view) is that sex is for both procreation and pleasure (Proverbs 5:18-19; Song of Songs; 1 Corinthians 7:3-5,33-34). Therefore, it is entirely legitimate to have sex for the mere act of enjoyment, even when procreation is not possible.

3. While it is true that we do not own our bodies, we do have stewardship over our bodies (1 Corinthians 7:4). Therefore, we have the right — even the obligation — to exercise stewardship over the gift of creating another human being.

4. This stewardship must be exercised under God, however. He is the owner, we are the manager. While I believe that God does not oppose limiting the size of one’s family, Christian couples MUST check with the owner to see how he wants us to limit or not limit the act of creation.

5. Some will say, “Why wouldn’t you want to receive as many ‘blessings’ as possible?”

My answer to that is: As in other things that Scripture calls a ‘blessing’ (such as finances or ministries) we are called to exercise stewardship — we are called to make decisions about what and how much we can handle. There are good reasons to limit the number of ministries we have, the amount of money we possess (Proverbs 30:7-9), and the number of children we have. Each couple must decide between God and themselves, what God wants them to do.

6. Virtually every couple practices some form of birth control, whether it is one of the more scientific methods or abstinence during the wife’s most fertile time. But as Christians we must never use methods of birth control that cause the destruction of another human being: abortion, IUD, some birth control pills, etc. There is a huge difference between methods that prevent the conception of another human being and methods that destroy after conception.

7. Genesis 38:8-10 is often quoted to prove that God condemns birth control. It does not. Onan cheated his brother out of his rightful heritage by refusing to father a child in his brother’s name, as was the custom in his day. This custom is called the levirate marriage (Latin ‘levir’ means “brother-in-law”). Details of the practice are given in Deuteronomy 25:5-6. Onan’s sin was not fulfilling his duty as a brother-in-law to produce offspring for his brother (Genesis 38:8). This passage has nothing to do with birth control (or masturbation, for that matter).