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Christian view on contraception - 10/13/2008 12:54:45 AM
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will_o_the_wisp
Posts: 6
Joined: 10/12/2008
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Hello,
I'd like to get the facts straight about the Christian opinion regarding birth control methods/contraception. Specifically:
1.) Do Christians approve of contraceptive usage?
2.) What methods are and are not acceptable?
3.) Do contraceptives have a place in marriage?
4.) What is the opinion on making birth control available to unmarried, sexually-active couples?
Anything else too. I'd like to learn about personal opinions, as well as be directed to anything in the Bible that talks about this issue, or any materials/resources. Just to prevent any unnecessary confusion, for the purpose of this thread, voluntary medical abortion is NOT a means of birth control.
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RE: Christian view on contraception - 10/13/2008 1:06:01 AM
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OneOfHisJewels
Posts: 2687
Joined: 8/9/2007
From: California
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quote:
1. Do Christians approve of contraceptive usage?
Some christians do approve of contraception usage, some do not. We have quite a cross section on these very boards. I'm assuming you mean within the context of marriage. Most people here believe in only abstinence before marriage.
quote:
2. What method are or are not acceptable?
There are many many different opinions on that, both in life, and again, right here on the boards.
My own personal opinion of what would be acceptable and unacceptable in MY marriage, should I marry are as follows: I would be fine with condoms and diaphragms, and even a vasectomy for my husband or a tubal for me when we were done. I would not use hormonal birth controls or an IUD.
quote:
3. Do contraceptives have a place in a marriage?
Some people think they do not. As long as they are not abortive, I, personally don't have a problem with them, for two reasons. One is that while I strongly believe that children are a blessing of the Lord, I also strongly believe that we are to be good stewards of those blessings, and I have no problem with each couple limiting their blessings to the amount for which believe they can be good stewards. The second reason is that I think marital intimacy was designed for bonding between husband and wife and for pleasure between husband and wife, and not JUST for procreation, although I think that is a purpose as well.
quote:
4.) What is the opinion on making birth control available to unmarried, sexually-active couples?
To me, it depends. I don't believe in handing out birth control to high school students. For them, I think we should do everything in our power to get them to abstain.
However, a while back there was some movement or other that was providing sterilization to prostitutes for free if they were willing. This was here in the U.S. While prostitution is tragic, I actually though that was a good idea, as prostitution is a horrid life for a baby to be born into, and also because of all the std's a prostitute may have, a baby born to a prostitute would be at a high risk for deformities.
In between those two extremes, such as two adults cohabiting, while I wish they wouldn't cohabit in the first place, but rather marry, we can't really stop legal adults from using birth control if they so choose. And I would rather they use birth control then get abortions.
quote:
as well as be directed to anything in the Bible that talks about this issue,
The Bible does say that children are a blessing and a gift from God, but it seems to be rather silent regarding birth control one way or another. Some people think God striking Onan is a reference against birth control (he spilled his seed)..but I don't think so..God had specifically told Onan to take his brother's widow as his wife to raise up heirs and Onan disobeyed God..that was a specific instance thing..not an overall reference to birth control.
One thing I will say..almost every time these discussions come up, at least one poster will say that ways of pregnancy prevention are a brand new thing..but that is not true..the pill may be relatively new, but I have researched other methods, and they go back centuries..it's just that other materials (such as lambskin/animal intestines/other things ) were used.
< Message edited by OneOfHisJewels -- 10/13/2008 1:25:59 AM >
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Now thank we all our God, with hearts and hands and voices, what wondrous things He's done, in whom the world rejoices.
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RE: Christian view on contraception - 10/13/2008 8:35:47 AM
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timf
Posts: 507
Joined: 10/20/2006
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Christian view on contraception
If children are from the Lord (as the Bible says), then using contraception would be like shaking a fist in the face of God and saying "Back off, we have our own plans".
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RE: Christian view on contraception - 10/13/2008 8:43:59 AM
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Dona Nobis Pacem
Posts: 148
Joined: 5/5/2005
From: FL
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quote:
ORIGINAL: will_o_the_wisp
Hello,
I'd like to get the facts straight about the Christian opinion regarding birth control methods/contraception. Specifically:
1.) Do Christians approve of contraceptive usage?
2.) What methods are and are not acceptable?
3.) Do contraceptives have a place in marriage?
4.) What is the opinion on making birth control available to unmarried, sexually-active couples?
Anything else too. I'd like to learn about personal opinions, as well as be directed to anything in the Bible that talks about this issue, or any materials/resources. Just to prevent any unnecessary confusion, for the purpose of this thread, voluntary medical abortion is NOT a means of birth control.
From the Catholic perspective, the answers to your questions are:
1. No.
2. Only the rhythm method is acceptable (to the best of my knowledge)
3. No.
4. Not acceptable.
(Although I would encourage anyone using BC to at least avoid abortifacients)
Here is a link to some more info on the Catholic position:
Catholic Position on Birth Control
It includes references from Scripture, ECF's, the Catechism, and Protestants.
Here is an excerpt:
quote:
Contraception is wrong because it’s a deliberate violation of the design God built into the human race, often referred to as "natural law." The natural law purpose of sex is procreation. The pleasure that sexual intercourse provides is an additional blessing from God, intended to offer the possibility of new life while strengthening the bond of intimacy, respect, and love between husband and wife. The loving environment this bond creates is the perfect setting for nurturing children.
An interesting note for those Christians who believe BC is acceptable (also from the link):
quote:
Few realize that up until 1930, all Protestant denominations agreed with the Catholic Church’s teaching condemning contraception as sinful. At its 1930 Lambeth Conference, the Anglican church, swayed by growing social pressure, announced that contraception would be allowed in some circumstances. Soon the Anglican church completely caved in, allowing contraception across the board. Since then, all other Protestant denominations have followed suit. Today, the Catholic Church alone proclaims the historic Christian position on contraception.
You might want to check out the encyclical Humanae Vitae ("Of Human Life") by Pope Paul VI.
There are many scripture references which support the anti-contraception position.
I would be interested in any scriptural reference supporting the use of bc.
Peace,
DNP
< Message edited by Dona Nobis Pacem -- 10/13/2008 9:25:54 AM >
_____________________________
Pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion,
Have mercy on us, and on the whole world.
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RE: Christian view on contraception - 10/13/2008 10:28:21 AM
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MrFribbles
Posts: 1744
Joined: 1/29/2007
From: Hawaii, but I've moved around since then
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timf,
quote:
If children are from the Lord (as the Bible says), then using contraception would be like shaking a fist in the face of God and saying "Back off, we have our own plans".
So we shouldn't go to the doctor either, right?
will_o_the_wisp,
Personally, I believe that as long as a birth control method prevents conception, as opposed to ending a newly-formed conception, there's nothing wrong with it - married or not. Of course, using birth control outside of marriage doesn't make pre-or-extramarital sex less sinful, but it does prevent the possibility of a child having to suffer for the foolishness of the parents. ...Though it would also prevent the whole premise of Gilmore Girls, which would be sad.
_____________________________
You're a door without a key,
A field without a fence.
You've made a holy fool of me,
And I've thanked you ever since.
- Aaron Weiss
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RE: Christian view on contraception - 10/13/2008 1:09:59 PM
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Mrs.X
Posts: 2954
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From: Newberg, OR
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I completely agree with Rebekah on all her answers.
quote:
ORIGINAL: OneOfHisJewels
quote:
2. What method are or are not acceptable?
There are many many different opinions on that, both in life, and again, right here on the boards.
My own personal opinion of what would be acceptable and unacceptable in MY marriage, should I marry are as follows: I would be fine with condoms and diaphragms, and even a vasectomy for my husband or a tubal for me when we were done. I would not use hormonal birth controls or an IUD.
I would add for my own opinion that I'm not opposed to hormonal BC as long as it prevents conception, not implantation, such as Depo Provera, Implanon and Lunelle. Some women can use a hormonal BC that would normally prevent implantation but use a barrier during what-would-be their fertile time, like with the pills, nuva ring, patch. I am completely against the IUD since there is no way to tell what-would-be a fertile time to use condoms.
_____________________________
-Stina
From Sweet Grass to the Packin' House
A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. -Proverbs 15:1
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RE: Christian view on contraception - 10/13/2008 10:12:55 PM
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OneOfHisJewels
Posts: 2687
Joined: 8/9/2007
From: California
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quote:
I would add for my own opinion that I'm not opposed to hormonal BC as long as it prevents conception, not implantation, such as Depo Provera, Implanon and Lunelle.
Agreeed..I just didn't mention those for myself, because I have such a sensitive system that I know wacky things would happen to me if I used them.
_____________________________
Now thank we all our God, with hearts and hands and voices, what wondrous things He's done, in whom the world rejoices.
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RE: Christian view on contraception - 10/13/2008 10:29:18 PM
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Laminin
Posts: 83
Joined: 10/12/2008
From: Omaha, NE
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quote:
ORIGINAL: timf
Christian view on contraception
If children are from the Lord (as the Bible says), then using contraception would be like shaking a fist in the face of God and saying "Back off, we have our own plans".
What about those people who don't have the desire to have children. Some people just aren't 'impregnanted' if you will, with the desire, yet while married still do what married people do.
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RE: Christian view on contraception - 10/14/2008 7:10:48 AM
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deliveredarling
Posts: 2004
Joined: 8/30/2007
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I was going to post this in the other thread but it really applies here better.
Yes, I believe people can use contraception, all but abortion.
Yes, I believe God is Sovereign and does indeed know us BEFORE we are born. That would also mean that He knows if we are to be born or not.
Doing away with birth control would mean that we don't trust God or His plans.
If God has ordained a child to be born, then NOTHING we do can overcome that, NOTHING. We are not powerful enough to trump God's plans.
True story. I was on birth control and conceived my son. I did everything right , taking it on time at the same time. I had been on it for many years. God said it was time. It wasn't my timing but the Lord's. I wasn't ready for children yet, but God said I was.
I trust God in every decision I make. We can strain gnats but when it comes right down to it, who do you really trust?
My answer is God.
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RE: Christian view on contraception - 10/14/2008 7:33:58 AM
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momma_bee
Posts: 1232
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Man plans, God laughs...
My short answers to your questions - you just go ahead and do what ever you feel prayfully led to do. The Good Lord's plan will trump your every time.
I could ditto deliveredarlings post except we DON'T us BC, haven't changed our habits in 18 years. We have the two children God wanted us to have. Not the three or four I wanted. Not the three that Poppa wanted. Two. The two perfectly chosen children for us to share our lives with.
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RE: Christian view on contraception - 10/14/2008 8:06:38 AM
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Dona Nobis Pacem
Posts: 148
Joined: 5/5/2005
From: FL
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quote:
ORIGINAL: timf
Christian view on contraception
If children are from the Lord (as the Bible says), then using contraception would be like shaking a fist in the face of God and saying "Back off, we have our own plans".
quote:
If children are from the Lord (as the Bible says), then using contraception would be like shaking a fist in the face of God and saying "Back off, we have our own plans".
I agree.
quote:
Doing away with birth control would mean that we don't trust God or His plans
There is a much stronger argument for the opposite position of yours;
USING birth control would mean that we don't trust God or His plans.
quote:
If God has ordained a child to be born, then NOTHING we do can overcome that, NOTHING. We are not powerful enough to trump God's plans.
True story. I was on birth control and conceived my son. I did everything right , taking it on time at the same time. I had been on it for many years. God said it was time. It wasn't my timing but the Lord's. I wasn't ready for children yet, but God said I was.
I trust God in every decision I make
This is directed to those who say whatever will happen is God's will & use bc.
Why do you use bc?
If it's going to happen anyway if that's God's plan and bc won't stop it, why use it at all?
Aren't you just wasting time and money?
What about the potential side effects to your body?
Are you really trusting God by trying to prevent conception if it is His will?
Peace,
DNP
_____________________________
Pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion,
Have mercy on us, and on the whole world.
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RE: Christian view on contraception - 10/14/2008 8:19:30 AM
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3cappuccinosmom
Posts: 2531
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lol. It's impossible to say there is one Christian view on contraception. Different churches and even different individuals have different views.
There should be one, IMO, but I don't get to make everybody believe the way I want them to. 
The Biblical view of children is that they are a blessing. No qualifications. Children are a gift from God, each one created by Him, for His purposes, and loved by Him, no matter the situation. If you don't believe that, you don't have a "CHristian view" of them. Everything beyond that, though, is highly debatable.
Contraception for unmarried Christian singles--they're not supposed to be having sex. Period. That's it. I don't believe it is appropriate to condone or provide contraception for people who know that they're not supposed to be sexually active and are selfishly and rebelliously going ahead with it.
Dh and I have a conviction against using birth control, and we've never used any form of it. Lo and behold we did *not* have a baby every year. 
quote:
Doing away with birth control would mean that we don't trust God or His plans.
If God has ordained a child to be born, then NOTHING we do can overcome that, NOTHING. We are not powerful enough to trump God's plans.
Now that is funny.  If that's true, than birth control is a waste of money and effort. I don't trust God because I don't use birth control. I should use bc so that it's really, really difficult for him to give me a baby, and that way any baby I get would be a special miracle? If it's true, then my own natural unhindered fertility won't trump God's plans either. 
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RE: Christian view on contraception - 10/14/2008 6:19:35 PM
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Mrs.Wifey
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I pretty much agree with Rebekah and Christina. We use hormonal birth control because I am exceptionally prone to ovarian cysts and birth control prevents them. However, we also use a barrier method because I DO have convictions about the possible abortifacient properties of the "pill".
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RE: Christian view on contraception - 10/15/2008 12:58:01 PM
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1love1God1way
Posts: 2416
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quote:
ORIGINAL: timf
Christian view on contraception
If children are from the Lord (as the Bible says), then using contraception would be like shaking a fist in the face of God and saying "Back off, we have our own plans".
Is a little piece of plastic more powerful than a Holy Sovereign God?
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love.ben
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RE: Christian view on contraception - 10/15/2008 1:20:05 PM
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GroupW
Posts: 2906
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From: Up in the hills of Colorado (very BIG hills...)
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quote:
ORIGINAL: 1love1God1way
quote:
ORIGINAL: timf
Christian view on contraception
If children are from the Lord (as the Bible says), then using contraception would be like shaking a fist in the face of God and saying "Back off, we have our own plans".
Is a little piece of plastic more powerful than a Holy Sovereign God?
No more than a seatbelt is. Despite being supposedly infertile and using contraception anyway, I have a 9 year old "impossibility" living in my house.
God's a good pitcher that likes to toss a lot of curveballs.
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RE: Christian view on contraception - 10/15/2008 3:46:10 PM
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KatMack
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quote:
God's a good pitcher that likes to toss a lot of curveballs.
I love that! May I please use that as my siggy?
--Kat
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RE: Christian view on contraception - 10/15/2008 11:40:46 PM
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PaleHawkWoman
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If the Bible doesn't specifically exclude the use of contraception, then how could using it be construed as sinful? There are a great many things God leaves up to us and presumably gave us intellect and common sense for making such decisions. Somedays I wonder if there are those who say "Leave it up to God" in response to most issues are using that as an excuse to vacate any kind of responsibility for themselves rather than take the time to reason with God and use their brains for the purposes God intended.
If you want to have one child after another, fine as long as you can support the children you bring into the world without welfare or charity.
If you want to limit the number of children or space them apart, fine. It's no one's business but yours and your spouse's in concert with God.
If you do not want to have children ever, fine. Again, that's between you, your spouse, and God.
Personally I do not see contraception as sinful or those who use it as lacking faith in God.
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RE: Christian view on contraception - 10/16/2008 12:49:34 AM
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Mrs.X
Posts: 2954
Joined: 7/7/2005
From: Newberg, OR
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quote:
ORIGINAL: PaleHawkWoman
Somedays I wonder if there are those who say "Leave it up to God" in response to most issues are using that as an excuse to vacate any kind of responsibility for themselves rather than take the time to reason with God and use their brains for the purposes God intended.
That is not the case with ANY quiverfull family I know.
_____________________________
-Stina
From Sweet Grass to the Packin' House
A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. -Proverbs 15:1
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RE: Christian view on contraception - 10/16/2008 3:30:00 AM
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PaleHawkWoman
Posts: 509
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Mrs.X
quote:
ORIGINAL: PaleHawkWoman
Somedays I wonder if there are those who say "Leave it up to God" in response to most issues are using that as an excuse to vacate any kind of responsibility for themselves rather than take the time to reason with God and use their brains for the purposes God intended.
That is not the case with ANY quiverfull family I know.
I meant that more as a general comment on how more than just a few christians deal with tough issues, but if all of the families you know are responsible and self-supporting that's cool.
I have a cousin who is irresponsible, she and her husband keep having kids and are on welfare and food stamps, and beg from the church and family for help with food and bills. But she's "trusting the Lord" if you ask why she doesn't hold off having anymore kids until they are financially able to support them. Her 6 kids are always hungry, usually ill-clothed, and ill-mannered as well. The older ones are failing in school because they don't have enough income to buy school supplies and she's too lazy to homeschool. She refuses to get a job because it's her job to have babies(that's what she actually says). She goes to relatives' homes and starts sneaking food out of the pantry and fridge to take home and gets indignant when confronted.
I learned how to make traditional medicines from my great-grandmother and I have been sorely tempted to give her contraceptive tea... as "diet" tea. Or give her husband some that will temporarily halt sperm production. They don't need more arrows in their quiver.
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RE: Christian view on contraception - 10/16/2008 2:36:26 PM
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PaleHawkWoman
Posts: 509
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I also think that birth control should be mandatory for those on public assistance- Depo or Norplant implants for the women and ligations of the vas deferens(tying the vas deferens off which is reversible) for the men.
Dead-beat parents should be sterilized, as should those who abuse or habitually neglect their children. One of my other cousins(sister of the above-mentioned cousin) lost all of her children to DCS because of neglect, drug use, and suspected sexual abuse of the girls by their father. In my opinion, she should never be allowed to have anymore children, period.
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RE: Christian view on contraception - 10/16/2008 7:44:27 PM
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Mrs.X
Posts: 2954
Joined: 7/7/2005
From: Newberg, OR
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And, before you know it, the government will be killing babies because they were born from parents who managed to get by that law. The a whole nother topic for a whole nother thread.
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-Stina
From Sweet Grass to the Packin' House
A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. -Proverbs 15:1
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