PREFACE: This is YOUR decision, not mine for you. I recognize that you can be a Christian and disagree with the position of this paper, so I don't want to unnecessarily make a big issue of birth control. This paper is intended to be a persuasive teaching tool that helps you make an intelligent, informed decision concerning birth control (hereafter "B.C."). Once you have made an informed decision, I do not wish to make further issue of it, because B.C. is not a major tenet of our Christian faith. 

BIBLICAL BASIS: 

God is Sovereign in birth. He opens & shuts the womb; He blesses with children. (The following verses are NOT an exhaustive list.) 

It is GOD Who opens and shuts the womb: Genesis 20:17-18; 29:31-33; 30:1-2,6,17-18, 20, 22, 23; I Samuel 1:6, 11, 19, 20; 

God helps and participates in the process of bringing forth children: Genesis 4:1, 25; 21:1-2; Ruth 4:13; I Samuel 2:20-21; Psalm 139:13, 16; Luke 1:21-25, 57-58 

God multiplies children: Genesis 16:10; 17: 2,20; 22:17; 26:4, 24; 28:3; 41:52; 48:4; Exodus 32:13; Deuteronomy 1:10,11; 28:63; 30:5, Joshua 24:3; I Chronicles 27: 23; Psalm 105:24; 107:38; Isaiah 26:15; 51:2; Jeremiah 30: 19; 33:22; Ezra 36:10-11, 37; 37:26 

The Bible nowhere encourages B.C., but everywhere condones fertility! 

Pro-child verses: Psalm 127:3-5; 128; I Chronicles 20:4-5; Exodus 23:25-26; Proverbs 17:6 

Children are a blessing that comes from obeying God: Leviticus 26:9; Deuteronomy 28:1-4; 6:3; 7:13; 13:17.

Pro-Fertility verses:

Leviticus 20:18 (abstaining during monthly periods increases chance of fertilization after period); Genesis 1:27-28 (the command to be fruitful has never been revoked); I Cor. 7:3-5 (Not compatible with "Natural Family Planning").

Anti-Infertility Verses: 

Infertile manners of intercourse were condemned: Bestiality (Leviticus 20:15, 16), Homosexuality (Leviticus 20:13), Withdrawal (Genesis 38:6-10, Deuteronomy 25:5-10). In fact, all of these things incurred the death penalty. 

There was no death penalty for improper manners of intercourse which were yet fertile (fornication and polygamy). 

Semen is referred to as offspring even before it joins the egg: Hebrews 7:9-10; Job 10:8-11.

Childlessness is a curse: Leviticus 20:20-21; Hosea 9:10-17. 

Having children is part of the whole picture of a family: 

The Father is to provide for his family--I Timothy 5:8; Ephesians 6:4.

The Mother is to work at home and have children: I Timothy 2:15; Titus 2:3-5, Malachi 2:15, I Timothy 5:9,10, 14.

Children are a blessing to parents: Proverbs 10:1; 23:24-25; Mark 7: 10-13.

Parents are to teach children: Deuteronomy 6:7; 11:19.   

HISTORY: 

B.C. has existed for millennia. Ancient Egyptian papyruses have been discovered with references to chemical contraceptives. The IUD was used by ancient Arabic caravan traders. Infanticide has always been widespread in pagan cultures either through sacrifices to appease spirits or through abandonment (i.e. Oedipus Rex). 

God's people, Israel, did not practice B.C. They WANTED all the children they could get and considered them an unqualified blessing. The one man mentioned as practicing B.C., Onan, was struck dead for it. (Onan's judgement was not due to a simple refusal to raise up offspring for the widow. If he wanted to refuse that duty, he could have followed the teaching of Deuteronomy 25:5-10, as Ruth's nearest-of-kin did, removed his sandal, and passed on the responsibility to the next-nearest-of-kin--which, in Ruth's case was Boaz. See Ruth 4:1-12. No, the issue was that Onan practiced birth control by spilling his seed.) 

Christians have also historically not practiced B.C. This is not a Roman Catholic church issue--their practice is a carry-over from a time when ALL Christians did not practice B.C. The Protestant Synod of Dort equated contraception with abortion. Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Wesley, and many other founders of Protestantism linked B.C. with murder. The Pilgrims who founded our country considered B.C. as bad as adultery and disqualified anyone from church leadership who practiced it. The change of Christians in the U.S. to using B.C. has been concurrent with many other bad trends: feminism, higher criticism, worldliness, abuse of spiritual gifts and church offices, decline of purity in the church, and a lack of evangelism and discipleship. There is more recently, however, a growing movement in the U.S. of Christians ditching B.C. Obviously, we shouldn't base our position on whether or not OTHER people practice B.C., but if the non-use of B.C. has been a universal trend for the vast majority of Christian history, we should not lightly dismiss it, but rather examine WHY.   

CON'S OF B.C.: 

ALL FORMS OF B.C. INCREASE ABORTION. Contrary to what some doctors say, there is no such thing as a chemical contraceptive (Pill, implant) that does not cause abortion from 2-5% of the time. Although the primary function of most of these "Pills" is to prevent ovulation, they do not prevent all ovulation (people still occasionally get pregnant), so they ALL have a secondary function of irritating the lining of the uterus so that a fertilized egg will not be able to implant, and thus will abort. There are several other pills whose primary effect is to abort fertilized eggs; the IUD also does this as its primary function. Apparently, the body also aborts some pregnancies naturally at very early stages, without provocation, and all methods of mechanical prevention of fertilization (condom, diaphragm, Rhythm, N.F.P.) actually increase the number of these natural abortions by perpetuating the monthly menstrual cycle, which can be suspended if a woman gets pregnant often. 

BIBLICAL SUPPORT IS MISSING: B.C. puts a Christian in the shaky position of Onan, who was killed. I Corinthians 7:3-5 gives the only reason for skipping sex--prayer and fasting, not to avoid children. Leviticus 12:1-5 and 20:18 establish a sexual pattern that actually increases fertility rather than decreasing it! 

IT'S INCONVENIENT: I have never heard a single positive comment about diaphragms and spermicidal jelly or the female condom from people who use them because of what a pain they are to put in place. Using a male condom is not as pleasant as not using them (and condoms are not highly effective at preventing fertilization anyway). And, of course, it's not fun to go without having sex for long periods of time as per the "Rhythm" or "Natural Family Planning" methods; abstaining for long periods of time can contribute to the sin of adultery. Using B.C methods causes a woman to undergo uncomfortable periods every month, but going without B.C., periods can be rare. 

HEALTH PROBLEMS: If you take the pill, you are five times more likely to die of circulatory disorders. The pill can also cause permanent infertility and a host of other major and minor problems. The IUD often causes lacerations in the uterus which result in severe pain and permanent infertility. Abortion is a serious cause of breast cancer. It is also a proven fact that the longer child-bearing is delayed, the more likely a woman is to get endometriosis.   

OBJECTIONS HOLD NO WATER: 

OVERPOPULATION is a local problem in some cities, but it is not a world crisis. If every person in the world today were given one acre of land (therefore families living together would have far more than 1 acre of land), everyone living in the world today could just about fit within the Continental U.S. alone. (According to agricultural studies, an acre would give far more than enough land for living space and food-production for one person!) It is also a fact that humans adapt and create new methods of coping with scarce resources. Over a thousand years ago, thinkers were afraid that the earth was too overpopulated then for the human race to survive, but we have adapted fine! 

MULTIPLYING LIKE RABBITS: The average number of children borne by monogamous couples not practicing birth control is only five! 

COST: The scary, high figures you see quoted are based on expensive C-sections, baby formula, baby food, frivolous baby furniture, not getting a baby shower, using day care, etc, all of which is unnecessary. It doesn't take long before children are old enough to become income producers, anyway. Additionally, God provides for His children. See Psalm 23:1; 37:25-26; 84:11; Proverbs 3:33; 14:26; Malachi 3:8-10; Matthew 6:25-34; Philippians 4:6, 19; I Timothy 6:6-10. 

THE MYTH THAT CHILDREN OF LARGE FAMILIES ARE LESS INTELLIGENT is sheer bunk. 76% of U.S. Presidents came from families of 5 or more children. Almost every famous Classical musician came from a family of more than 7. Comparing an upper-income only-child with the 10 children of a dysfunctional family in the "projects" is comparing apples and oranges; intelligence is based on the intelligence and discipline of the parents, not the number of children. 

STEWARDSHIP: Look at the famous passage on stewardship: the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-30. Who decided how many talents each servant could steward, the servant or the Master? 

TECHNOLOGY IS GOOD. Not necessarily so. The H-bomb is intelligent, highly advanced technology, but that doesn't mean we should blow up the world with it. Simply because technology (such as the Pill) is available doesn't mean we should use it! We must first evaluate the moral ramifications of its use. 

WHAT IF I HAVE HEALTH PROBLEMS? There may be exceptions, but are you looking for an excuse, or are you trying to be faithful to God? Although many doctors won't admit it, many female problems would be solved rather than exacerbated by having children. 

BIBLE ONLY FOR AGRARIAN COMMUNITY.  No, God's principles apply to all cultures. The famous verse about having a "full quiver" of children (Psalm 127:3-5) was written by a politician in a big city and was written about a soldier. The context is not agrarian at all! 

SEX ONLY FOR PROCREATION? No, this is the Argumentum ad absurdium fallacy. Notice that there is a difference between sex to avoid children, sex to create children, and uninhibited sex. We believe the Bible teaches that the last of the three is the best! Besides, no matter which of the three approaches you take, you can't help having pleasure, therefore sex by its very nature is not limited to procreation! 

A SOVEREIGN GOD CAN OVERRIDE B.C.  Let us apply the same logic to another context: suppose a murderer were to say, "I've bought a knife, and I'm going over to Fred's house to kill him, but if God doesn't want me to kill Fred in cold blood, He will find a way to stop me." This logical progression is exactly the same as that of someone who says they don't know whether B.C. is wrong or not, but that they will do it anyway and God will stop them if it's wrong. This is not a logical position. It is irresponsible to purposefully not decide whether what you're doing is right or wrong! Here's one more question: "Why would God want to give children to someone who doesn't want them?"   

CONCLUSION.  Given the Bible's pro-children stance and its anti-infertility stance, given the fact that Christians have historically not practiced birth control, given the problems caused by birth control, and given the fact that reasons for using birth control are not valid, it is a reasonable and good conclusion that Christians should not practice birth control.   

BIBLIOGRAPHY: 

A FULL QUIVER, Hess, Wolgemuth & Hyatt. 

ALL THE WAY HOME, Pride, Crossway. 

LETTING GOD PLAN YOUR FAMILY, Owens, 

THE BIBLE AND BIRTH CONTROL, Provan, Zimmer. 

THE WAY HOME, Pride, Crossway.

WHAT GOD WANTS HIS WOMEN TO BE LIKE, Wilson. 

WOMAN'S COMPLETE GUIDE TO PERSONAL HEALTH CARE, Evans, Wolgemuth & Hyatt. 

BIRTH CONTROL - A Bible study 

"Kids are a nuisance," is the prevailing attitude of the world. Is this Scriptural? 

GOD'S VIEW OF CHILDREN. Leviticus 26:9; Deuteronomy 6:3; 7:13; 13:17b-18, 28:1-4,11. Ruth 4:11-12. 

CHILDREN ARE A BLESSING FROM GOD. Psalms 127:3-5; 128. Proverbs 14:1; 17:6. Leviticus 20:20-21. 

Childlessness is sometimes a curse. Hosea 9:11-12,14,16; Matthew 19:14. 

How does Jesus feel about kids?

 If children are really a blessing from God, why do we try to remain "unblessed"? 

WHAT'S THE MAIN PURPOSE OF A CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE? Genesis 1:28; Malachi 2:15. There is only one purpose listed here! Genesis 38:6-10; Deut. 25:5-10.

Onan disobeyed God's command to marry his brother's widow in order to produce a child for his brother. The issue was not whether or not he would give offspring, but that he spilled his seed (i.e., practiced contraception) instead of using the Biblical legal procedure for declining the practice of levirate (throwing off his sandal). This is why he was killed. Based on Malachi 2:15, Christians who purposely prevent the conception of any children appear to be in the same precarious position as Onan. 

WHAT ABOUT THE "NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING" METHOD? I Corinthians 7:3-5 -- Birth control is not a good reason to abstain from sex. Also, remember what happened to Onan when he tried to use a variant of the NFP method! Leviticus 12:1-5; 20:18 -- God has His own method of "natural family planning." Abstaining from sex during monthly periods actually increases fertility. Does it sound like God wants to prevent children from being conceived? (See Ezekiel 18:5-6 on whether the Leviticus verses are "cultural.") 

WHO CONTROLS CONCEPTION? The real issue is not birth control but rather our concept of God. Do you really believe God is sovereign over all things? Genesis 4:25; 16:10; 17:2,20; 20:17-18; 21:1-2; 22:17; 26:4,24; 28:3; 29:31-33; 30:1-2,6,17-18,20,22-23; 41:52; 48:4. Exodus 32:13. Deuteronomy 1:10,11; 28:63; 30:5. Joshua 24:3. Ruth 4:13. I Samuel 1:6,11,19-20; 2:20-21. I Chronicles 27:23. Psalm 100:3; 105:24; 107:38; 139:13,16. Isaiah 26:15; 44:2; 49:5a; 51:2. Jeremiah 30:19; 33:22. Ezekiel 36:10-11,37; 37:26. Luke 1:24-25,57-58.  These verses say the increase of the people is generally a result of their obedience to God! 

POINTS TO PONDER. I Timothy 5:14 -- Satan can gain ground as a result of women trying to prevent God's blessings. Proverbs 3:5-6, 16:25 -- According to our human logic, not using birth control may seem foolish. What do these verses say about human logic? 

Q. If God is sovereign over the womb, why does birth control work? A. If people are sinning by trying to control conception, why would God want to bless them? 

ANSWERING COMMON CONCERNS I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR A LARGE FAMILY. Psalm 23:1, 37:25-26, 84:11; Proverbs 3:33, 14:26; Malachi 3:8-10; Matthew 6:25-34; Philippians 4:6,19; I Timothy 6:6-10.  If children are God's blessing to us, would He not provide what we need to properly take care of each blessing? Note, however, that God provides for the righteous. There are no promises here for the ungodly. Does your concept of provision include such "necessities" as a large home, exotic foods, college savings accounts for each child?

 WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF WHAT GOD GIVES US. Matthew 25:14-30. The servants had no control over how many talents they were entrusted with. We are supposed to be good stewards of what God gives us. If the servant who received one talent had begged his master not to entrust him with any at all, do you think the master's reaction would have been any different? 

I'M TOO OLD TO HAVE ANY MORE CHILDREN. Genesis 17:17; Luke 1:7. 

YOU SHOULD SPEND SOME TIME WITH MY KIDS IF YOU REALLY THINK CHILDREN ARE A BLESSING! We will study this in depth in another session. For now, suffice it to say that the Bible is full of promises that your children will be a blessing if you exercise good stewardship over the gifts God gives you. This includes disciplining your children, having a good attitude about them, refraining from such verbal abuse as name-calling, etc., and, most importantly, teaching them God's ways "...when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." (Deuteronomy 6:7) 

WHAT ABOUT GOD-GIVEN INFERTILITY? You need to examine the situation thoroughly: Is God trying to teach you that He is in control or perhaps that you simply need to rest in Him and wait for His timing? Having to wait a long time to conceive a child will greatly increase your appreciation of the child. Maybe you need to learn that lesson before you are entrusted with a child. Is your infertility a curse resulting from your assumption that you control conception? Infertility is sometimes caused by a past sin such as abortion or using a birth control device that destroys your reproduction ability. God will forgive a truly repentant person for such sins, but you may have to suffer the consequences of your sin. However, God is in complete control of conception and may even heal you of your infertility in this situation. Perhaps God has a different purpose for you:  Adoption, or frontier missions work where children would be in danger. Many Godly women in the Bible were barren--Sarah, Rachel, Hannah, Elizabeth.