Christianity and Birth Control

A few years ago, I met two couples both having 10 or more children. They were not Catholic. They came from a reformed back ground, and they do not believe in birth control. At first, I thought these two couples were a little eccentric. There were only a handful of protestants that I knew that did not believe in birth control. However, over the last few years, I have come to find out that many more protestants are leaving birth control behind, and letting God control the womb.

For almost 20 centuries, the Roman Catholic Church taught Western Civilization what to think about human reproduction. (I know the reformation took place in the 16th century, but reproductive thought pretty much stayed the same). In the 4th century, St. Augustine taught that sex was only to be done for reproductive reasons. He did not think that fulfilling ones desires was a Christian virtue, thus reproduction was the purpose for marital sex.

St. Augustine's views continued until the 13th century. Thomas Aquinas taught that there were two purposes for marital sex. The first purpose was reproduction, and the second purpose was for the fulfillment of desires. However, both of these purposes needed to be apart of the act each time. This view point was held by most of Western Civilization into the 20th century. Then it happened; one of the most important events known to human society. The birth control pill was invented. Everything suddenly changed.

Protestant Christians began to rethink the purpose of marital sex. They began to challenge the old notions of Thomas Aquinas. They began to think about family planning. Protestant women demanded more than church history to tell them what they could or could not do. They demanded chapter and verse, and if chapter and verse could not be found they then relied on the Priesthood of the Believer to decide their concept of contraception.

Today, most protestants do not think twice about the pill or other forms of birth control. Some Christians go as far as self sterilization without giving thought whether it is morally right or wrong. Over the counter or surgical, birth control is a major part of most Protestant families. Now the question I must ask is, "Should it be this way?"

There are a few good reasons to rethink birth control. First, the Bible teaches us to be fruitful and multiply. Should we then close down reproduction because we want it that way? Second, the Bible teaches us that children are a blessing. Should we then deny ourselves Biblical blessings because it doesn't fit into our schedule. Third, birth control pills may have an abortive factor. Yes, there is a potential that hormonal therapy (the pill) can trigger a fertilized egg to abort. This is heavily debated. Yet, it is something to think about. Fourth, the pill can cause all sorts of bad side affects for women. Finally, who controls the womb? Should we be in control of the womb or should God be in control of the womb? There are some who believe it is a sin for us to stop what God may give us.

I wrote this column this way to cause us to think. I personally believe in birth control. However, I have thought long and hard about what I believe and why I believe it. The questions I gave above had to be answered before I was willing to allow birth control into my family planning. I will not answer these questions here, because I want each of you to answer them for yourselves. However, I can tell you that I did change my mind about several things that I once took for granted before my study.

I challenge all of you to think about this important subject. I believe most Christians realize that Thomas Aquinas had a point. Sex is for both reproduction and for the fulfillment of desire. However, many Christians have left the first part completely out of the equation. So search hard my friends, and see if you are comfortable with what you are doing when it comes to birth control.