1. Welcome to Baptist Board, a friendly forum to discuss the Baptist Faith in a friendly surrounding.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to all the features that our community has to offer.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!

Featured Family Planning

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by Salty, Sep 21, 2017.

  1. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
    Administrator

    Joined:
    Apr 8, 2003
    Messages:
    38,982
    Likes Received:
    2,615
    Faith:
    Baptist
    In another thread - Steve stated he is opposed to Family Planning.

    Now, Gen 9:7 states: And you, be ye fruitful, and multiply; bring forth abundantly in the earth, and multiply therein.

    So is it wrong for a couple to practice family planning ?

    Some will say that, we have accomplished that mission,
    and now, we should practice family planning so we do not
    overpopulate the earth

    Open for discussion
     
  2. Steven Yeadon

    Steven Yeadon Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Feb 12, 2017
    Messages:
    2,391
    Likes Received:
    315
    Faith:
    Baptist
    1. Genesis 9:7 and Genesis 9:1 are given to Noah and his family and seems to be in effect to this day. At least we have no scriptures that countermand these commands.

    2. Genesis 1:28 hasn't even been accomplished yet. This almost sounds like the Lord is ordering us to domesticate the whole planet, a feat a ways off except within the borders of some Asian nations.

    3. Genesis 35:11 could be argued to not just be for Jacob (Israel) but all Israelites and all Christians. The gist seems to be that we are blessed along with our children more than others, and that we should thus increase our blessed number.

    4. Genesis 17:4 shows that a huge part of the Lord's whole promise to Abraham is that from he and his wife will come mighty nations and kings. This seems to be a wonderful promise through his offspring that all of us should desire in some way.

    5. Psalms 128:3 talks of a man who fears the Lord's wife being like a grapevine. This is supposed to be a huge blessing. Psalms 127:3-5 agrees with this general sentiment as does Leviticus 26:9.

    6. Proverbs 20:7 also sets out that many descendants are a blessing from God, especially as they will be highly blessed like their righteous father.
     
  3. Alcott

    Alcott Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2002
    Messages:
    9,404
    Likes Received:
    353
    Faith:
    Baptist
    We did some family planning.... picnics, football games, vacations, holiday meals,...
     
  4. JonC

    JonC Moderator
    Moderator

    Joined:
    Aug 28, 2001
    Messages:
    33,287
    Likes Received:
    3,547
    Faith:
    Baptist
    If we approach the subject in terms of a commandment (that we are commanded to be fruitful and multiply in terms of having children and raising families) then this was perhaps Jesus’ only sin (one that Paul shared). Abraham himself only had two children.
     
  5. Reynolds

    Reynolds Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Jun 15, 2014
    Messages:
    13,793
    Likes Received:
    2,468
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Get back to me on it when you have 15 kids.
     
  6. TCassidy

    TCassidy Late-Administator Emeritus
    Administrator

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2005
    Messages:
    20,080
    Likes Received:
    3,490
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Huh? Try 8. Isaac, Ishmael, Jokshan, Zimran, Midian, Ishbak, Shuah, Medan.
     
  7. JonC

    JonC Moderator
    Moderator

    Joined:
    Aug 28, 2001
    Messages:
    33,287
    Likes Received:
    3,547
    Faith:
    Baptist
    You're right - Eight is Enough :)

    (Senior moment)
     
    • Funny Funny x 1
  8. Sapper Woody

    Sapper Woody Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 5, 2011
    Messages:
    2,314
    Likes Received:
    175
    I look at it as someone has already stated. If it was a command for us to follow today, then Jesus sinned by not following that command.

    Obviously, I don't believe Jesus sinned. Which means that we are not being told that we can't prevent ourselves from having children.

    Personally, I have three. The wife and I have thought about having one more, as we have three girls and if like to have a boy. (Sidenote, my siblings all have only girls, too. So a boy would be nice to have in the family.) But right now, we are not financially in a place where we should have a fourth.

    So, if I had another, we'd be a drain on society, and I wouldn't be able to provide for my own. If it was a command to have more, if have to break other commands in order to over that one. And God doesn't give us contradictory commands.

    Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk
     
    • Agree Agree x 2
  9. Steven Yeadon

    Steven Yeadon Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Feb 12, 2017
    Messages:
    2,391
    Likes Received:
    315
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Jesus lives like a eunuch for the Kingdom, as did Paul (Matthew 19:11-12). Eunuchs for the Kingdom radically increase their service to the Lord because of their lifestyle choice (1 Corinthians 7:32-35). This is even a gift from God (1 Corinthians 7:7). So, I do not see how this affects having children because I see two options:

    1. Marriage in the image God created it to have.
    2. Living like a eunuch for the Kingdom and living a life of service to the Lord.
     
  10. Sapper Woody

    Sapper Woody Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 5, 2011
    Messages:
    2,314
    Likes Received:
    175
    You realize that is a non-answer, right? Either you have to have as many children as possible, or you don't. Saying that being a spiritual Eunich is ok is saying that there is no command to have children at every opportunity.

    It's also saying that I can rationalize not having more children since it would hinder my work for Christ.

    Either way, you have nullified your entire argument in your own.

    Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk
     
  11. Steven Yeadon

    Steven Yeadon Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Feb 12, 2017
    Messages:
    2,391
    Likes Received:
    315
    Faith:
    Baptist
    1. What I am saying is that your argument to avoid child-bearing through family planning goes against the design God had for marriage, which was to be fruitful and multiply. The bible allows us to avoid marriage through celibacy, but married people should pursue children as an "of course."

    2. Also, family planning goes against the spirit of how the bible views family, since each child is an enormous blessing. Why not be fruitful and thus more blessed?
     
  12. Jerome

    Jerome Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Aug 21, 2006
    Messages:
    9,788
    Likes Received:
    698
    Faith:
    Baptist
    The Southern Baptist Convention has spoken on this in a Resolution it passed:
    Southern Baptist Convention > Resolution On Population Explosion
     
  13. TCassidy

    TCassidy Late-Administator Emeritus
    Administrator

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2005
    Messages:
    20,080
    Likes Received:
    3,490
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Steven, how long have you been married and how many children do you have?
     
  14. Steven Yeadon

    Steven Yeadon Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Feb 12, 2017
    Messages:
    2,391
    Likes Received:
    315
    Faith:
    Baptist
    I am not married and have no children. I try to live in service to the Kingdom with most of my free time though, given I am temporarily celibate.
     
  15. Steven Yeadon

    Steven Yeadon Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Feb 12, 2017
    Messages:
    2,391
    Likes Received:
    315
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Whoa, isn't that resolution Malthusian in that it addresses "population explosion," "mass starvation," and "overpopulation." It seems to lack faith that God will provide for us through at least technology.

    I'm also disappointed in the convention for flat out ruling against those like myself instead of leaving it a matter of discussion.
     
  16. TCassidy

    TCassidy Late-Administator Emeritus
    Administrator

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2005
    Messages:
    20,080
    Likes Received:
    3,490
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Before doing any family planning you may want to:

    #1. Find a wife.
    #2. Marry her.
    #3. Discuss the issue with her.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  17. TCassidy

    TCassidy Late-Administator Emeritus
    Administrator

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2005
    Messages:
    20,080
    Likes Received:
    3,490
    Faith:
    Baptist
    How do you do that? Are you Post-Mil/Reconstructionist?
     
  18. Steven Yeadon

    Steven Yeadon Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Feb 12, 2017
    Messages:
    2,391
    Likes Received:
    315
    Faith:
    Baptist
    The problem is that I have debated this for a while, and if a woman I am interested in decides that she wants to do family planning, then that makes or breaks the relationship. The reason being that I would not be willing to go against my conscience on this issue, because I believe it would be a sin to.
     
  19. Steven Yeadon

    Steven Yeadon Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Feb 12, 2017
    Messages:
    2,391
    Likes Received:
    315
    Faith:
    Baptist
    No, sorry I fail to understand what you are asking. At my church for years, and also at a United Methodist seminary I went to back in my more liberal days, we have talked about contributions of Christian service of any type being to Jesus Christ and his Kingdom. I may just be confused by my churches' jargon concerning the wider world.

    I do want to state though that being a moderate evangelical was wrong, and I do not believe I have been saved until after I embraced fundamentalist Christianity over a year ago.

    -EDIT-

    I am definitely post-tribulation rapture, pre-millennial.
     
  20. TCassidy

    TCassidy Late-Administator Emeritus
    Administrator

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2005
    Messages:
    20,080
    Likes Received:
    3,490
    Faith:
    Baptist
    If the Mediatorial Millennial Kingdom is yet future (Pre-Mil) how do you serve a Kingdom that is not here? Doesn't exist yet?
     
Loading...