How many kids are. . .

I think each family should have the number of kids God intended. In my case, two was the perfect number. My grandmother's family had 12 and they all did just fine.

 

It depends on the family.

Societal changes, God given scientific advances that enables us to be good stewards of what He has given us...

No, it should be between the family and God...

No, spirituality is not tied into procreation...


Here is another related question... since the man is the head of the house, should he be the one who decides how many kids they have?
If the woman only wants one, but he wants more, is she biblically bound to give him what he wants?

ABC, if you consider this question hijacking this thread, I will open another thread....

 

Tim,
I think that question you posed should have been agree to and decided before the marriage ever took place.

 

For me the number was 3 specially when they start coming 2 at a time. I have a close friend whose wife had 3 then had her tubes tied before becoming a Christian, after becoming a Christian they had it reversed they now have 6.

 

They should have however many children God blesses them with.

Christians should do as God commands and be fruitful and multiply.

"And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth." - Genesis 9:1​

I don't know if that makes folks with larger families more spiritual but I do suspect it makes them more obedient.

The adversary desires that there be fewer of us so he markets his alternative through the "education" system and popular media and trains Christians to believe that having children is too much of a burden and they are too expensive etc. Thus, today Christian demographics are down and Roman Catholic and Muslim demographics are up for the simple reason that the RCs and Muslims are making more babies than the Christians.

 

My personal opinion is that we were told to be good stewards of our planet. Right now, about 12% of the people who have ever lived are alive at this very moment. Although we've slowed the growth rate way down, at the current rate of growth, in about 600 years, we would have 1 person for every 2 square feet of land on the face of the planet, and that includes mountain tops and land under glaciers.

There was a time when families needed 12 kids to run the farm and to maintain a ZPG, but that time was hundreds of years in the past.

 

Too many kids?

Sounds like a case of a really great sex life and the willingness to accept the responsibilities. The number of children should completely depend upon the ability of the couple to handle and properly raise children. I know some that could handle as many as they want, while others should have stopped at one because they are such irresponsible parents. It is an individual descision.

 

This is it - end of story.

 

" Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one's youth.
How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; They will not be ashamed When they speak with their enemies in the gate. " Psa 127:3-5

 

It used to be that way, you know, when romance was alive and well, even for the non-Christians.

 

It's too many children when:

1) the children are running around naked in the yard and think it's okay.

2) the children are chronically dirty and are wearing rags.

3) the children are going hungry because there is not enough food in the house on a regular basis. (I don't mean the spoiled kid hungry that whines "there's nothing to eat" when that really refers to the fact there are no cookies in the house!)

4) the children are unsupervised or are supervising each other when the eldest child is only 8 or 10 and there is more than 1 younger child on a regular basis (and I don't mean for 30 minutes while mom runs to the store to buy cookies!)

5) when mom and dad can't organize things so that they spend at least a few minutes in undivided time with each child each day.

6) when the parents can't see to the education of their children.

7) when the parents can't afford general medical care even when the government is paying for most of it.

And guess what? I know parents with only one child that can't seem to see to the above!

 

Since ABCGrad has approved this question for this thread, would anyone else like to tackle it?

 

Well, I'm with SaturnNeptune that this is something that should be discussed and decided on before marriage.

In the absence of that, I would think that deep discussion and prayer would be required rather than a husband 'forcing' the wife to bear a child she doesn't want and won't want to raise. <-----that might lead to abuse.

 

I say the wife has MORE sayso, since she has to carry the child and give birth.

 

I honestly think that there should be a civil and respectful discussion between the couple.

If there are medical reasons going against it, then the husband should give in to the wife. Otherwise, they should come to an agreement on just how many will be suitable and supportable.

 

1Co 7:4 For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.

I think that in all reproductive matters, mutual consent is required. If a husband wants to have 3 kids, but a wife only wants 2, then the husband should talk to his wife and pray about it. He does not have the biblical warrant to force her, nor does a wife have the biblical warrant to force the husband.

Being a leader in a home does not equal being a dictator.