In a previous column (April 1997) we looked at the fact that prior to 1930 all Protestant denominations agreed with the Catholic Church in maintaining the historic Christian position that artificial birth control—contraception—is gravely wrong as a violation of God’s design for human sexuality.
Since 1930, the Protestant world has soaked up the secular sexual morality that has been flooding Western civilization, but there have been signs of hope, as many Protestants—often prompted by the issue of abortion—have been rethinking human sexuality and what God requires in this area. Many have been returning to the historic Christian position on contraception, and in this column we look at what some twentieth-century Protestants have been saying.
Rick and Jan Hess
Non-Denominational
“The difference between revival and judgment may rest on whether our hearts are turned toward welcoming our present and future children. Without question, the church today does not love children. A bad attitude toward children brings a curse. A miserly attitude toward children makes God miserly toward us. But an openhearted, generous desire for and appreciation of children as God’s good gifts inclines God to trust us with many more good gifts—gifts we have not even seen for over 150 years now and can scarcely imagine” (A Full Quiver).
Michael Hirsch
Reformed
“How will God punish us for having as many children as he dictates? Will he say, ‘Because you were not good stewards and did not use birth control, you will have children—and lots of them. In addition, you will starve and die a hideous death. The unregenerate will have rule over you”? Sounds more like the great and powerful Oz than the God of the Bible. And much of modern American Christendom responds, ‘If I only had a brain’” (“Mountains for the Taking” in Biblical Worldview).
Phil Lancaster
Non-Denominational
“Notice how the Christian arguments in favor of birth control have proliferated at the same time as the abortion mentality has established its death grip on our culture. Culturally, the birth control mindset is the mother of abortion. Both celebrate choice; both view children as a burden; both ignore God’s plan for multiplying children as a vehicle for the spread of his kingdom. Christians have been immersed in the polluted well of humanist thought, and, though most may have rejected the overt philosophy of humanism, they have nonetheless conformed their practice to that which grows from the humanist worldview . . . the Christian who is challenged on [the subject of birth control] would do well to consider if his practice is the fruit of the Word or of the world” (Patriarchmagazine).
Samuel Owen
Non-Denominational
“While it is true that no child should be born unwanted, that does not mean a husband and wife should prevent his birth. Rather, they should change their attitude. As Christians, they must reject the prevalent narcissistic control mentality that causes couples to not want children. They must embrace instead the biblical perspective that bearing children is their responsibility and privilege. For believers, every child should be wanted and received as a precious gift” (Letting God Plan Your Family).
Arthur Pink
Baptist
“We do not believe in what is termed ‘birth control,’ but we do earnestly urge self-control, especially by the husband, ‘But whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.’ This is a most solemn warning against unfaithfulness; those who live and die impenitently in these sins will eternally perish (Eph. 5:5)” (Commentary on Hebrews).
Mary Pride
Presbyterian
“There is an alternative to scheming and plotting how many babies to have and when to have them. It can be summed up in three little words: trust and obey . . . Only God knows the future. Only he knows how much money we will have next year, or when I will reach menopause, or when his Kingdom will desperately need the unique talents of my yet-to-be-conceived son or daughter. Why not leave the driving to him?” (The Way Home).
Charles Provan
Presbyterian
“Many Christians today have not even considered the question, ‘What does God think of birth control?’ It is a question ‘too stupid to even consider’ in the eyes of most. . . . But just because Americans think that birth control is morally acceptable does not make birth control right in the eyes of God. . . . You may be surprised that the Bible does in fact say quite a bit about this widespread custom—all of it negative” (The Bible and Birth Control).