Birth Control

[catlover]

Also, I see that you've all still ignored my question about birth control. Is it not as important because I went on it for hormonal reasons or something?

It is your duty as a female to suffer, Eve ate the apple first so we must suffer...

Seriously, though, can you believe churches were opposed to women using pain killer during child birth?
They believed women should suffer the pains of childbirth.

There was one silly belief churches held,thankfully it fell by the wayside, where it belongs.

 

[WalkingforHim]

1.) It is only a sin to abstain if one spouse does not wish to.
2.) Trust in God. He will not give you more than you can handle; ie, either you won't get pregnant or He will provide.

God helps people who help themselves, ever hear of that one?

God doesn't always help people who do stupid things.

 

[icedtea]

God helps people who help themselves, ever hear of that one?

I have heard of it, but it isn't in the bible.
God may not help those who do stupid things, but getting pregnant isnt a stupid thing.

 

[WalkingforHim]

I have heard of it, but it isn't in the bible.
God may not help those who do stupid things, but getting pregnant isnt a stupid thing.

It is when you're not in a position to deal with it. When you don't know how you're going to pay for the diapers the babies you already have, much less the one on the way, it's pretty stupid to be having another kid. And saying "God will provide", is wishful thinking at best, and completely dilusional at worst. It's also neglectful and simply dismisses the very real issues at hand in these situations.

 

[icedtea]

People have friends. When I started showing I had to quit work and my husband was on disability. People gave us a used crib, clothes, and my parents bought diapers.

 

[Lotar]

What about college, though? Okay, so the kids have to share a room and don't get cellphones or snazzy new shoes and stuff when they demand it. However, I wouldn't consider college a "selfish want" at all.

Personally, If I couldn't put a good $10,000 toward my kids' college education then I consider myself to have no business bringing another kid into the world until I could. Yeah, there are scholarships and loans and stuff but why rely on it? An education is one of the most important things there is.

Also, I see that you've all still ignored my question about birth control. Is it not as important because I went on it for hormonal reasons or something?

$10000 is basically nothing, when it comes to college. My parents didn't pay any part of my tuition, and they made too much for me to qualify for grants. Student loans really aren't that bad.

Taking birth control for medical reasons is different than taking it for contraceptive reasons. In the Orthodox Church, that would be something the couple would discuss with their priest.

 

[WalkingforHim]

Taking birth control for medical reasons is different than taking it for contraceptive reasons. In the Orthodox Church, that would be something the couple would discuss with their priest.

And there are priests that would say no to this, correct?

People have friends. When I started showing I had to quit work and my husband was on disability. People gave us a used crib, clothes, and my parents bought diapers.

Great, so ask for handouts and be a burden to your friends just to avoid BC just the hold to your distorted view of Scripture and bloated sence of morality?

I'ld rather not.

Not that I'm bashing you. Your situation was completely different, understandable and admirable. I was talking about the people that have babies because they don't use bc.

 

[icedtea]

And there are priests that would say no to this, correct?



Great, so ask for handouts and be a burden to your friends just to avoid BC just the hold to your distorted view of Scripture and bloated sence of morality?

I'ld rather not.

Not that I'm bashing you. Your situation was completely different, understandable and admirable. I was talking about the people that have babies because they don't use bc.

Good, I was just about to respond and now I see you have added a paragraph.
I never asked for a handout, and when i give things to people that I don't need anymore, I don't consider them a burden.

 

[icedtea]

Had I not wanted to get pregnant we would've used celibacy. My husband would've been happy with that.

I have used pills a few times in my life, first at age 15.
I am on them now, for the same reason, health, and I am celibate!

 

[icedtea]

There was something I always wondered about after I became a christian.
If babies are a blessing, how come God blesses unmarried women when they fornicate? I'm not being snarky, I just always wondered.

 

[WalkingforHim]

Because it's not about God coming down and implanting the sperm in the egg, or a magical stork, or any of that. It's about the roll of the dice. Sometimes you get lucky, sometimes you don't.

Or maybe God put them there to show ya'll that everyone isn't like you and just because they are, doesn't mean they are lesser people.

 

[Nadiine]

There was something I always wondered about after I became a christian.
If babies are a blessing, how come God blesses unmarried women when they fornicate? I'm not being snarky, I just always wondered.

excellent question, I've wondered it myself many times - worse, girls/women who are completely UNFIT to be mothers!

Is it a blessing biblically? I'm not sure, there are many women who aren't so fond of children or who aren't ready to have one & they get 'blessed'.
I do know God knows what He's doing; nothing He does or allows is a mistake. He has a purpose for all things under heaven.

 

[Lumen]

There was something I always wondered about after I became a christian.
If babies are a blessing, how come God blesses unmarried women when they fornicate? I'm not being snarky, I just always wondered.

Because, if you're going to look at it that way:

#1: Fornication is not the worst sin in the world and does not make one evil.

#2: God causes the rain to fall on the "wicked" just as it does on the "righteous".

 

[tulc]

So...the conclusion we can come to is: it is/isn't a sin to practice birth control? In my opinion no. But then I'm a protestant so I'm pretty much a lost cause anyway.
tulc(doesn't feel lost, but that could just be the coffee talking!)

 

[Lumen]

I think every verse that supposedly refutes birth control is a twisted interpetation of it.

I believe it's perfectly fine to practice birth control. I don't really agree with the pill, because it can screw up your body, but condoms I have absolutely no problem with.

I guess I'm going to hell.

 

[TwinCrier]

For those who say God told you to use birth control, I have to ask; Didn't you find it insulting that the creator of the universe specifically asked you to not reproduce offspring? And also, does God always ask you to do things that you already want to do anyhow?

 

[MrsJoy]

Birth control in soceity has created an environment where people separate sexual behavior from its consequences. Certainly this has lead to incorrect views of marriage and sexuality. As opposed to beling liberating for woman the rampant use of birth control, and abortion, has lead to the increased objectifcation of women in soceity. American protestantism has fully embraced birth control and has divorce rates much higher than the national level. Heavily Roman Catholic parts of the country have levels lower than those of the country at large.
Any use of birth control should be done directly under the direction of a spiritual father to first determine if the motives are worthy and second to ensure that it is not being abused. Clearly the no holds barred approach to birth control has done nothing for American protestantism.

However, the abuse of something does not make it inherintly evil.
Sex is good, but humans have corrupted and abused it: is sex then wrong??

 

[MrsJoy]

Here are my views on BC (yes, I know I'm just a kid, but I still have views):

I can't stand it when people go on birth control, then say, "If God really wanted us to have another child, a little tiny pill isn't going to stop Him!" That makes no sense.

And, not too mention, that is NOT always true. Yes, God can do absolutely ANYTHING, but I believe that sometimes He respects our free will, and if we are consciously trying to prevent something (like pregnancy) from happening, the above often repeated quote is not alway going to happen, and then we missed out on a great blessing from the Lord.

Secondly, I believe it is up to the husband, the spiritual leader of the household, to decide whether or not his wife goes on birth control or not (given he's been given insight from God), because he is responsible for his household and therefore, can make the decisions for his house.

.

to make such a statement is to declare that we are stronger than God.

What God wills will happen, regardless of us.

A pill is not bigger than God.
How silly.

 

[MrsJoy]

. Women were nothing but breeders who turned out babies like rabbits before birth control...if that's is not objectifying a woman I don't know what is.

yes,
and,
it used to be that women did not have the options that we have now.
they did not work.
they did not have the opportunity to be involved in ministry.
their only option was to be a wife and a mother.

A lot of times these days God has called us to more than that.
Who is some man to say what God's plan for a woman is??
God's ways are higher, and His plans are bigger.

 

[Lumen]

to make such a statement is to declare that we are stronger than God.

What God wills will happen, regardless of us.

A pill is not bigger than God.
How silly.

No, but it is very true that God leaves us alone to make our own decisions.

Otherwise we wouldn't have free will now would we?