Reformed Thought Perspective on Birth Control

Martin Luther said, "[T]he exceedingly foul deed of Onan, the basest of wretches . . . is a most disgraceful sin. It is far more atrocious than incest and adultery. We call it unchastity, yes, a sodomitic sin. For Onan goes in to her; that is, he lies with her and copulates, and when it comes to the point of insemination, spills the sperm, lest the woman conceive. Surely at such a time the order of nature established by God in procreation should be followed. Accordingly, it was a most disgraceful crime. . . . Consequently, he deserved to be killed by God. He committed an evil deed. Therefore, God punished him."

John Calvin said, "The voluntary spilling of sperm outside of intercourse between man and woman is a monstrous thing. Deliberately to withdraw from coitus in order that sperm may fall on the ground is doubly monstrous. For this is to extinguish the hope of the race and to kill before he is born the hoped-for offspring."

John Wesley warned, "Those sins that dishonor the body are very displeasing to God, and the evidence of vile affections. Observe, the thing which he [Onan] did displeased the Lord—and it is to be feared; thousands, especially of single persons, by this very thing, still displease the Lord, and destroy their own souls." (These passages are cited in Charles D. Provan, The Bible and Birth Control, which contains many quotes by historic Protestant figures who recognize contraception’s evils.)

Above from http://www.catholic.com/library/birth_control.asp

"The purpose of marriage is not to have pleasure and to be idle but to procreate and bring up children, to support a household. Those who have no love for children are swine, stocks, and logs unworthy of being called men or women; for they despise the blessings of God, the Creator and Author of marriage." ---Martin Luther

Synod of Dort, a Calvinist council, declared,


[Onan’s contraceptive act] was even as much as if he had, in a manner, pulled forth fruit out of the mother’s womb and destroyed it.

Above copied from:
http://catholicoutlook.com/objcath5.html

Hope it helped,

Neal

So, a husband and wife can only have sex when they want to have children? Any other motive besides that is sin? eg a married couple cant just enjoy sex?

so, if say the govt (like in China) tells you that you can only have 2 kids, then what, abstain from sex after that?

Somehow, something in my spirit says there's something wrong there with the doctrine.

I recently listened to speeches by Rev. Tommy Nelson on the Song of Solomon (or Song of Songs, depending on which Bible you have). I also recently re-read Song of Solomon. IMHO, God definitely created sex to be pleasurable, and He in no way condemns a man and his wife for having sex for pleasure. I believe sex is a way for man and wife to be ultimately close.

My wife had severe complications with pregnancy, one resulted in a miscarriage. The last resulted in our daughter being 6 weeks pre-mature. I have had a vasectomy to ensure that she doesn't have to endure those hardships again. We would love to have more children, but it just isn't safe. Am I going to stop having sex with my wife because I am shooting blanks? NOT A CHANCE! Is God angry with us because we engage in sex for the simple pleasure of it? NOT A CHANCE!

Calvin, Wesley, Luther; they were all brilliant men, but I think they and the Catholic Church are way off base with this one.

THere is a verse in Corinthains that says to not stop having sex unless devoting time to prayer for married couple. So you better want to look that one up.

I read all the things in the OP but where are the verses that support these claims? My husband also had a vasectomy because we had twins and we didn't want to have any more because we were to afriad that it might kill me. Since we have had the twins I have had MAJOR problems and will probally need a hysterotomy. Heck no I am not going to stop having sex with hubbie because we are infertile!
I whole heartly disagree with the whole birth control issue being wrong.
GEL

No one is saying that if you cannot have children, you cannot have sex. As long as you have a valid reason for surgery, as in Greenie's husband's case, there is no reason to worry. No one will say a word about it.

Besides the abortive properties of the pill, the main prohibition on contraception stems from a desire to keep from self-centered attitudes. Sex isn't only for pleasure. That is a part of it, definately, but not the sole end.

Marriage is a reflection of the divine love of God. I posted this on a different thread, with a few differences. I hope that by reading this point of view, you can see where those of us who cannot support contraception are coming from:

[This]is part of the reason for marriage, to show us about God. In marriage we grow close to our mate and express our love physically, yet we can only grow so close and express our love in a finite manner. How would this expression flow over into the realm of infinity? The Father, the source of the whole Trinity knew Himself so completely and perfectly that that knowledge gave forth to life. It was not finite like ours, but infinite, as only God can be. This person, the only begotten from infinity shares a love with the Father that is so perfect, it too, is alive. This love between the Father and the Son is the Holy Spirit This is the life of the Trinity...Love. Love of Self, Love of others, only on an infinite level. God is Love

What are the two greatest commandments? Love God with all your heart, and your neighbor as yourself. This is how we are to share in the life of Christ. By living out the divine commandment on Earth, we will share in God's living it perfectly forever in eternity.

At the 1930 Lambeth conference the Anglican church approved the use of contraception in some circumstances; this was quickly broadened to all circumstances and infected all other Protestant denominations. Today none of them maintain the historic Christian faith on this point.
Catholic Answers carries a Protestant book called The Bible and Birth Control by Charles Provan, and the back half of it is a catalogue of quotes from Protestant sources prior to 1930 documenting that they too shared the historic Christian position on the evil of artificial birth control -- until 1930, that is. Among those condemning contraception are Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Wesley, and Ulrich Zwingli, and dozens of others.

I recently listened to speeches by Rev. Tommy Nelson on the Song of Solomon (or Song of Songs, depending on which Bible you have). I also recently re-read Song of Solomon. IMHO, God definitely created sex to be pleasurable, and He in no way condemns a man and his wife for having sex for pleasure.
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AMEN to that. There's a book I'm reading called The Act of Marriage: The Beauty of Sexual Love by Tim & Beverly LaHaye that also says God created sex to be enjoyed by married couples too, not just for procreation. They also quoted from Song of Solomon.

To Humblejoe;

Provan is refreshingly anti-Catholic, but he shows that artificial birth control contradicts the plain teaching of the Bible.



Provan's book is available from Catholic Answers, P.O. Box 17181, SanDiego, CA 92177 for $5.95 plus $2.00 P.H. (plus 8.1/4% tax forCalifornia purchasers). From the same source, I recommend two otherbooks about married love: 1) William May. "Sex and the Sanctity ofHuman Life" ($6.95 plus $2.00 P.H.); and 2) Ronald Lawler. "CatholicSexual Ethics" ($7.95 plus $2.00 P.H.).


Some very well informed people say that the very best single book onsex and marriage is John Kippley. "Sex and the Marriage Covenant"(available from Saint Joseph Communications, Inc. P.O. Box 720, WestCovina, CA 91793; the price is $14.95 plus $3.00 P.H. plus 8-1/4%Calif. tax).

humblejoe,

I think you misread the post, I was just agreeing with dewjunkie. -- the first part is his quote not mine.