Birth Control

[FaithT]

Are LCMS Lutheran couples allowed to use birth control? I always assumed it was ok but I wanted to be sure.

 

[chevyontheriver]

Are LCMS Lutheran couples allowed to use birth control? I always assumed it was ok but I wanted to be sure.

What type of Lutherans were Larry and Nordis Christenson?

 

[Dave-W]

What type of Lutherans were Larry and Nordis Christenson?

I believe they were ELCA

 

[FaithT]

What type of Lutherans were Larry and Nordis Christenson?

Never heard of them.

 

[Lost4words]

Does birth control come from God?

 

[tampasteve]

What type of Lutherans were Larry and Nordis Christenson?

I believe they were ELCA

He was a pastor at Trinity Lutheran in San Pedro California and they are actually a member of The American Association of Lutheran Churches. I assume they were when he was pastor as well. He went on to Lutheran Renewal which is pretty charismatic and has a quasi denomination, the Alliance of Renewal Churches.

 

[tampasteve]

.

 

[Dave-W]

He was a pastor at Trinity Lutheran in San Pedro California

When he wrote his book (don't remember the name) it said he was in Minnesota.

Yes I do know he was charismatic.

 

[tampasteve]

When he wrote his book (don't remember the name) it said he was in Minnesota.

Yes I do know he was charismatic.

OK, then that was probably after he had left Trinity, so he was likely with Lutheran Renewal at that time as they are in St. Paul MN. I haven't read his works.

 

[Resha Caner]

Are LCMS Lutheran couples allowed to use birth control? I always assumed it was ok but I wanted to be sure.

I am LCMS. Essentially, the answer is yes, it's OK. In more technical terms, the LCMS has not taken a firm position, but has issued a document providing guidance to prospective parents. If you would like to see that document, you can find it here: http://www.lcms.org/Document.fdoc?src=lcm&id=632

I will again offer - if you want to send these questions directly to me rather than a public forum, you can use Christian Forums' conversation feature. These are really more pastoral counseling questions, and it would be good for you to eventually find someone at an LCMS church that you're comfortable discussing this with.

 

[FaithT]

I am LCMS. Essentially, the answer is yes, it's OK. In more technical terms, the LCMS has not taken a firm position, but has issued a document providing guidance to prospective parents. If you would like to see that document, you can find it here: http://www.lcms.org/Document.fdoc?src=lcm&id=632

I will again offer - if you want to send these questions directly to me rather than a public forum, you can use Christian Forums' conversation feature. These are really more pastoral counseling questions, and it would be good for you to eventually find someone at an LCMS church that you're comfortable discussing this with.

Ok, thanks. But I’m 59 now and have had a hysterectomy so it’s not something I need to know about for my own life, I’m just interested because I disagreed with the CC on this point.

 

[Resha Caner]

Ok, thanks. But I’m 59 now and have had a hysterectomy so it’s not something I need to know about for my own life, I’m just interested because I disagreed with the CC on this point.

You will find several things like this, where the LCMS acknowledges it is an issue people are concerned about, but believes the church should not take a position. It's based on a firm belief in the Two Kingdoms idea ... but don't confuse that with the American "separation of church and state" idea.

 

[FaithT]

You will find several things like this, where the LCMS acknowledges it is an issue people are concerned about, but believes the church should not take a position. It's based on a firm belief in the Two Kingdoms idea ... but don't confuse that with the American "separation of church and state" idea.

I really struggled with the issue when I was younger and Catholic. Just not enough to obey it.

 

[FaithT]

We do have one child, who’s an adult now. But I had medical problems and having another just wasn’t something I felt I should do. We did try for a second child for a short time before I went back to the CC but we stopped trying shortly before I went back.

 

[FaithT]

Sooooooo, can Lutherans contracept or not?

 

[Resha Caner]

Okay you're losing me.. I guess the denomination is really that different. I don't know what more I can add. I don't think listening to God over people is like Buddhism, but I guess it's just one of those Disputable things that isn't worth arguing about.

You're right. It wouldn't be productive to argue. Hopefully you'll think about what I've said - my two points being, first that often it's not God people are listening to. Instead, they fool themselves into thinking their own wishes have come from God. Second, listening to the Christian community God has given you is not a bad thing. God speaks through people, flawed as they may be.

 

[Resha Caner]

Sooooooo, can Lutherans contracept or not?

Yes. Maybe I misread @Karin12414 but her post came across as flippant, so I wanted to add some caution to the yes. While the answer may be yes, it is still a serious issue.

 

[St. Helens]

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[AMM]

Sooooooo, can Lutherans contracept or not?

historically, no. Luther spoke strongly about it and it was officially condemned in synodal documents from all the American lutheran churches for quite some time. The rejection of birth control was almost unanimous across Christendom for nearly 2000 years. In the 1930s after the Anglican Lambeth conference, churches started to change their stance. In the 50s, the Lutheran churches in the USA removed their previous condemnations and since then have had a "we're evaluating it" stance of "neutrality" (they have also not officially rejected their previous condemnations of it)

Today, in practice, yep. I know a couple LCMS pastors who are starting to speak against it, but the majority don't mind.

 

[TKA_TN]

LCMS put out a document a while back. Can't find it now. EDIT: Saw it linked above.

It essentially says barrier methods are OK. Other methods (the pill, IUD, ETC) may allow conception to happen then "end it" (crass way to put that, sorry).