Ten Arguments against the use of birth control and a response to each: 1. Genesis 1:28; 9:1. But: a. If this were a specific command to every individual, every man and woman would be required to marry. But clearly marriage is not a universal obligation (Jesus, Paul, 1 Cor. 7). b. This text does address the responsibility to bear children but says nothing about how many or for how long. Nothing in the text explicitly requires us to have as many children as is biologically possible. c. Gen. 1:28 must be read in the light of 1:26. 2. Deut. 23:1 – The argument is that this prohibition reflects God’s displeasure with any means of birth control. But: a. There is nothing to indicate that these men were castrated as a means of birth control. b. In all likelihood, this refers “not to states of infertility produced by illness or accident, but to deliberate acts of castration at times associated with pagan worship in the ancient Near East” (Davis, p. 37). 3. Genesis 38:6-10 (Deut. 25:5-10). But: a. Onan’s sin was not that he violated the general command to have children, but that he violated the specific obligation in the law of levirate marriage. His action was sinful not because he used a form of birth control, but because he disobeyed a legal responsibility to raise up seed in his deceased brother’s name (probably because he didn’t want to assume the personal and financial obligation of raising them). b. Lev. 20:10-21 lists specific sexual crimes punishable by death under the Mosaic Code. If coitus interruptus, such as that committed by Onan, were regarded as an abuse or sin, one would expect to see it in this list. 4. Psalms 127:3-5; 128:1-6 – No one would dare disagree that children are a wonderful blessing from the Lord. But: a. Why should we conclude from these texts that we are morally obligated to have as many children as is biologically possible? b. As with all God's blessings, we must be wise and prudent stewards in the enjoyment of them. 5. The purpose of sex in marriage is procreational, not recreational. But: a. The Bible reveals at least [four other] purposes for sex in marriage. b. “If sex were intended only for procreation, then it would be strange that nature has it that women can procreate less than half of their married life…and then only at a very limited time each month” (Geisler, p. 215-16). c. If this argument were valid, it would be sinful for a married couple to have sexual relations subsequent to female menopause or a hysterectomy or in cases where either husband or wife is sterile. 6. Birth control is unnatural and artificial. Common sense suggests that the purpose for human sexual organs is reproduction. Anything that prohibits or interrupts the sex organs from performing their appointed role is thus sinful. But: a. “If the sole purpose of sexual intercourse is procreation, then why did God give women the desire for sexual intercourse at times when they cannot become pregnant? Does not the natural order of things, then, demonstrate that procreation is not the only purpose of sex?” (Feinbergs, p. 175-176). b. We do many so-called unnatural things that run counter to and hinder so-called nature, none of which any of us would regard as immoral or unbiblical: shaving, air-travel, mowing the lawn, etc. c. If we consistently applied this principle we would be forced never to employ medical assistance, medication, or surgery. d. Those who employ this argument concede the use of the rhythm method and abstinence during times of ovulation, none of which is itself natural (charting or scheduling intercourse based on body temperature, etc., is hardly natural; and abstinence runs counter to the natural sex drive). 7. Birth control betrays a lack of trust or faith in the sovereignty of God. He is Lord over the womb. If God wants us to have children, He should be free to bestow them. If He doesn’t want to, He (and He alone) should have the power and prerogative to prevent conception. But: a. We must be careful that our trust in God is not simply irresponsible behavior. b. If this argument were consistently applied, we should never work, use locks or alarms on our homes, save money for emergencies, purchase life or health insurance, wear safety goggles when using a weed-eater, use sun-screen when outside, or support the police or national defense. 8. Birth control has the potential to alter in a destructive way our concepts and experience of love and commitment. But: a. The fact that birth control may yield negative consequences does not itself make birth control wrong. The absence of intimacy, promiscuity, etc., are wrong, not because one may have employed a contraceptive device, but because such things are declared to be wrong in the Bible. 9. Birth control encourages promiscuity among both married and unmarried people. But: a. We must distinguish between an object and the purpose or use to which an object is put. Cars are not sinful simply because people can use them to escape the scene of a crime they’ve just committed. The fact that an object can be used for immoral purposes does not necessarily prove the object is in and of itself immoral. 10. Birth control devices have negative side-effects and are detrimental to one’s health. Since our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, we should not employ those things that do damage to our physical constitution. But: a. If a birth control device is found conclusively to have physical destructive side-effects, it should not be used. But such scientific evidence does not exist for all methods of contraception.
Sam Storms

SCRIPTURES

SCRIPTURES

SCRIPTURES, The

  1. Given by inspiration of God # 2Ti 3:16
  2. Given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit # Ac 1:16 Heb 3:7 2Pe 1:21
  3. Christ sanctioned, by appealing to them # Mt 4:4 Mr 12:10 Joh 7:42
  4. Christ taught out of # Lu 24:27
  5. ARE CALLED THE 5a) Word

    # Jas 1:21-23 1Pe 2:2

5b) Word of God # Lu 11:28 Heb 4:12 5c) Word of Christ # Col 3:16 5d) Word of truth # Jas 1:18 5e) Holy Scriptures # Ro 1:2 2Ti 3:15 5f) Scripture of truth # Da 10:21 5g) Book # Ps 40:7 Re 22:19 5h) Book of the Lord # Isa 34:16 5i) Book of the law # Ne 8:3 Ga 3:10 5j) Law of the Lord # Ps 1:2 Isa 30:9 5k) Sword of the Spirit # Eph 6:17 5l) Oracles of God # Ro 3:2 1Pe 4:11 6) Contain the promises of the gospel # Ro 1:2 7) Reveal the laws, statutes, and judgments of God # De 4:5,14 Ex 24:3,4 8) Record divine prophecies # 2Pe 1:19-21 9) Testify of Christ # Joh 5:39 Ac 10:43 18:28 1Co 15:3 10) Are full and sufficient # Lu 16:29,31 11) Are an unerring guide # Pr 6:23 2Pe 1:19 12) Are able to make wise to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus # 2Ti 3:15 13) Are profitable both for doctrine and practice # 2Ti 3:16,17 14) DESCRIBED AS 14a) Pure # Ps 12:6 119:140 Pr 30:5 14b) True # Ps 119:160 Joh 17:17 14c) Perfect # Ps 19:7 14d) Precious # Ps 19:10 14e) Quick and powerful # Heb 4:12 15) Written for our instruction # Ro 15:4 16) Intended for the use of all men # Ro 16:26 17) Nothing to be taken from, or added to # De 4:2 12:32 18) One portion of, to be compared with another # 1Co 2:13 19) DESIGNED FOR 19a) Regenerating # Jas 1:18 1Pe 1:23 19b) Quickening # Ps 119:50,93 19c) Illuminating # Ps 119:130 19d) Converting the soul # Ps 19:7 19e) Making wise the simple # Ps 19:7 19f) Sanctifying # Joh 17:17 Eph 5:26 19g) Producing faith # Joh 20:31 19h) Producing hope # Ps 119:49 Ro 15:4 19i) Producing obedience # De 17:19,20 19j) Cleansing the heart # Joh 15:3 Eph 5:26 19k) Cleansing the ways # Ps 119:9 19l) Keeping from destructive paths # Ps 17:4 19m) Supporting life # De 8:3 Mt 4:4 19n) Promoting growth in grace # 1Pe 2:2 19o) Building up in the faith # Ac 20:32 19p) Admonishing # Ps 19:11 1Co 10:11 19q) Comforting # Ps 119:82 Ro 15:4 19r) Rejoicing the heart # Ps 19:8 119:111 20) Work effectually in them that believe # 1Th 2:13 21) The letter of, without the spirit, killeth # Joh 6:63 2Co 3:6 22) Ignorance of, a source of error # Mt 22:29 Ac 13:27 23) Christ enables us to understand # Lu 24:45 24) The Holy Spirit enable us to understand # Joh 16:13 1Co 2:10-14 25) No prophecy of, is of any private interpretation # 2Pe 1:20 26) Everything should be tried by # Isa 8:20 Ac 17:11 27) SHOULD BE 27a) The standard of teaching # 1Pe 4:11 27b) Believed # Joh 2:22 27c) Appealed to # 1Co 1:31 1Pe 1:16 27d) Read # De 17:19 Isa 34:16 27e) Read publicly to ALL # De 31:11-13 Ne 8:3 Jer 36:6 Ac 13:15 27f) Known # 2Ti 3:15 27g) Received, not as the word of men, but as the word of God # 1Th 2:13 27h) Received with meekness # Jas 1:21 27i) Searched # Joh 5:39 7:52 27j) Searched daily # Ac 17:11 27k) Laid up in the heart # De 6:6 11:18 27l) Taught to children # De 6:7 11:19 2Ti 3:15 27m) Taught to ALL # 2Ch 17:7-9 Ne 8:7,8 27n) Talked of continually # De 6:7 27o) Not handled deceitfully # 2Co 4:2 27p) Not only heard, but obeyed # Mt 7:24 Lu 11:28 Jas 1:22 27q) Used against our spiritual enemies # Mt 4:4,7,10 Eph 6:11,17 28) All should desire to hear # Ne 8:1 29) Mere hearers of, deceive themselves # Jas 1:22 30) Advantage of possessing # Ro 3:2 31) SAINTS 31a) Love exceedingly # Ps 119:97,113,159,167 31b) Delight in # Ps 1:2 31c) Regard, as sweet # Ps 119:103 31d) Esteem, above all things # Job 23:12 31e) Long after # Ps 119:82 31f) Stand in awe of # Ps 119:161 Isa 66:2 31g) Keep, in remembrance # Ps 119:16 31h) Grieve when men disobey # Ps 119:158 31i) Hide, in their hearts # Ps 119:11 31j) Hope in # Ps 119:74,81,147 31k) Meditate in # Ps 1:2 119:99,148 31l) Rejoice in # Ps 119:162 Jer 15:16 31m) Trust in # Ps 119:42 31n) Obey # Ps 119:67 Lu 8:21 Joh 17:6 31o) Speak of # Ps 119:172 31p) Esteem, as a light # Ps 119:105 31q) Pray to be taught # Ps 119:12,13,33,66 31r) Pray to be conformed to # Ps 119:133 31s) Plead the promises of, in prayer # Ps 119:25,28,41,76,169 32) They who search, are truly noble # Ac 17:11 33) Blessedness of hearing and obeying # Lu 11:28 Jas 1:25 34) Let them dwell richly in you # Col 3:16 35) THE WICKED 35a) Corrupt # 2Co 2:17 35b) Make, of none effect through their traditions # Mr 7:9-13 35c) Reject # Jer 8:9 35d) Stumble at # 1Pe 2:8 35e) Obey not # Ps 119:158 35f) Frequently wrest, to their own destruction # 2Pe 3:16 36) Denunciations against those who add to, or take from # Re 22:18,19 37) Destruction of, punished # Jer 36:29-31

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