Monday, September 7, 2009

Family Planning

What about Family Planning? Is it “OK” to Use Contraceptives???
My husband and I have researched this topic in depth and have come to the following conclusion: That Birth Control (BC) and family planning are morally acceptable so long as it is used within the parameter of Biblical teaching and one’s God-given conscience.

Below are some excerpts from an article I came across discussing the topic of contraceptives and its ethical viability.

(Center for Reformed Theology and Apologetics. ISSUE: Is Birth Control Morally Permissible? Copyright © by Covenant Community Church of Orange County 1990; www.reformed.org)
Is Birth Control Morally Permissible?
"Many Christians simply offer blanket condemnations of almost any practice which is even incidentally related to these distortions. We must realize, however, that emotions which arise from such concerns may often cloud our ability to think through an issue clearly. As Christians, we want to be sure to decide any issue by the standard of God's Word alone.
Freedom of Conscience:
The Christian is free to do anything that is not contrary to the word of God. Scripture alone is the ultimate standard of ethical activity. God alone is the Lord of the conscience. Human commandments which are contrary or additional to God's word have no authority over the Christian conscience. Moreover, the Christian is free to do anything (not contrary to the word of God) because he or she knows that God's creation is good (I Tim. 4:4). Paul declares that "I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself"(Rom. 14:14).
Main Objections against Contraception:
1.) Contraception is Unnatural
Many object to contraception on the basis of its "artificiality." The general principle embedded in this objection is that we ought not attempt to hinder any natural course of events such as conception -- "Contraception is contrary to natural law."
In Response:
There are many things we do which go contrary to the "natural order" and yet are not immoral: e.g., shaving, airplane travelling, landscaping, driving, satellite transmitting, etc. …Furthermore, those who raise the above objection usually substitute some form of supposedly "natural" birth control such as abstinence or the rhythm method. However, it is absurd to refer to these practices as natural! Abstinence runs counter our natural sexual drives, and the intricate charting and scheduling involved in rhythm methods demonstrates that this form of birth control is far from "natural."
2.) Contraception shows a lack of trust in God
Opponents of contraception often claim that those who use it are simply acting out of a lack of faith. If they truly trusted God, they would allow Him to control this aspect of their lives.
In Response:
We are commanded to live our whole lives in obedience to and trust in God, and yet the Lord has given us certain responsibilities to carry out. When we trust in God for sustenance praying, "Give us this day our daily bread," we do not sit at home passively waiting for food to be dropped on our doorstep. Rather, we go out and work. If we were to ignore our God given responsibilities and carry the above objection to its logical conclusion we ought not ever work, use locks on our homes and cars, save money for emergencies, use brakes in our automobiles, wear safety goggles or sun screen, support the police or national defense, etc., but failing to do these things would be irresponsible. Such actions are Biblical, and so they cannot be contrary to trusting in God. The principles laid out in the main body of this discussion are an attempt to show that in some circumstances contraception can at times be another one of these areas of responsibility.
Neither of the above objections stands up to simple scrutiny. They fail to demonstrate that contraception is forbidden by the word of God. Many in our culture do abuse contraceptive measures (even some Christians), and abuses of contraception need to be properly distinguished from a Biblical understanding of the issues so that we may make a proper evaluation of the practice. The principles outlined above give us a start on this question, and so in light of the above Biblical principles, we can indeed conclude that certain forms of contraception under certain circumstances are morally permissible."

(Center for Reformed Theology and Apologetics. ISSUE: Is Birth Control Morally Permissible?Copyright © by Covenant Community Church of Orange County 1990; www.reformed.org)

I disagree with such opinions as the following official statement from the Catholic Church:
“Contraception is wrong because it’s a deliberate violation of the design God built into the human race, often referred to as "natural law." The natural law purpose of sex is procreation. The pleasure that sexual intercourse provides is an additional blessing from God, intended to offer the possibility of new life while strengthening the bond of intimacy, respect, and love between husband and wife. The loving environment this bond creates is the perfect setting for nurturing children. But sexual pleasure within marriage becomes unnatural, and even harmful to the spouses, when it is used in a way that deliberately excludes the basic purpose of sex, which is procreation. God’s gift of the sex act, along with its pleasure and intimacy, must not be abused by deliberately frustrating its natural end—procreation… The Bible mentions at least one form of contraception specifically and condemns it. *Coitus interruptus, was used by Onan to avoid fulfilling his duty according to the ancient Jewish law of fathering children for one’s dead brother (Gen. 38:8–10)… The so-called "individual conscience" argument amounts to "individual disobedience."
(Catholic Answers, "Birth Control" (El Cajon, CA: Catholic Answers, 2004) http://www.catholic.com/library/Birth_Control.)
(*Thought: Onan's sin was disobeying God, not "spilling his seed.")

I believe that the act of sex has more meaning and purpose than just procreation. There is an intimacy between man and woman during the “act of marriage” that brings a husband and wife closer together. If sex was only intended for procreation, then why is it permissible for a couple to engage in intercourse throughout any time in a woman’s cycle and not just at her most fertile times? Also, I think that intimacy would be interrupted if the couple is preoccupied with the possibility of always conceiving. For instance, if a couple has recently had a new baby and they are given the “ok” to return to their normal sex life, I believe that the intimacy would be strained if the wife feared another pregnancy so soon after giving birth. This definition of the Catholic Church also omits extreme circumstances such as those who are at risk of serious health complications either for themselves or the baby if they were to become pregnant or those who are infertile or post menopause. Should a couple who is infertile abstain from sexual intercourse because they are unable to procreate? I would think not. This is silly and even absurd. Yes, sex can lead to conception and it often does….hence the billions of people living on earth! And, the creation of a new life is a wonderful, beautiful, miraculous thing! However, I do not think that every act of intercourse should be intended to conceive a child and that the use of contraceptives is appropriate when used in a manner that is in accordance with one’s moral standards.

There are types of contraceptives that my husband and I have chosen not to use for one reason or another and I hope to expound on this subject in more detail in my next posts, "When Does Life Begin?" and “Can Some Contraceptives Induce an Abortion?” However, we also believe that choosing to plan our family by use of contraceptives is within our God given liberty and free will and that we are being wise to plan our family to assure my adequate health and ability to carry a baby to term as well as our capability to provide for any future children. We do strongly believe that we are trusting in God. We believe that God is sovereign and if God chooses for us to conceive a child, with or without the use of contraceptives, God will carry out His will.

“Mankind can thwart nothing that God wills to come to pass, artificial or natural.”

“God gives each couple the responsibility to determine how many children they wish to have and can provide for. God wants us to be wise and responsible in all areas of our lives”

“The use of birth control devices can be used for either good or evil purposes. The devices are not evil. The reason why the devices are used can determine if they are good or evil. If birth control devices are used for the purpose of prevention of a pregnancy for a person who wants to take sex outside of wedlock, it is the activity that is wrong and does not make the device evil. If the device is used within the context of a marriage for the purpose of being wise about childbearing, then it is being used for a good purpose. After all, if God desires you to have another child, even birth control will not stop Him.”
(Quotes from: What Does the Bible Say About Contraceptive? Open Arms Internet Ministry. 1998.
http://www.oaim.org/contraceptives.html)

1 comment:

  1. Forgive the length of this post...If only you knew how much I had to edit!

    ReplyDelete