A good friend of mine just tipped me off to an article broaching this subject in First Things on the 40th anniversary of Humanae Vitae by Pope Paul VI.

The Vindication of Humanae Vitae
by Mary Eberstadt

Copyright (c) 2008 First Things (August/September 2008).

Gives us a lot to think about.

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Benjamin P. Glaser
Pittsburgh, PA
Fairmount ARP Church, Sewickley, PA
Student of Theology Pittsburgh Theological Seminary & Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary

“If the Church could be aroused to a deeper sense of the glory that awaits her, she would enter with a warmer spirit into the struggles that are before her.”-- J.H. Thornwell

Sad that Papists are more biblical on this issue than many so-called protestants. As Martin Luther said, "conception is the work of God", and "he who does not love children is a blockhead."

Cheers,

Adam

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Adam Brink, Livermore Wine Country, California
Grace Church of Pleasanton, PCA

Attorney: Chicolini, when were you born?
Chicolini: I don't remember. I was just a little baby.
~Chico Marx in Duck Soup

I don't see what either of Luther's quotes have to do with the issue of contraception in itself.

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DAVIDIVS DOCTVS VTRIVSQVE LINGVAE
Husband of Emilia
Member: First Reformed Presbyterian Church of Durham (RPCNA) - Durham, NC
Currently in the process of transferring membership to an as-yet-undecided church in Chapel Hill
Student: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, German Literature and Classics

The first Luther quote belies a belief in the providential hand of God in when you will and when you will not become pregnant. It is an excellent quote for this discussion IMHO.

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Benjamin P. Glaser
Pittsburgh, PA
Fairmount ARP Church, Sewickley, PA
Student of Theology Pittsburgh Theological Seminary & Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary

“If the Church could be aroused to a deeper sense of the glory that awaits her, she would enter with a warmer spirit into the struggles that are before her.”-- J.H. Thornwell

Don't get me wrong - I appreciated the article. I also thought that the second quote from Luther was a sentimental straw man at best, and, used in this context, a bearing of false witness against brothers at worst.

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DAVIDIVS DOCTVS VTRIVSQVE LINGVAE
Husband of Emilia
Member: First Reformed Presbyterian Church of Durham (RPCNA) - Durham, NC
Currently in the process of transferring membership to an as-yet-undecided church in Chapel Hill
Student: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, German Literature and Classics

We are to trust God providentially for our food and clothing, right? Does this mean I don't need a job? Or does God use my employment to bring about his providential will?

There may be good arguments for contraception, but claiming that to use contraception is to not trust in God's providential hand doesn't quite seem right, at least not as a blanket accusation.

I would assume, as well, that you would be opposed to any "natural" form of birth control, correct?

Sorry if I am misunderstanding your position.

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Jon Peters
Member, Reformation Fellowship (OPC) (Roseville, CA)
Folsom, CA

Would you say prophylactics and cars perform the same purpose?

Absurd right? Well so is comparing your work to intercourse.

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Benjamin P. Glaser
Pittsburgh, PA
Fairmount ARP Church, Sewickley, PA
Student of Theology Pittsburgh Theological Seminary & Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary

“If the Church could be aroused to a deeper sense of the glory that awaits her, she would enter with a warmer spirit into the struggles that are before her.”-- J.H. Thornwell

In recent years my wife and I came to the possition that we would not use contracepives. It was not a possition I came to easily and I certainly don't bludgeon brethren that think differently over the head with it.

I will say that my father finds it immprudent but he and I don't see eye to eye on many things.

My wife and I are currently expecting our third child. We're both 40 years old and are absolutely jazzed.

Still as I said, I don't make a hugemongous deal out of the whole thing. I wouldn't beat anyone up over it. Though I believe it to be the biblical way.

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Donald Jacobs
Marysville. WA
Cascade Church (CRCNA)

Cum vero infirmor tunc potens sum.

This is your response? Okay. Case closed.

But, just in case it's not...Your argument was that an accurate understanding of God's providence would forbid the use of contraceptives, right? Well, does this view of providence hold true for other areas? If I have no food in the cupboard, do I pray and wait in my lazy boy, or do I go earn some money to buy some food?

Your question re: cars is rather silly, so forgive me if I don't offer a response.

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Jon Peters
Member, Reformation Fellowship (OPC) (Roseville, CA)
Folsom, CA

Nowhere in the Bible are we instructed not to use contraceptives. Nowhere in the Bible is the wrongness of birth control even implied. Thus anyone claiming birth control is a "sin" is basing that on their own opinion and assumptions rather than the written Word.

Jon Peters is exactly right in his analogy to work: as Paul said, "if I don't work I don't eat." God gave us a brain with the ability to plan for the future. He expects us to use it accordingly...

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Mason
Member, Redeemer Presbyterian Church (PCA)
New York, NY

"Come now, and let us reason together," says the Lord, "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool." - Isaiah 1:18

The mantra that you will see used by those against all forms of contraception is that "God opens and closes the womb." In the Old Testament this language is not used to describe specific instances of pregnancy for healthy women. Some women can bear children, and others can't. God says that he makes some women barren and allows others to have children. The language used for this in the narrative passages of the Pentateuch and in the prophets is "opening and closing the womb." I don't believe that this warrants a view of conception that disallows for natural processes interwoven by God into our biology, and for this reason I certainly don't believe that the above principle can be used in a discussion of family planning. It simply isn't what is being talked about in these OT instances.

Furthermore, we talk a lot about confessionalism on this board, and I don't think that some should be allowed to question others' rectitude based on highly speculative interpretations of particular passages. Believers who come to fellowship here and subscribe in good faith to our accepted standards shouldn't have to deal with being called out for sin on an unconfessional issue.

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DAVIDIVS DOCTVS VTRIVSQVE LINGVAE
Husband of Emilia
Member: First Reformed Presbyterian Church of Durham (RPCNA) - Durham, NC
Currently in the process of transferring membership to an as-yet-undecided church in Chapel Hill
Student: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, German Literature and Classics

Not trying to start a fight brother, but I haven't seen anyone here call anyone else a sinner.

This is a touchy issue and their are opportunities for misunderstanding on both sides. It can get a bit heated at times.

I certainly wouldn't beat any of my brethren up over it.

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Donald Jacobs
Marysville. WA
Cascade Church (CRCNA)

Cum vero infirmor tunc potens sum.

You're right, and I don't want to be the cause of things heating up, so I edited my post and tried to make it more neutral.

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DAVIDIVS DOCTVS VTRIVSQVE LINGVAE
Husband of Emilia
Member: First Reformed Presbyterian Church of Durham (RPCNA) - Durham, NC
Currently in the process of transferring membership to an as-yet-undecided church in Chapel Hill
Student: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, German Literature and Classics

I've stood on both sides of this debate a various times, but I tend to agree with David and Mason now. There is no sin in using our God-given intellect to plan the growth of our families in accord with our abilities to properly parent more or fewer children as the case may be at particular times.

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Brad
PCA Member
Virginia

Pro 16:33 The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.

Isa 8:20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

Like you, I have been on both sides as well. Like many things, the use of contraceptions depends on the motivations and intents of the person using it. It is not always wrong, but neither is it always right.

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Jon Peters
Member, Reformation Fellowship (OPC) (Roseville, CA)
Folsom, CA

There are two issues that need to be settled with this topic.

First is regarding control - is it permissible for man to control (or attempt to control) the size of his quiver. Must all people everywhere have as many children as possible never preventing conception minus abstinence or else violate a moral law?

Answer this one first then move on to the second:

Second is regarding types of control. Is abstinence, medication, abortifacients, coitus interruptus or Barrier methods permissible?

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--chRis
Psalm 115:1

Christopher Reeder
Husband to Kara, Father to Abigail (7), Caleb (6), Grace (4 1/2), Zoë (3), Elijah (1 1/2) and Hannah (born 8/8/2008)

Member: Pilgrim Presbyterian Church (OPC), Raleigh, NC

Davidius,

Sorry, let me see if I can find the full quote from Luther. Here's a related quotation:

"Fertility was regarded as an extraordinary blessing and a special gift of God, as is clear from Deut. 28:4, where Moses numbers fertility among the blessings. 'There will not be a barren woman among you,' he says (cf.Ex.23:26). We do not regard this so highly today. Although we like and desire it in cattle, yet in the human race there are few who regard a woman's fertility as a blessing. Indeed, there are many who have an aversion for it and regard sterility as a special blessing. Surely this is also contrary to nature. Much less is it pious and saintly. For this affection has been implanted by God in man's nature, so that it desires its increase and multiplication. Accordingly, it is inhuman and godless to have a loathing for offspring. Thus someone recently called his wife a sow, since she gave birth rather often. The good for nothing and impure fellow! The saintly fathers did not feel like this at all; for they acknowledged a fruitful wife as a special blessing of God and, on the other hand, regarded sterility as a curse. And this judgment flowed from the Word of God in Gen. 1:28, where He said: 'Be fruitful and multiply.' From this they understood that children are a gift of God." (Luther's Works, Vol.5, p.325).

One may also puruse the comments of Calvin on Genesis 38:8-10.

As for a comment made about working vs. trusting in God's provision, let me say this.

Scripture compares the begetting of children and the reception of such as the receiving of a reward, and as a great treasure. As such, the analogy about "working and trusting God's providence" is misstated. Rather, the analogy should be to compare a man who works, and yet does not want to receive his reward: his wages. He works and works, but then tells his employer "I know I've been working very hard, but I don't want to be paid for this week. I've had too much reward, and I want to limit my reward, to make sure I'm a good steward of my reward."

This is the analogy properly stated, since Scripture clearly calls children a reward, just as a laborer is rewarded for his labors with money.

Cheers,

Adam

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Adam Brink, Livermore Wine Country, California
Grace Church of Pleasanton, PCA

Attorney: Chicolini, when were you born?
Chicolini: I don't remember. I was just a little baby.
~Chico Marx in Duck Soup

I don't think anyone is arguing children aren't a blessing - clearly they are. But the question is should we decide when and in what circumstances we have children. I would argue yes, we should follow God's will regarding the timing of children just as we follow Him for any other decision in life. For some people that means using no birth control methods at all and having 10 kids, all of which are a complete "surprise." For others it means using birth control except for one specific time when God calls them to have a child.

What I disagree with is the idea that not using birth control is "better" or more spiritually insightful. I see no Biblical basis for this whatsoever...

__________________
Mason
Member, Redeemer Presbyterian Church (PCA)
New York, NY

"Come now, and let us reason together," says the Lord, "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool." - Isaiah 1:18