Wednesday 26 November 2014

Is Your Birth Control Biblical?


 
by Brother Billy Ball  / Blog Owner Victor.S
All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits. (Proverbs 16:2 KJV)



The Sin of Onan - The Doctrine of Modern Day Birth Control
Genesis 38: 8 - 10 KJV - And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother's wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother. And Onan knew that the seed should not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother's wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest that he should give seed to his brother. And the thing which he did displeased the LORD: wherefore he slew him also.

I'm constantly amazed to see just how thorough our Bible is when it comes to dealing with the modern day problems that arise in these last days. The subject that I will be dealing with in this brief study is one that I myself was thrown into by a personal family question posed to my oldest daughter when she was making preparations for her wedding.
Last year, while preparing to take the required blood test for marriage, my daughter was confronted with a question that, frankly, neither her, her husband to be, nor I had considered at that time. The question was, "Will you be using birth control?" Upon arriving from the doctor's office, my daughter asked, "Daddy, is there anything wrong with taking birth control?" Having never really studied it, I said, "Well, I really haven't thought about it, but let me study a while and see."
The more I thought about it, the more I was reminded of my own decision some fifteen years ago to use the birth control option in my own marriage. I guess the only time I had mentioned it since that time was in an occasional reference from the pulpit about the mistake my wife and I felt we had made after our fourth child was born.
Then of course it was off to the Bible to see if God had anything to say about the subject. Just as I thought. There was a strange silence in the Scriptures for any such teaching. That is, the approval of the Scriptures concerning this idea that man is to in any way attempt to control the natural, God-given order of human birth.
My thoughts went immediately to the fact that birth control use was so common. Even among God's people it seemed as if it was just something that we, as Christians, had simply assumed was alright with God. But is it? I also was reminded of all the arguments and ideology which I had succumbed to as a young, married man. Arguments and ideology used to persuade me that it was the obvious thing to do for the best interest of my family's future. I began to recall the rational reasoning for birth control at that time in my own life and have since found that the reasons are still basically the same.
Let's look at some of the most common reasons given to use birth control, then and now:
"Well, common sense teaches us to plan for our future."
"Since the Bible is silent, it must be in the realm of personal liberty."
"If you can't afford them, don't have them!"
"That's the reason we have so much welfare now!"
"Couldn't it be the Holy Spirit leading us to do this?"
"What if I only want a certain number of children?"
"If God wants us to have them, then we can't stop it anyway."
"It's my body, so it's my choice."
"What about the advice of the doctor? health problems?, etc"
"There's a big difference between what Onan did and birth control."
The above are just a few, but probably the most common, so called justifications for the birth control movement of today. I'm sure that there are many other similar, and some even well intended, arguments for this last days doctrine.
I will address this subject in three ways in this short booklet. First of all, in part one, we will take the above reasons for supporting birth control and look at them in the light of God's word. Secondly, in part two, we will bring a Biblical outline from Genesis chapter 38, which was first preached to my own congregation. This is the clearest text in the Bible concerning this issue. In the third and final part will be some closing remarks regarding my own personal dealings with those who support and teach this heresy.
Part 1 - Reasons Given For Using Birth Control
Reason # 1
"Well, common sense teaches us to plan for our future."
Do you remember when there was very little difference, if any, between common sense and what the Bible had to say? Well, today the phrase "common sense" seems to be a means of justifying ourselves in satisfying our own selfish plans and living a lifestyle contrary to the life of faith!
The above statement at face value is innocent. As a matter of fact, it is very true in some areas of our lives. There are many things in life for which we should certainly plan, and I believe the Scriptures would even support us in doing so. However, there are also some things in life which God wants us to trust Him with totally. His plan for bringing human life into this world would certainly be placed in this category, if anything would.
Now, let's think for a moment about this thing called birth control. Even the term itself sounds odd to the ear. Birth control, controlling birth, no matter how you say it, the key word is still control. You will find as we continue on with this study that, Scripturally, the only control that God gives a man or woman concerning birth is the decision to marry or not to marry. Beyond that, the Bible teaches that birth control belongs to God.
I challenge you to search the Scriptures for this ideology that man is to control birth. The only person who ever made an attempt in the Scriptures to control birth was judged in doing so. Other than that one example, the Bible is silent concerning others who held this belief.
In the Bible, children were considered a blessing, not a burden. As a matter of fact, Psalms 127: 1 ? 3 teaches us that: "A Song of degrees for Solomon. Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep. Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward". In other words, children are a gift from God. How do you plan for a gift unless you simply plan to receive it or reject it?
There was a time when people understood that when you got married, you expected children to be the normal, natural result of this union. As a matter of fact, marriage itself was considered by most people to be "starting a family". So, yes, plan, if you are a Christian! Plan to get married and receive God's gift of children. Or, on the other hand, plan to stay single if you do not desire children at this time. As far as I see in the Bible, there is no other legitimate way of controlling birth.
(Ecclesiastes 7:29 KJV) Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.
Reason # 2
"Since the Bible is silent, it must be in the realm of personal liberty."
Much has been said recently about personal liberty. It seems that about everything that we can't find spelled out as sin in the Bible falls under this category. I would remind my readers that personal liberty always dealt with subjects that usually fell under a general guideline in the Bible. Never do we have liberty to do things that are contrary to the light already given us in the word of God.
For example, if the Bible teaches that it is right to tithe, then can we not tithe and do so in the name of personal liberty? In other words, can we claim personal liberty as a legitimate reason to disobey something that we already have clear light on?
So then, if the Bible teaches us that children are a gift from God, and a reward from Heaven; and if we know that God killed the only Scriptural example of those who support this heresy. And if we also understand the fact that if a man knoweth to do good and doeth it not, it is a sin unto him. James 4:17, KJV "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin". Then based on the above argument alone, can we honestly say that birth control falls under the realm of personal liberty? Please explain how and where, by any stretch of the imagination, that any Christian can use the Bible to justify birth prevention as a personal liberty that is acceptable to God.
Reason # 3
"If you can't afford them, don't have them!"
I guess the first verse in the Bible that comes to my mind when I hear this excuse is Romans 1:17, which teaches us that "For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith". Let's look at just the population in Bible times and apply this argument there. If it's a good argument for today, then it should be valid in any given era.
Do you really think that people in those days actually sat down to count the cost before they got married? Or before they had relations with their husband or wife? Doesn't it seem, by reading the Bible, that people back then just trusted God and left that decision to the One who knew best?
(Philippians 4:6 KJV) Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
It's funny to me that most of the people who use this argument never bother calculating until children are mentioned. They never mention affording it when they buy their new four-wheeler, their new deer rifle, their new golf clubs, or any of the other items that fill their wish list.
On the other hand, why is it that we can trust God for the new car, for the insurance, the groceries, and even trust Him to clothe us adults, but then wonder if God will be concerned enough to meet the needs of a child that He is responsible for giving life to in the first place? Can you imagine discussing pills or condoms with any real Christian in the Bible?
What about the millions of children born during famine and war? What about those born during the great depression in our own country? Most of these people were lost, but God obviously cared for them. How much more is God concerned with those who are of the household of faith?
Last of all, the simple fact remains that most of the expenditures a young couple have are the same with or without children. There is usually a lot of other areas we could cut out of our budget without taking the blame for our financial woes out on the children.
Before we go much further, maybe those of you who believe in this heresy should ask yourself a question. If children are a blessing from the Lord, then why are they not a blessing to me? Well, let's continue on with our next reason.
Reason # 4
"That's the reason we have so much welfare now!"
Yes, believe it or not, that is one of the common statements made by the modern day birth control advocates. However, this statement is actually a copout for not talking about the real issue regarding a lot of the welfare problems, which is abstinence. A good portion of those people should not be having sexual relationships anyhow! Sex, in the Bible, was reserved for those who were legally married. All other sexual behavior was, and still is, forbidden by the Scriptures.
(Hebrews 13:4 KJV) Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
We are so used to implementing our "plan B", while knowingly disobeying God's "plan A". So, instead of using man made birth control to solve the unwanted expense of unwanted children across this country, we should repent of the fornication and adultery that refers us to our "plan B" in the first place. That, my friend, will drastically reduce the dollars spent on those who don't want to take responsibility for their lifestyles.
But to blame the welfare problem on those who let God decide how many children they have in a responsible Christian way is at best ridiculous! This is the same argument used for fixing your pet!
Reason # 5
"Couldn't it be the Holy Spirit leading us to do this?"
I guess I could probably answer this one with one simple word. Why? Why would God say that children were given as a gift from Him, and then lead you to try and prevent them from being conceived? Why would God teach us to trust Him for our needs, and then warn us against having children? Maybe it's just me, but the more I think about this whole pro-birth control argument, the more absurd it sounds. By the way, even in birth control you're either pro-life or pro-choice! Which are you?
As a matter of fact, this is the type behavior the Lord had in mind when He told the Apostle Paul to pen down the following words: II Timothy 3:3 - 5 KJV "For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away". The spirit that motivates the birth control movement is a selfish, humanistic spirit, and not the Holy Ghost. I often hear people say, "No, we're not going to have children for a couple of years so we can get to know each other better, and spend some time alone." What are these young couples so afraid of? I look back now, after twenty-two years of marriage, and realize that our children were a great blessing to us as a young married couple. Actually, they brought us closer together.
(I Corinthians 2:11 ? 16 KJV) For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
There is a certain joy that is brought into a home by a baby that nothing else could ever match. In Bible days a woman prayed for children. They wanted to be fruitful. And they actually mourned because of a barren womb. These were not the modern day mothers who hope and pray that they are not pregnant, but women who were led by the Holy Ghost.
Reason # 6
"What if I only want a certain number of children?"
To me, that's like saying, "I'm going to plant a tomato plant, but I only want it to produce three tomatoes." Maybe you should either not plant it at all (not get married) , or plant it and let God decide what He wants you to have. Of course, when it comes to the garden, we would be upset if God didn't make us fruitful! God said in Psalm 127, "happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them".
What was his quiver full of? "Children of the youth." You see, the whole question revolves around one decision: who will decide when, and how many, children you have? You or God? God said in Romans 12:1 that we are to present our bodies to Him a living sacrifice, which is our reasonable service. So, to answer your question, I propose to you another: what if the number God wants is different from the number you want? That's the real question!
The appropriate prayer for children should be as follows: Matthew 26:39 "nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt."
Note 1 Tim 5:14: "I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully."
Reason # 7
"If God wants us to have them, then we can't stop it anyway."
I guess this would be the easiest statement to respond to. It actually proves my point! If one believes that God is going to give them children regardless of what they do, then why would they try to interfere in the first place? You do know, however, that many of God's richest blessings are conditional. Many of the Christians who would be quick to make the above statement would also be the first to tell you that a man has a choice in salvation. Likewise, I believe that God is sovereign in bringing children into this world. But just as a man can reject God's plan for salvation, man can also reject God's plan for children.
To say that we can't stop God, and then attempt to do so, is nothing short of tempting God! Don't they understand that when they admit that God can overrule them, they are also confessing that they are wrong? This example goes back to my original point that many do not want God's will to be done concerning the size of their family in the first place!
The abortion crowd, or any murderer, could simply use the same argument. But the fact is that God puts many important decisions in our hands. So, if you really believe that God is a sovereign God, why not do away with all forms of birth control and let God have His perfect way? It is called faith.
Matthew 13:58 KJV) And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
(James 1:22 KJV) But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
Reason # 8
"It's my body, so it's my choice."
Now we really begin to see the thinking behind the birth control movement. If this statement sounds all too familiar, it is because you've heard it before from the abortion crowd. You see, the driving force behind the abortion proponents is this humanistic idea that we are our own gods and that we have the right to make our own decisions about our life and how we use our body. However, as Christians, our attitude should be that we are not our own, but that we have been bought with a price. I Corinthians 6:20 "For ye are bought with a price:". The rest of that verse says "therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's". Preventing children can never glorify God!
Now, please tell me how birth control, by any stretch of the imagination, can glorify God? You will say, "But preacher, we're not talking about a baby, but a seed!" Exactly! But, did you know that the Greek word from which we get the word seed is the word sperma? This is where we get our word sperm. So, if the baby is a gift from God, according to Psalms 127, then the sperm also is God's gift. God gave you the sperm to be used to bring offspring into the world. Now, we do know that there is a difference between the sperm and the baby after conception. But we must also realize that the potential for life is found in the God-given seed. Therefore, this shows that it is a very serious thing to interfere with His seed in any way.
I challenge you Christians to use the same argument against birth control that you use against abortion. You will see that the debate is basically the same. You are not your own! You have no scriptural right to use God's seed as you please.
(I Corinthians 10:31 KJV) Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
Reason # 9
"What about the advice of the doctor; health problems, etc?"
To start with, there are a couple of questions that I would use to answer that question. First of all, is the doctor who is giving the advice a Christian? Secondly, does this particular doctor have a large family? And thirdly, does this doctor believe in abortion under any circumstances whatsoever? It seems that Christians have simply assumed over the years that we should believe what any doctor prescribes solely because he or she has a medical degree, and a license to practice medicine. Let us not forget that this is the same profession that recommends and performs the murderous act of abortion thousands of times each day.
What if a doctor told you, like others have been told, that you need to drink a couple of beers each day for your health? Would you begin to drink beer against your conviction because a doctor said you should? My argument against birth control would be the same as when abortion is recommended for the sake of the mother's health. If it is wrong, it is wrong. However, in situations where the couple has normal relations but health problems on the part of either partner prevent them from having children, then this would be the providence of God. In such acts of providence there would be no need for birth control.
I wonder what would happen if we put as much confidence in the word of God as we did in the medical profession?
(Psalm 1:1 KJV) Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
(Proverbs 3: 5, 6 KJV) Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Reason #10
"There's a big difference between what Onan did and birth control."
Some would say that God judged Onan for disobeying Him and not for the act of birth control. But you cannot separate the two. Onan disobeyed God by using the original and most primitive act of birth control. Notice that Onan, like all other birth control advocates, enjoyed the pleasure of the sex act, but did not want the responsibility for it. If that's not the case, then why didn't he just refuse to have relations with the woman? Because, like all who use birth control, he wanted the pleasure but not the baby.
Onan forever stands as a reminder of God's displeasure with those who choose birth control over His will for their lives. I'm sure that if Onan could have used a condom, or some other form of modern day birth control, he would have! Thank God for His mercy and longsuffering toward the modern day Onan's of Christianity.
It is obvious to any honest reader of this Bible story that there is no difference between what Onan did and what they are doing, if they are practicing modern day birth control. The choice is not yours, but God's!
(James 4:17 KJV) Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
I thought it might be interesting at this point to show you a small chart I drew up which shows some of the basic differences between God's birth control and man's birth control.
God's Birth Control
Man's Birth Control
Blessing
Judgement
Life
No Life
God's Perfect Choice
Man's Choice
Natural
Unnatural
Biblical
Unbiblical
Faith
Works
Prayer
No Prayer
Spiritual
Carnal
Christian
Worldly
Children
No Children
Responsibility
Pleasure
Will of God
Will of Man
God's Body
Your Body
Right!!
Wrong!!
Part 2 - Message that I preached to my congregation on Modern Day Birth Control
Birth control, or conception control, is a man made doctrine which is totally contrary to the clear teaching of the Bible concerning God's orderly method of giving children. It is also contrary to His way of propagating the human race and subsequently His divine will for reproduction. (2-4-99 B.B.)
(1) The Story of Onan - Genesis 38: 1 - 10
(Genesis 38:1- 10 KJV) And it came to pass at that time, that Judah went down from his brethren, and turned in to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite, whose name was Shuah; and he took her, and went in unto her. And she conceived, and bare a son; and he called his name Er. And she conceived again, and bare a son; and she called his name Onan. And she yet again conceived, and bare a son; and called his name Shelah: and he was at Chezib, when she bare him. And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, whose name was Tamar. And Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD slew him. And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother's wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother. And Onan knew that the seed should not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother's wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest that he should give seed to his brother. And the thing which he did. . .
His name means "effort, ability, or power". How fitting that name is for this man because the definition of his name is basically what birth control is all about! Man, in his own effort, ability, and power, trying to thwart the plan of God. For a better understanding of the following message I suggest reading the entire thirty-eighth chapter of the book of Genesis.
We will look at three aspects of the story in this passage of Genesis that will give us a better understanding of the situation at hand.
First of all, let's look at "the Command of Onan's Father". You can read the story for yourself and follow the outline that I will be giving in this sermon. Onan's brother has been judged by the Lord for some wickedness, which the Bible remains silent about. According to the Jewish custom, he (Onan) is then commanded by his father to marry his sister-in-law. The purpose being that he may continue the family line in the place of his deceased brother.
Secondly, notice "the Contempt of Onan's Folly". He then attempts to partially carry out the command of his father. He obey's his command to go in to his brother's wife, but then makes the fatal decision to take matters into his own hands by performing the first, and only, birth control act recorded in the Bible. By this very act, he brings God's wrath upon himself.
Thirdly, I would like for you to consider "the Completion of Onan's Family Line". Despite his willful disobedience, God providentially continues the seed-line through circumstances that only an all knowing, all powerful God can. In doing so, He proves that man only hurts himself when he puts his way above God's way.
(2) The Sin of Onan - "And the thing which he did displeased the Lord"
The word displeased here means "to spoil, make good for nothing, or to be physically, socially, or morally bad". You see, Onan's sin was the intentional disobedience of God's commandment. As a matter of fact, that's exactly what all sin is: knowing to do good and doing it not.
Now notice three clear truths from this text.
First of all, we see that his sin was rebellion. Onan understood clearly what God wanted him to do through the command of his father. But despite his knowledge of God's will, he decides to go through with his own plan and to reject God's. That is exactly what you are doing every time you participate in the act of birth control.
I know that the Bible teaches that to the married the "bed is undefiled". However, that does not mean we could perform an abortion in the privacy of our bedroom just because we are married. This verse does not give us liberty to commit sin in the name of marriage. You know what's right, you know what God wants. But, like Onan, you're going to do things your way. This is nothing else but willful, premeditated sin. By the way, Onan was apparently killed in the privacy of his bedroom. (Gen 38:9 KJV) And Onan knew that the seed should not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother's wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest that he should give seed to his brother.
Secondly, we see that his sin was revealed. The Scripture teaches us to be sure your sin will find you out. Little did Onan know that he would go down in history in the Bible as the first and last man to practice birth control. Notice that God did not judge his wife. That's because the decision to disobey God was totally his own. You will also notice that most of the time it's not the woman who has a problem with letting God decide about how many children, but the man.
Normally, a woman, despite all of the pain and hardship she must bear, wants the children and is willing to pay the price to bring them into the world. But daddy, who should lead the way by faith, is afraid to trust God concerning His gift of children. Your unwillingness, sir, to allow God to have His way in this matter causes others to mark you as a real hypocrite when it comes to talking about and teaching about faith!
Little did Onan know that what he thought was a private matter of personal liberty, would be revealed to the world as a faithless act of selfish disobedience.
Thirdly, Onan's sin was reproved. We think it to be a small thing to act against revealed light in these days. People often will make the statement that all of this is just my opinion, totally disregarding the clear teaching of the word of God. But let Onan be a reminder to us modern day Christians that God does not take this sin of birth control lightly. Obviously God has been merciful to us as compared to Onan, but I can't help but think that God was also using him, as an example to others, to show His displeasure in this matter.
Onan missed the opportunity to see God's will carried out in his life through his seed line, which, we see, eventually brought to us our Lord. God wanted to use him and bless him in ways that he could not possibly perceive! However, he became an example of God's judgement upon the sin of disobedience. I wonder what God had in store for all of us who took this matter of controlling birth into our own hands? I wonder what blessings we have forfeited by going our own way instead of trusting God with our lives? How has God judged us?
(3) The Seed of Onan - "He spilled it (the seed) upon the ground, lest he should give seed unto his brother"
The word seed is very important here in this story. This is the issue of the entire text. Onan wasted the God-given seed which was meant to continue his family and literally threw it away. His idea was, "It belongs to me so I can do what I wish with it." This is the same argument that the abortion proponents use.
If the Bible teaches that children are given by God, then we must conclude that seed is also the gift of God. If you will study the many times that the word seed is mentioned in the Bible, you will find that God must bless the seed in order for a man to be able to bring forth children into the world. God must also open the woman's womb in order for her to conceive. Remember back when we didn't have to be told this kind of thing? We've come a long way, haven't we? It was God who would make Abraham's seed as the stars in Heaven.
(Genesis 15: 1 - 6 KJV) After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir. And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir. And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
First of all, God bestows the seed of men. I don't have time or space to study each verse that has to do with this word seed. But I know, and you can find it out if you are interested, that without God bestowing man's seed, He would not be able to bring forth children into this world. I challenge you to read the creation story once again and see how many times the word seed is mentioned. The seed which was given for the grass, the herb, the fruit tree, and also the seed which was given to man, was given by God.
Jacob knew this in Genesis 30:1 when he answered his desperate wife with a question, "And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die. And Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God's stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?" He knew that unless God bestowed, there would be no children. One of the things that is so disturbing is while some couples are on birth control, the many others who are not on it desire children. But God has not blessed them in this area. If God has bestowed you seed, then He has a purpose for the children which He will give you. If He doesn't want you to have children, don't worry, you will not. But shouldn't He decide?
Next, we see that God builds with the seed of men. If you go back to our text and follow the seed line through the Bible, you will see that God used the progenitors of the family in due time to bring forth our Savior. That's the one lesson we learn by reading the begats in the Bible. Through these genealogies, we see God systematically building the human race.
When you think about your own family tree and the limb you find yourself on, don't forget that this was no accident. What it is, however, is a sovereign God building a people who would be used to carry out His divine purpose. After Noah had finished his journey, God used his seed to populate the new world. We later would identify them as the primary races of the earth. Galatians 4:4 "But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law". We see that God brought forth His Son in the fullness of time. Though He was not born of the seed of man spiritually, God used the seed of man to bring us to the fullness of time.
The Greek word for seed is the word sperma, where we get our English word sperm. It means something sown, offspring, or remnant. It comes from the word spiero, which means to sow. The word sow comes from the word spao and means to draw out. Did you know that when the seed is planted within that it literally races to fertilize the waiting egg? That is because it has God given life which our Creator used to build the human race. You say, "Preacher, aren't you going a little to far?" No my friend. You who defend birth control are the ones who are going too far.
Finally, we see that God blesses the seed of men. It seems like we believe that because we come together as husband and wife, we will automatically have children. But that is not the case at all. I'm thinking about Abraham when he is now about a hundred years old. God tells him and Sarah that they are going to have a child. Nowadays, we would say this would be impossible. But not if God blesses the seed. I wonder if all these young couples who are on birth control now realize this principal. And what about all of the people who never used birth control, but after 20 years of marriage only have one or two children?
Now they say, "Well, we're going to wait a couple of years before having children, and then maybe after we've prepared a few things we're going to have a baby." Is that right? Well, what if God decides to remove the blessing from the seed? Remember, children are an heritage (gift) of the Lord and the fruit of the womb is (His) reward. Since when does man decide whether he will be fruitful or not?
I would encourage you young couples to decide this issue before marriage, and decide to let God control when and how many children you have. You can trust Him! He will not do you wrong. I promise you, according to God's word, that every child He gives you will be a blessing from God. A child will make your life richer and fuller, and will become as arrows in the hand of a mighty man. Present your bodies a living sacrifice unto God and let Him use your family for His glory. Please don't commit the sin of Onan.
Some Final Thoughts About Birth Control
I know that there will be many who disagree with the contents of this booklet. However, as with any literature which I have written, I challenge any and all to take a King James Bible and Scripturally refute it. I'm still waiting!
In these last days, I have come to the place where my best response is that of the Apostle Paul in his letter to the church at Corinth. 1 Corinthians 14:38 "If any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant". It is disturbing to see the extent to which humanism has entered into our congregations. The sad part is, however, that many so called preachers will simply discount this teaching as "much to do about nothing."
Anytime some of these hirelings are confronted with new light from God's word, they use the standard procedure of putting a finger in the wind and then following the path of least resistance. But for those of you who are willing to be led by the Spirit and to "let every man be a liar and God be the truth", maybe this message will open the door for the Holy Spirit to give you some very important direction for your life. Or maybe you can help someone like my daughter who really wants to know God's will for their life.
Finally, let me say that our church and my family have personally suffered for our stand on this clearly taught Bible issue. We know, however, that sound doctrine is about the only thing some men will not endure in these last days.
In closing, I would like to dedicate this booklet to all those Christian couples who are willing to trust God to bless and build their families according to His will rather than bowing to the self god of humanism. I would also like to dedicate it to those preachers who, after reading it, will know deep down in their heart that it is right, but don't have the guts to preach it! My message to you, sir, is summed up in this verse: "The hireling fleeth because he is a hireling and careth not for the sheep". John 10:13 KJV
Thank you for your time and prayers.


Bro. Billy Ball

Added by Blog owner verses to considered  Victor.S
Biblical support is missing: birth control puts a Christian in the shaky
position of Onan, who was killed.
 
I Corinthians 7:3-5 gives the only reason for abstinence in marriage
--Prayer and fasting, not to avoid childrenObviously, we shouldn't base our position on whether or not
 

OTHER people practice birth control, but if the non-use of birth control has been a
universal trend for the vast majority of Christian history, we should
not lightly dismiss it, but rather examine WHY.

So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body



.
And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; 4And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: 5Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: 6And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. 7And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: 8
But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. 9Who hath ears to hear, let him hear
 
Psa 139 :1-18
 O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.
2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether.
5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.
12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.
13 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.
14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
18 If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.God is Sovereign in birth. He opens & shuts the womb; He blesses
with children. (The following verses are NOT an exhaustive list.)

It is GOD Who opens and shuts the womb: Genesis 20:17-18;
29:31-33; 30:1-2,6,17-18, 20, 22, 23; I Samuel 1:6, 11, 19, 20;

God helps and participates in the process of bringing forth children:
Genesis 4:1, 25; 21:1-2; Ruth 4:13; I Samuel 2:20-21; Psalm 139:13, 16;
Luke 1:21-25, 57-58

God multiplies children: Genesis 16:10; 17: 2,20; 22:17; 26:4, 24;
28:3; 41:52; 48:4; Exodus 32:13; Deuteronomy 1:10,11; 28:63; 30:5,
Joshua 24:3; I Chronicles 27: 23; Psalm 105:24; 107:38; Isaiah 26:15; 51:2;
Jeremiah 30: 19; 33:22; Ezra 36:10-11, 37; 37:26

The Bible nowhere encourages Birth Control, but everywhere condones fertility!

Pro-child verses: Psalm 127:3-5; 128; I Chronicles 20:4-5; Exodus 23:25-26; Proverbs 17:6
Children are a blessing that comes from obeying God: Leviticus 26:9; Deuteronomy 28:1-4; 6:3;
7:13; 13:17 ff

Pro-Fertility verses: Leviticus 20:18 (abstaining during monthly periods increases chance of fertilization after period);
Genesis 1:27-28 (The command to be fruitful has never been revoked); I Cor 7:3-5 (Not compatible with "Natural Family Planning")

Anti-Infertility Verses: Infertile manners of intercourse were condemned: Beastiality (Leviticus 20:15, 16), Homosexuality (Leviticus 20:13), Withdrawal (Genesis 38:6-10, Deuteronomy 25:5-10). In fact, all of these things incurred the death penalty. There was no death penalty for improper manners of intercourse which were yet fertile (Fornication and polygamy).

Semen is referred to as offspring even before it joins the egg: Hebrews 7:9-10; Job 10:8-11
Childlessness sometimes was considered  a curse : Leviticus 20:20-21; Hosea 9:10-17 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.

15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.
19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.   




 


 
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