Think back with me in America before 1950 when there was no birth control. Most men married early since being promiscuous could easily lead to pregnancy and most men didn't want this responsibility without marriage. If they did get a woman pregnant, they would marry the woman whom they impregnated since this was the proper thing to do. There was no such thing as "safe" and legal abortions. Once a woman had a child and was married, she was home full-time with her children since this was what women knew they were supposed to do. If they had a job, they were fired once they got married so they could be at home and care for their husband and home until they did become pregnant. Most families had anywhere from five to more children. The average number was around six. The children were disciplined according to biblical principles and taught the Bible in school. Most people owned guns but no one went into classrooms and shot children dead.
Men knew they were the providers back then since everyone knew once a couple got married, they would probably begin having babies and the mothers needed to be home caring for them. Little girls grew up knowing they would probably get married and have children so they were ready and most were excited about having their own husband, children and home. Their mothers had prepared them for this very important role. Life was easy when there weren't a lot of "choices" for them to make. Therefore, they were content in their role of being home with their children while their husbands worked hard to provide for them. Was it a perfect time in the history of America? Of course not. Racism was an ugly and evil practice in America that should never have existed. Life on this earth will never be perfect but men worked hard to provide, women worked hard at home and cared for their children, and the family unit was strong, thus our nation was strong after the Civil War which ended slavery.
Then came Margaret Sanger who was
determined to bring birth control into America. She felt women were in bondage
having to be home raising all the children they bore. “The most serious
evil of our times is that of encouraging the bringing into the world of large
families. The most immoral practice of the day is breeding too many children,”
she wrote.“The most merciful thing that the
large family does to one of its infant members is to kill it,” she continued. {Google "Margaret Sanger quotes" and you will see what an evil woman she was and all of her reasoning for bringing birth control to America. They are all wicked.}
I have stated before that I hate birth control and the destruction it has caused in our nation. Sexual promiscuity keeps getting worse. Millions of babies have been slaughtered. Women can put off having babies to pursue careers as long as they want. Most couples only want one or two children; not enough to "multiply" as the Lord commands. Many more bad and ugly things have come from birth control than good.
Most people before the 1950s lived according to biblical principles or at least knew them since the Bible was accepted. They obeyed the Word by getting married and being fruitful and multiplying. Men worked hard and women stayed home with their children. Just because we live in a society that champions women's right to choose their life's path and blasphemes the Word of God doesn't mean we should do the same. We must continue to choose God's path for us which is clearly spelled out in His Word by walking in obedience to His commands.
The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
Titus 2:3-5
Logging you in...
Jessica · 481 weeks ago
Throughout His word, God says children are blessings and a reward. His word is true; we have been richly blessed, and while it is true that it is hard work, it is greatly rewarding!
I will add here, since I'm sure the question will come up, that my husband works very hard to provide for his family. God has always provided everything we have ever needed and even many things that we have wanted. No one else is "paying for these kids", as we've heard it put. God has provided my husband with a very good job. But even when he was full time active duty, he was able to support a wife and 7 children (at the time) on an enlisted salary with a take-home pay of about $30,000 a year. We never lacked anything we needed. When others' would ask about it, my husband would say there is a big difference between wants and needs.
We found that God always worked out the provision AFTER he gave the blessing! A new baby on the way! And then there would be a slight raise, or a move which put us in a bigger house or a better part of town, or a schedule change that made life a little easier for awhile.
Natasha · 481 weeks ago
Stacy · 481 weeks ago
Thejoyfilledwife · 481 weeks ago
Blessed Wife · 481 weeks ago
I married at the age of 31 (hubby 29) and we got pregnant 2 months later. I had to have a c - section and after the delivery they couldn't remove the urinary cath right away because of the swollenness that I had. I went home 3 days later and went to the ER that very night! I had a pulmonary embolism!! 3 blood clots were in my right lung! These clots had already passed through my left lung and then through my heart to which they arrived in my right lung. No one could understand how I was alive. Needless to say the idea of having another child was scary but God is not a God of fear. We prayed and God said we were to have more. My second child was much easier. I was diagnosed with PCOS before conceiving him. Once we conceived our 2nd I was put on blood thinners to avoid blood clots. The C-section went great as did the recovery! Our 3rd child was a miracle. The doctor did an ultra sound bc I wasn't ovulating (due to PCOS) he said I hadn't released an egg and there weren't any ready to release and he gave me a shot to induce my monthly cycle. A week later and nothing so I asked the doc if I could be pregnant to which he responded "no because I hadn't ovulated". I took a home pregnancy test anyway (that very afternoon) and it was positive! I was pregnant even though I hadn't ovulated! My doctor was baffled. That pregnancy was very hard. The Lord told me during those first few weeks that "she" would be born early but that we would both be fine. I developed pre ecclampsia and was in the hospital for a week before they had to deliver her. I clung to the word of the Lord over my life and my sweet daughter. I declared our healthy lives out loud in the hospital on a daily basis. The enemy can't hear our thoughts so we must proclaim His truth out loud in order to battle the enemies lies when they attack our mind. So pregnancy can be difficult, delivery can be difficult but God is always good. The problem is us. We accept the lies of the enemy instead of deflecting those lies with the sword of truth (out loud). We are now waiting on His perfect timing to conceive again but during this time I as a mother and mother to be must learn and study and research how to be healthy with PCOS. How to have a very healthy pregnancy in the future so I'm doing my part in not allowing the enemy to come against my body in any form of sickness etc. Life in any circumstance will be hard because we have any enemy that is strategically trying to kill us. If we do not remain alert at all times to this truth we won't be able to stand in His truth as effectively as we could. Stacy God gives us these little gifts along with blessing to take care of them. A lot of times we miss the blessing of provision because we aren't seeking the way we need to. Sometimes the Lord likes to play hide and seek so we will experience Him in a new way. You can achieve all that God desires to give you my sister! Why? Because you were created to be an overcomer! You are blessed and loved and fought for. You are His....
Alisha Jackson · 481 weeks ago
Tiffany · 481 weeks ago
Diana · 481 weeks ago
Thank you for this post!! Spot on. Birth control has been the downfall of the family and of the nation. And if you follow the underlying philosophy, it has also given rise to the homosexual movement and the abortion movement (as well as the sexual revolution, the divorce trend, etc.).
This is my pet subject, so I hope you won't mind if I add a few notes.
I grew up extremely pro-birth control. I was also a rabid environmentalist and completed my degree in environmental science at a state college in California, where I learned even more "babies are evil" mania (i.e. anything to reduce the surplus population).
However, I became a Christian. And after many years as a pro-birth control Christian, I realized two essential truths:
(1) The Bible says that children are a blessing. Not a curse. And not a blessing "only if it's child #1 or #2." Always a blessing.
(2) God is sovereign in conception. Thus, if God gives me a child, it's because He wants me to have it. And I can trust in His perfect timing, and in his provision for our family.
Once I finally embraced those two truths (which took many years), I finally realized that I had no excuses to reject God's blessing of life.
This was very difficult. I have incredibly difficult pregnancies due to severe nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (hyperemesis gravidarum). Pregnancy scares me to the point of panic. But those same truths remain true. I can trust God with His perfect timing.
Giving up control of our family size and accepting God's blessing of children has been an incredible blessing for us. We have grown closer as a family, we have seen God's provision, and we have gained a new joy in welcoming each new child. We have only four, but we eagerly await more - whereas in the past, I stood firmly upon "one child or maybe two at the MOST and then NO MORE!"
I have come so far from the leftist view of seeing children as a curse and a hindrance.
Thank you for having the courage to post this, Lori.
Diana
Anon · 481 weeks ago
Something I find fascinating is sterilization. I know several women whose children are older and they seem to really pine for a baby. But it is no longer an option for that couple because of the decision they made when the children were young. They don't say they regret the choice but something just seems odd . Also, several older men I know (uncles, family friends, etc) who had vasectomies ended up being unfaithful. This lead to either divorce or unhappy marriages. I never want to push that onto my husband.
But in all respect, Lori, I do wonder if you are romanticizing about the past a little. My father had 9 siblings and his parents were alcoholics, poverty stricken and abusive. Although my grand mother did stay home and grandfather father worked very hard to provide. He married her when she got pregnant.
My mother had 10 siblings. The first 2 siblings were born out of wedlock with 2 different men. Then my grandmother got with my grandfather and had 7 children. They did not legally marry until all the children were grown. The doctor put her on birth control which caused fainting spells so she stopped taking it. Then she had her last 2 children (including my mother). My grandfather was an abusive alcoholic who did not provide, so gandma went to work in a factory. Many of the children left home as soon as they could (some as young as 13).
My own father and mother conceived me out of wedlock. By the grace of God my Dad was saved during the beginning of the pregnancy. Otherwise, Mom said she would have had an abortion. My Dad married my mom and my mom also became a Christian.
I am not saying that birth control would have prevented the issues of poverty, addiction and abuse in my family tree. (And my mother would have never been born if grandma stayed on birth control, and by Gods grace I was not aborted). But I do have to suggest that not all large families have a rosy experience. This might be especially true if they do not know Christ (my grandparents did not). Margaret Sanger was evil. But I know she experienced some of the hardships my parents went through. By Gods grace my parents became saved. Margaret Sanger instead chose to blame her fathers sin on the large family she grew up in.
It is interesting to me that my mother only wanted 3 children, then asked my dad for a vasectomy. He wanted more but of course let her have what she wanted. He ended up having a one night stand with someone and she never forgave him for it. They were very unhappy after that happened.
Well, I am dribbling on. Just wanted to share , I guess. Thank you.
Taylor · 481 weeks ago
EHC · 481 weeks ago
It was truly eye-opening for me. It's sad how much of our culture the church has absorbed with regard to birth control. The church I grew up in was all about birth control. Many of the women
had abortions. Most of my Christian friends were pro-choice. In fact, the pastor told my friend to have her tubes tied because Jesus might be returning soon! She deeply regrets listening to her pastor.
Most couples choose birth control (any form) out of fear and not faith. Martin Luther had this to say about birth control:
“But this blame [that poverty prevents the raising of children] is unjustly fastened on marriage and fruitfulness. Indeed, you are indicting your unbelief by distrusting God’s goodness, and you are bringing greater misery upon yourself by disparaging God’s blessing. For if you had trust in God’s grace and promises, you would undoubtedly be supported. But because you do not hope in the Lord, you will never prosper” (Luther’s Works, Vol 5, pg 332).
Some Christians tell me they limit their family size for the sake of the kingdom but the Bible does not say anything about that. The Bible says quite the opposite--if you are married, you are not to withhold sex from your partner other than for a mutual time of prayer and fasting, and young women are admonished to bear children.
I also believe that most of our nation's economic decline is due to abortions and birth control. Fewer workers, fewer inventors, fewer consumers, fewer problem-solvers!
Thank you for this post. It's controversial even within the church. People think the anti-birth control position is extreme but before Margaret Sanger popularized birth control, birth control was not the norm.
The church today would be richer and more joyful if believers embraced children.
Lady Virtue · 481 weeks ago
On a lighter note, I recently made the turkey black bean chili from a recipe you posted on your blog a few years ago. It was a big hit; my husband really liked it! It's so satisfying to feed my man a good, hot, home-cooked meal, especially in the winter! :-)
Sue Bee · 481 weeks ago
I can’t condone or condemn ever instance of contraception use, but I have seen where some lives were likely saved by it.
Anonymous · 481 weeks ago
Cindy · 481 weeks ago
Mandee · 481 weeks ago