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Dear
Chuck
What does the Bible say about using
contraceptives when you have sex? How about birth control?
Chuck's
Response
Thanks
for the note about contraceptives and birth control. First of all,
sex must be within the bounds of marriage. Anything outside of that
is sin in God's eyes, and He cannot bless the relationship.
Birth
control of any kind is one of those gray areas where the Bible is
silent on the exact situation. Some people say that the prevention
of pregnancy is wrong, but isn't that the goal with any birth
control method, including natural family planning? Not having sex at
certain times of the month is as much preventing implantation as
anything else. If the couple had sex there is a chance they might
get pregnant, so they don't have sex -- and prevent implantation of
an egg. The idea that using a form of birth control "interferes
with God's plan" assumes that He wanted us to have a baby. I
don't think that is His idea every time a couple has sex in a normal
marriage relationship. God encourages this wonderful bonding of two
into one flesh. The marriage bed is sacred. He encourages a couple
to come together "regularly," except for prayer and
fasting, and then come back together again quickly. I do
think it is wrong however, to interfere with the baby after
implantation. That would be murder.
I
would like an author friend of mine, Paul Tomlinson, to add his take
on the situation:
"When two people get married and agree on certain issues (like
birth control) and then one spouse has a different view later, then
I believe there should be mutual agreement to change. An example.
Two people meet and marry. They agree on basic issues of where they
will live, what their goals are, etc. Several years later there is a
missions conference at their church, and suddenly, the husband feels
called to missionary service in Africa, which will require the wife
to come along. The wife does not feel called, and in fact, does not
feel such a decision is right. At this point I believe the
"called" spouse would be required to wait until the other
is in agreement or is called. God will provide unity in the
decision. This requires both to be in communication with God, to put
their desires on the altar and to seek His answer -- and patience
... The above example is a secondary biblical issue. While there is
a mandate to make disciples of the world (the Great Commission),
there is no clear-cut verse that Africa is the place or that any
specific person is called.
"I
don't believe there is clear direction on birth control. Authors can
make their point, as they do about gifts of the spirit and tongues,
and yet great people of faith stand on both sides. Therefore, if the
agreement before marriage was to use birth control, then I think
that practice should continue until BOTH are in complete agreement
to change. Since there is clear direction in the Bible about
maintaining an intimate sexual relationship in marriage, I think
withholding this (even for what seems like noble reasons)
potentially could be more dangerous spiritually than using birth
control. Satan just loves to try to divide husbands and wives, and
sometimes is quite subtle in his efforts to do so!"
Thanks,
Paul. So, I believe because of the silence of the Bible on birth
control, each couple has to make up their own minds on what to do.
There are a number of verses that talk about God opening or shutting
the womb. It sounds like God is still in control no matter what we
do. He can overrule if He wants to. Preventing the implantation with
a pill or condom is at least in my mind no different than not having
sex. Thanks for asking.
Chuck
Snyder |
