Contraception (Birth Control) SIN??

Wesup · 10-07-2002, 03:51 PM

Contraception (Birth Control) SIN??

"Given the Bible's pro-children stance and its anti-infertility stance, given the fact that Christians have historically not practiced birth control, given the problems caused by birth control, and given the fact that most reasons for using birth control are not valid, it is a reasonable and good conclusion for a Christian to not practice birth control."
Unknown author -

Gen 38:4-10
Onan is killed by the Lord for "contraception" - Is birth control just as wrong as adultery??

**Ridley's Own** · 10-07-2002, 04:00 PM

Onan wasn't killed for contraception; he was killed for not following the levitical law concerning marrying your dead brother's widow to ensure the continuity of his line.

There is nothing sinful about contraception, in and of itself.

**Athanasius** · 10-07-2002, 04:02 PM

God is sovereign...if he wants to give us children (even when we are on BC)...then he will.

The sin of Onan was not that he practiced birth control, but that he refused to give Tamar, his brother’s wife, a child according to the law of Levirate marriage. This law was designed to ensure the continuance of the line of the deceased brother.

Since the Bible is silent on the issue, those who are against the use of BC carry the burden of proof.

peace.

Hamil · 10-07-2002, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Gen 38:4-10
Onan is killed by the Lord for "contraception" - Is birth control just as wrong as adultery??

Well, if you hold the beilief that all sin is just as bad as any other sin, as I do and believe is Biblical, then you would have to conclude that it is "just as wrong" so long as you see it as sin; which I do.

I have never heard a non-selfish biblical reason that supported birth control. Even if the Bible did not consistantly encourage children as blessings from God I would just look at the world's stance on this issue and run hard the other way!

Hamil · 10-07-2002, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bob_The_Veggie
God is sovereign...if he wants to give us children (even when we are on BC)...then he will.

Really? Please tell me you are not using the most elementary and childish argument ever created! So let us examin that logic for a moment... lets say you do have a child and the child has diabetes that requires insylin(sp) every day to treat it. Would you then say that "God is sovereign...if he wants to keep my child alive (even without medication)...then he will.?"

Quote:

The sin of Onan was not that he practiced birth control, but that he refused to give Tamar, his brother’s wife, a child according to the law of Levirate marriage.

You just sontradicted yourself. What was "he refused to give Tamar, his brother’s wife, a child according to the law of Levirate marriage.?" It was sin, and yes it was BIRTH CONTROL. The law was not the issue, although important, his heart was. He was willing to have sex with her but not allow her a child by CONTROLLING it. He dishonored her and God killed him!

**Athanasius** · 10-07-2002, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hamil
Really? Please tell me you are not using the most elementary and childish argument ever created! So let us examin that logic for a moment... lets say you do have a child and the child has diabetes that requires insylin(sp) every day to treat it. Would you then say that "God is sovereign...if he wants to keep my child alive (even without medication)...then he will.?"

- I can see that you are a newbie...this was said jokingly...

Quote:

You just sontradicted yourself. What was "he refused to give Tamar, his brother’s wife, a child according to the law of Levirate marriage.?" It was sin, and yes it was BIRTH CONTROL. The law was not the issue, although important, his heart was. He was willing to have sex with her but not allow her a child by CONTROLLING it. He dishonored her and God killed him!

No, the sin was that he was breaking Levitical law...not that he was practicing "Birth Control" ...

**meatfinger** · 10-07-2002, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hamil
You just sontradicted yourself. What was "he refused to give Tamar, his brother’s wife, a child according to the law of Levirate marriage.?" It was sin, and yes it was BIRTH CONTROL. The law was not the issue, although important, his heart was. He was willing to have sex with her but not allow her a child by CONTROLLING it. He dishonored her and God killed him!

What??? The issue there was not birth control, and the Levitical law was not about birth control. Onan wasn't concerned about birth control at all IMO. He died because he disobeyed a Levitical law. Birth control was a mere byproduct of his actions.

I don't see anything wrong with birth control. If we didn't use birth control, where would the population be? Ever heard of the population threshold? There is a limit to the number of people this Earth can support, and if we go without birth control, we are going to exceed it by far.

Also, could a mod add "It doesn't really matter" to the poll? I don't think it's wrong, but righteous isn't exactly the right word either.

Natalie Faith · 10-07-2002, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Onan wasn't killed for contraception; he was killed for not following the levitical law concerning marrying your dead brother's widow to ensure the continuity of his line.

Aren't you guys looking over the fact that the punishment for disobeying that specific Leverite law was NOT death?!
It was humiliation!!!!!! It states it very clearly in
Deuteronomy 25:7-10...

***BillSPrestonEsq*** · 10-07-2002, 04:39 PM

But is it fo faith or a sin, there is no grey line here. Also, world population threshold smeshhold, ever crossed this country in a car and seen the teeming masses in iowa? this world can support far more than we dream of. besides bc is a new concept in the course of history.... ever think of that?

Dice · 10-07-2002, 04:42 PM

I don't think it's sin.

I also think its something you should rather be discussing with your fiancee/wife

Hamil · 10-07-2002, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bob_The_Veggie

- I can see that you are a newbie...this was said jokingly...

rather convienient for you to throw the sovereignty of God arround and then say it was a joke when you can not defend it. I am a longstanding member and moderator on Honda-tech.com and I do not see what being a "newbie" here has to do with that statement. Do you frequently enter in to serious discussions with joking remarks about God's sovereignty in this forum? Enlighten me so I will not make the mistake of taking you seriously in the future.

Quote:

No, the sin was that he was breaking Levitical law...not that he was practicing "Birth Control" ...

The punishment for refusing to carry on your line (not after having sex with your relatives wife) was Duet. 25: 7 However, if a man does not want to marry his brother's wife, she shall go to the elders at the town gate and say, "My husband's brother refuses to carry on his brother's name in Israel. He will not fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to me." 8 Then the elders of his town shall summon him and talk to him. If he persists in saying, "I do not want to marry her," 9 his brother's widow shall go up to him in the presence of the elders, take off one of his sandals, spit in his face and say, "This is what is done to the man who will not build up his brother's family line." 10 That man's line shall be known in Israel as The Family of the Unsandaled.

I did not see "and God shall smite him from the earth" anywhere in that.

The issue was his heart. He was willing to sleep with her but not allow her to concieve. He was using and dishonoring her. This went WAY deeper than some law about carrying on your line.

Hamil · 10-07-2002, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Birth control was a mere byproduct of his actions.

Birth control was the intent of his actions not a "mere byproduct."

Dr. Doom · 10-07-2002, 04:56 PM

hmm, so based on this poll, everything is either a sin or righteous? guess i will ahve to go with righteous, even though that sounds odd.

***BillSPrestonEsq*** · 10-07-2002, 04:58 PM

bob the veggie, the scary part is you are right. I am proof of that

**meatfinger** · 10-07-2002, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hamil
Birth control was the intent of his actions not a "mere byproduct."

Excuse my ignorance, but how exactly do you know what good old Onan's intent was? Were you there with him? Is he one of your good friends? Sorry for the sarcasm, but you can't claim to know the intent of an action made thousands of years ago.

And yes, Bob The Veggie often jokes, as do many others. This isn't just to heatedly debate theology, it's also to have a litte fun (God forbid we do that!). Being a newbie does have bearing on this situation because if you knew Jonathan (even as little as I do) you would be able to see that he was joking, he's not just going to lie about it.