Birth Control in the Light of the Bible (1931) | J. H. Gauss
Rev. J. H. Gauss
D.O. Dean, Brookes Bible Institute, St. Louis, Mo.
The article was published in the newspaper Christianity Today of PCA (Presbyterian Church of America),
In May of 1931
Published monthly by
THE PRESBYTERIAN AND REFORMED PUBLISHING CO.
THE reports of a committee appointed by the Federation of Churches on Birth-Control have been made public. Undoubtedly thousands of right-thinking people are sadly perplexed, and some justly indignant at the Majority report approving the use of „contraceptives” in marital relations; also undoubtedly other thousands will be encouraged to resort to the use of such means to indulge sensual lust without marriage, or, if married, without incurring the care of children. The Majority report refers to the Church and the Bible as „silent upon the subject,” and intimates that such silence gives consent, or at least does not forbid. Its reference to the Bible is quite misleading, though doubtless unintentionally so. The Bible is not as silent as the report implies: Read Gen. 1 :26, „multiply,” and again after the Flood, Gen. 9 :1, „multiply;” I Chron. 4 :27, JUDAH’S superiority to SIMEON, SIMEON’S tribal family did not „multiply;” Ps. 127 :3-5, many children a matter for congratulation as an expression of GOD’S favor; Prov 31 :28, the „virtuous woman’s” ”household” consists of „husband” and „children;” I Sam. 2 :21, the birth of prayer-answered SAMUEL; is followed by „three sons and two daughters.” Zach. 8:5 promises the streets of Jerusalem shall one day be full of boys and girls at play. I Tim. 3 :4 sets forth the fitness of one for the office of bishop, as having „one wife” and being the father of „children;” I Tim. 5 :10, states as a condition that an aged widow receive aid from the Church, that she has ”brought up children,” and verse 14, directs that „younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to reproach;” I Cor. 7 :14, declares GOD’S special interest in a Christian’s children; Eph. 6 :4, commands fathers to bring them up for GOD, Mark 10 :14, records the Savior of our race welcoming children to His blessing and a large place in the Kingdom of GOD. Most truly did the heathen women say to the Christian missionary, „Yours is a GOD that cares for little children.” GOD instituted marriage – and that for birth of children – and that according to the physical laws He had created in man; true, not as a means for gratifying selfish passion resulting in births too frequent for health of mother or child; yet not avoiding such births by use of „contraceptives” to prevent them. Birth-denial is not birth-control, but sinful, selfish, refusal to fulfill GOD’S purpose in marriage. True Birth-control, or Abstinence is GOD-fearing, marital self-control, as we are taught in I Cor. 7 :5. Not a child, but „children” are necessary in GOD’S ideal family on earth. Such ideal families are vital to our race, to every nation, to our nation, to the Church of JESUS CHRIST. Let us not live lower than beasts, but as men, being spirits, created in the „image” of GOD, with bodies made in the „likeness” of GOD. „Ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify GOD in your body, and in your spirit, which are GOD’S.” I Cor. 6 :20. „Your whole spirit, and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our LORD JESUS CHRIST. Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it.” I Thess. 5 :23, 24.
Resource
A Presbyterian Journal Devoted to Stating, Defending and Furthering the Gospel in the Modern World.” Samuel G. Craig, Editor, H. McAllister Griffiths, Managing Editor Published monthly by THE PRESBYTERIAN AND REFORMED PUBLISHING CO. 501 Witherspoon Bldg., Phila. Pa. May of 1931
https://www.pcahistory.org/HCLibrary/periodicals/CT/1931-32/02-01-May.pdf
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