EP 59: On Deciding If and When to Have Children

To be or not to be a parent... that is the question. Given the dark times in which we live, how are Christian couples to view the prospect of having children? What considerations should they take into account as they try to decide when--or whether--to start a family.

I hope you'll listen in today as we examine many of the most common objections couples give regarding the prospect of having children.

Show Notes VERSES CITED:

- 1 Corinthians 12:14 - “…the body does not consist of one part, but of many.”

- Psalm 127:3-5 – “Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, the fruit of the womb is...."

- Psalm 128:3-4 – “Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in His way...."

- Genesis 1:28 – “God blessed them and said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply....'"

- Deuteronomy 7:13 – “He will love you and bless you and multiply you.…”

- John 8:31 - “If you continue in My word, then you are truly My disciples.”

- 1 Cor. 10:31 - "... whatever you do, do all for the glory of God."

- 2 Cor. 5:7 - "For we live by faith, not by sight."

- 1 Peter 3:15-16 - "Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you...."

- Luke 10:27 - "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and..."

- Psalm 37:25, “...never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.”

- Phil. 4:19 - “God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ....”

- Galatians 5:22 - "The Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness...."

- Philippians 1:6 - "He who began a good work in you will perfect it until....”

- James 1:5 - “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all...."

- Philippians 4:13 - "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

- 1 Timothy 2:15 - "Women, however, will be saved through childbearing, if they....”

- Eph. 2:8-9 - “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not....”

- 1 Tim 5:13-14 -“... So I advise the younger widows to marry, have children, and ....”

- Matthew 5:13-15 - “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its savor...."

- Jeremiah 29:4-6 - "...have sons and daughters. Multiply there; do not decrease.”

- Exodus 1:11-12 - "...the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied...."

- Deuteronomy 11:19 - "speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk..."

- Luke 23:29 - “...people will say, 'Blessed are the barren women, the wombs that....'”

- Matthew 24:6 - “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you...."

- Gen. 2:24-25 - "For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and...."

- Malachi 2:15 - "Has not the LORD made them one, having a portion of the Spirit...."

- Matthew 19:14 - “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them...."

- Romans 8:28 - "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good...."

RELATED LINKS:

- Ep 58: Best Wedding Gift You’ll Ever Get

- Ep 15: Is Having Babies a Waste of Time?

- Ep 8: Smart Reasons for Having Babies

- M is for Mama: Ep 61 - Is the Child-Free Movement Biblical

- US Fertility Rate Graph

- Do You Wanna Have a Baby? - an original music video :-)

- A Quiverful Report - our interview with Al Jazeera

- Miriam's Big American Adventure: Episode 3 - our interview with the BBC

- Demographic Winter - link to the sequel of the documentary we watched 15+ yrs ago)

- These Governments Pay Citizens to Have Babies

- When Strangers Count Our Kids & Ask Us If We're Done

- Love Your Husband/ Love Yourself - my book