Outer Rim Territories

Musings, ramblings, and nonsense from the fringe of space and time
« Back to blog
 

Begger's All: Ethics and Family Planning

Beggars All: Ethics and Family Planning

Let me also tell our readers something they may not be aware of. My wife and I are "freeks" according to the postmodern world. God has blessed us so far with eight children (two we have buried in anticipation of the resurrection) and still do not practice any overt forms of birth control (I'm 41 and my wife is 39). The world thinks of us as NUTS! Once you have your fourth child, people start saying the stupidest and often cruelest things. Once you have six or more, they start gauking at you worse than if you were Amish. We're considered by the culture as more freekish than any other "family" type (even two mommies). It is nice to sometimes be approached by older women who either came from or had large families. They are so supportive and complementary. We really have a great bunch of kids. I truly believe that Christian children are best nurtured in large families. There is much to be learned in a large family about love and sacrifice and thinking of more than one's self.
At the baptism party yesterday we were asked how many children we planned on having. Apparently people want to know. My wife's pre-fab response is "ask me when I'm in menopause." While it might seem a little old in thinking, we believe marriage was instituted for companionship but also procreation. The fruits of our relationship aren't our making but a gift of God. Caspar's post about his own experience mimics mine. I have to admit that I sometimes have difficulty answering this question. Our attitude about family planning runs contrary to the social norm. People do look at us funny. I don't like the mockery or jokes that we get. But then again since when does behavior laid out by God for Christians ever coincide with the "worldly" opinion? Caspar in his above linked post makes an excellent Biblical and Lutheran case for a proper understanding of all life issues. He recognizes the contradiction (although not explicitly) of the American Christian attitudes on abortion and end of life issues versus the issue of family planning, specifically birth control. If you are like me, the majority of your catechesis (teaching) in the church has been largely silent on this issue. We were directed to Focus on the Family and the Catholics to find any kind of real discussion. It is a sad state of affairs for which we can thank Kinsey, the feminists, and the eugenics movement. Sadly the church has fallen into this understanding without questioning. While this discussion has been largely silent since the 40's it is beginning again. There is a strong population of like-minded fellow students on the campus. A classmate from River Forest maintains a blog for this very discussion. I urge you to read and consider your opinion. Lutherans and Contraception Another interesting related post, especially in regards to birth control on the church: True Church Growth by Family Your comments are welcome.

Posted February 27, 2006 by Christopher Gillespie 
Feb 27, 2006
Jason Evans Groth said...
I cannot take issue with others' beliefs about family planning and children. It is their choice how many children they choose to have, if any, and whether or not they believe in birth control or not. What I take issue with in this post, however, is the demonization of "feminists." The Lutheran church seems to think that women are not people. It assumes that people are "men" and that "women" are "women." This is ignorance. It is unfortunate that the "feminist" movement ever had to name itself -- unfortunate and sinful to think that people of any sex, race, or color, ever had to name a movement in order to qualify as "people". I am sure you can counter this argument with any number of arcane verses, but it seems that Jesus sort of knocked all of that away. But please enlighten me.

My wife and I plan on never having children ourselves. If we ever change our minds, we have decided to adopt. We do not find this to be selfish -- in fact, having children seems more selfish to us at the moment. Women are not merely "baby makers". They have every right to be elders, lawyers, pastors, and even mothers if they choose. The problem of the modern age, and perhaps all ages, is that men struggle for control because we cannot procreate on our own (this is, of course, not the only problem). We oppress to continue life, in a way (white men, and Lutherans, are part of this). We have, since ancient times, oppressed women, mortgaged their bodies and their intellect, and treated them as second-class citizens for many reasons, but number one -- they can have babies and we can't.

Women are now able to procreate without men. Women are now able to make the choice as to whether or not they want to have children at all. I find all of this to be terribly exciting. Finally, women are almost people. I hope we, the church, Lutherans, the government, and the world, recognize them as such now, ten, and one hundred thousand years ago. It is a sin that we do not.

Feb 27, 2006
Dan at Necessary Roughness said...
It sounds like Mr. Groth has proven a major point of Beggars All and ORT; that it is freakish in today's society to consider that men and women are different. Is it so hard to examine our own biology and respect the wishes of our Creator?
Feb 28, 2006
Jason Evans Groth said...
There is no doubt that men and women carry different genitalia. There is no doubt that men and women are shown in everything we see as having different tastes, tendencies, wants, needs, etc. And there is no doubt that the things that show us these differences are, somehow, reflections of the truth. But they are not necessarily true. It is possible to respect the differences of others and still believe in the equality of all. There is no doubt that women are treated as second class citizens -- still -- and for no good reason at all. They are not weak -- they are not stupid -- they are not unable to accomplish anything a man can accomplish -- except what men and the prevailing cultural norms have said they cannot accomplish. Yes, we carry different genitalia. But it is freakish to consider men and women being unequal. It is dreadful to me that Christians today actually perpetuate the myth of inequality.