Jul. 29, 2007 - No, we're not superstitious Christians.
I am venting a bit here, so I will try to be as light-hearted about this as possible. I know I'm in a community (meaning HSB) that is overwhelmed with full-quiver-theology-believing-Christians. And I love you all dearly. I have some very good friends IRL that believe this way as well, but I have to put it out there that I do not agree.
We do believe in having lots of kids, IF YOU WANT LOTS OF KIDS. But we're not control freaks. We are in favor of increasing the number of Christians in the Body of Christ--whether they be Mexican, Arab, Jewish, or Eskimo. For Jesus said that "those who do the will of my Father are my brothers, sisters...." Whether this increase in the Body of Christ happens because of conversion or Christians having kids matters not. And may I point out that we do not know if our children will become Christians. Many children raised in Christian homes are not Christian. I have witnessed this with friends and family. And may I point out that the Apostle Paul, who turned the Roman Empire on its head, was childless (as far as we can ascertain from Scripture).
We know that life is sacred and that we should not violate God's enduring command to "not murder the innocent." One nano-second after conception, there is life--life from God. It is also innocent life that should not be murdered. We do not have the authority to override God's command on this. This includes the morning after pill which, as I understand it, can prevent the implantation of a fertilized egg in the womb. We are 100 percent against abortion. The ambiguous research on birth control pills leads us to believe it is wiser to not use them while both parents are fertile.
Some of this teaching that we are sinning if we don't have a quiver full of kids comes from Catholic teaching. I have heard Catholic priests, when I was young, preach that sex between man and wife is solely to have children and then they would quote Genesis 38:9-10 where God killed Onan for spilling his seed on the ground to keep his dead brother from having an heir. They use this to argue that sex is to procreate and not for any other reason. But they err, not knowing Scripture. For God was angry at Onan for disobeying His command to give his dead brother an heir (Deut. 25:5-6) and not the spilling of his seed on the ground.
Does God micro-manage pregnancies in the womb? No. When reading the Old Testament, we must remember that God had a special relationship with Israel that He does not have with us, today, in the Body of Christ. And God did micro-manage, at times, pregnancies. Abraham having Isaac at age 100 was one such example. He helped Hannah get pregnant with Samuel. He may have done some DNA engineering to get a strong John the Baptist. God can do that. He has the authority to enter His creation and also the authority to take people out of His creation (Enoch and Elijah). He has the authority to kill the wicked--which he did at times with Israel. But He is not doing that today. God does not have to micro-manage every sperm that fertilizes every egg. God created in six days and on the seventh, He rested. His creation runs quite well on its own. I, on the other hand, can't keep the house clean without regular attention.
But back to point, in this area, people think God is punishing some with barrenness or birth defects and blessing others with good looking healthy kids. Not so, and this teaching/belief system adds to much heartache and bitterness within the body of Christ. Because the womb is not seen by the naked eye, it is easy to be superstitious about it, believing something magical/mystical/spiritual is taking place. It's like the engine of a car (bear with me). I have heard Christians say (even said it myself, in the past, before I realized how superstitious it was), "It's a miracle! This morning, my car wouldn't start, and I prayed asking God to start it, and then it started!!" Is that really a miracle? Is it even God? if your tire was flat, would you ask God to re-inflate it for you?? No. Because you can see your tire is flat, and so you will pray asking for God's strength for you to work quickly and efficiently to put on your spare tire. But because we can't see the engine of our car, we will superstitiously pray asking for God to miraculously 'fix' it and then give Him credit for being a good jack-in-the-box, when really the engine just needed to rest for a minute before you tried to start it again.
We ought not be superstitious in our beliefs about God. It's one of the things God mocks in the Bible about pagans, and it makes un-believers even more turned off to Christianity. God wants us to have faith, not supersition. So if you want a full-quiver, by all means, fill it. But let this be your reason - "we love children and want to have lots of them"! Don't try to over-spiritualize it.
Stepping down from my soap-box,
~Lindsay
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Jul. 30, 2007 - I agree
Posted by Hediedforme
This is an issue I went back and forth on, but dh has never wavered. We'll see if we have more in time. Congratulations on your baby that will be making an appearance soon!
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Aug. 3, 2007 - I agree with Much of what you said.
Posted by JacqueDixonSoulRestES
I personally have been on the other end of the soapbox, with a pastor sticking his finger in my face, asking me what I think when a man gets a vasectomy, and my answer was, "I think that isn't any of my business."
I think faith belongs to each of us and we need to not tell each other what to believe about such things. If we read the Word, we love the Lord, and do not try to use His Word to our advantage but to His glory, I don't think this should even be an issue... even if we disagree.
I think you have a right to be mad if other Christians have said things to you, questioning your faith because of this. However, I have been outright accused (as has my dh and daughters) of the way I live, not the things I say to others. There is a fine line there. I can't be mad at you for posting what you did, anymore than the other way around.
It should not affect the love, as it sometimes does.
This was a great post!
blessings to you!
-Jacque
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Aug. 3, 2007 - hmmm...
Posted by naturalbirth
I'm not mad. Maybe you think that because I said I was venting? No, this has just come up a lot lately (you know, with being preg. the fifth time around, people make assumptions and comments...), and I've held my tongue on blogging about it b/c of where my blog is.
I appreciate your comment, but I have to disagree. I think that when Christians believe things about God that aren't true, it gives a wrong picture of Him to the world. He is not magical and mystical. He is real, personal, powerful, relational, righteous. And we should have faith, and be very careful not to be superstitious. The superstitious-ness (if that is a word) of Christians makes Christianity look foolish to the world, and makes Christianity more like other religions.
If I didn't love my fellow Christians, I wouldn't point this out. I would go on allowing them to believe falsehoods. But I do love my neighbor!
In Love :)
lindsay
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