Hi Everyone !
I am new to CF & having just spent the past two days reading the existing posts on 'Quiverfull' It has been really interesting to read all your viewpoints.
I am a sahm mum of five , ranging in age from 9 to 7 weeks and am currently trying to determine God's will in our family.
My Background:
When my third child was about 18 months old, I felt really uncomfortable with the birthcontrol that we were using (depoprovera) - for 2 reasons, 1. it didn't really physically agree with me and 2. I was feeling uneasy about the whole issue of contraception morally (but I didn't know why). Prior to this time I never even thought that having children had anything to do with God's will . So to cut a long story short, I prayed about it a lot & asked God to show me his will regarding children. This is what he did..
I had a strong impression to read Luke 1 :13
And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.
For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.
I was stunned when I read this & in denial !!! Did this mean that by using contraception I could denying the birth of a great man of God?
I did not say anything to my Husband & went away to study it some more. I looked up all the verses in my bible relating to children & womb.
I found children were considered a blessing and a gift, that God opened & closed the womb and he 'knows' you from the womb. I could not find anything in the bible that said we were to control the amount of children born to us.
I was still shaking my head at God 'you must be crazy ! I can't not use contraception.. I don't want 12 children!' and went to the internet. I actually found people who believed that God should be in control of all areas of their lives... including conception. At that point I decided I would discuss this crazy idea with my DH. He further shocked me by saying that he always believed that God should be in control. I asked himwhat he wanted to do.... ( as DH is the head of our family) & he said let God be in control. Shortly thereafter we concieved our 4th child who was born in 2004 & we have not used birth control since.
Since having our fifth baby, I have been having doubts about my ability to cope & and we revisited the whole debate . My selfish human side does not want anymore children, but my overwhelming conviction is that birth control is wrong, & DH & I deciding when & if children can be born certainly is not having faith in God's plan.
So anyway, my position is - I would like to finish having children now, but believe children are a blessing & current methods of birth control do not obey the teachings in the bible...
The pill & hormonal methods -- can act as a abortificent (thou shall not murder)
Diagphram & Condom - causes the man to spill his seed.
Natural family planning - causes couples to withhold themselves from each other for non - biblical reasons.
Sorry if I am rambling.. just putting my thoughts down paper .. so to speak
Dewi
I am new to CF & having just spent the past two days reading the existing posts on 'Quiverfull' It has been really interesting to read all your viewpoints.
I am a sahm mum of five , ranging in age from 9 to 7 weeks and am currently trying to determine God's will in our family.
My Background:
When my third child was about 18 months old, I felt really uncomfortable with the birthcontrol that we were using (depoprovera) - for 2 reasons, 1. it didn't really physically agree with me and 2. I was feeling uneasy about the whole issue of contraception morally (but I didn't know why). Prior to this time I never even thought that having children had anything to do with God's will . So to cut a long story short, I prayed about it a lot & asked God to show me his will regarding children. This is what he did..
I had a strong impression to read Luke 1 :13
But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.
And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.
For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.
I was stunned when I read this & in denial !!! Did this mean that by using contraception I could denying the birth of a great man of God?
I did not say anything to my Husband & went away to study it some more. I looked up all the verses in my bible relating to children & womb.
I found children were considered a blessing and a gift, that God opened & closed the womb and he 'knows' you from the womb. I could not find anything in the bible that said we were to control the amount of children born to us.
I was still shaking my head at God 'you must be crazy ! I can't not use contraception.. I don't want 12 children!' and went to the internet. I actually found people who believed that God should be in control of all areas of their lives... including conception. At that point I decided I would discuss this crazy idea with my DH. He further shocked me by saying that he always believed that God should be in control. I asked himwhat he wanted to do.... ( as DH is the head of our family) & he said let God be in control. Shortly thereafter we concieved our 4th child who was born in 2004 & we have not used birth control since.
Since having our fifth baby, I have been having doubts about my ability to cope & and we revisited the whole debate . My selfish human side does not want anymore children, but my overwhelming conviction is that birth control is wrong, & DH & I deciding when & if children can be born certainly is not having faith in God's plan.
So anyway, my position is - I would like to finish having children now, but believe children are a blessing & current methods of birth control do not obey the teachings in the bible...
The pill & hormonal methods -- can act as a abortificent (thou shall not murder)
Diagphram & Condom - causes the man to spill his seed.
Natural family planning - causes couples to withhold themselves from each other for non - biblical reasons.
Sorry if I am rambling.. just putting my thoughts down paper .. so to speak
Dewi