What does the Bible say about birth control?
Can believers use birth control?
Birth control and its use can be found in principles given in the Bible. The Bible also gives us guidelines concerning the sex life, in general, within a marriage. The Bible does say states a husband and wife can decide to refrain from sex for Christian purposes such as spiritual needs. They can also decide, out of love, to have sex but not have it lead to the birth of children. It should be noted that the Bible doesn't teach sex should only occur for the purpose of bearing children.
The Apostle Paul said a husband and wife can refrain from sex by mutual consent, certainly a form of birth control, so they can fast or pray (1Corinthians 7:1-6, NKJV). However, each mate must not defraud each other to fulfill their sexual needs. If both love each other, they will try to keep each other content sexually. Since they are Christians and love each other, they should also consider what each is able to fulfill sexually. One mate should not take advantage of the other or use birth control (abstaining) as a weapon. God Himself made the fertility cycle in a woman where she can only become pregnant when she ovulates. God therefore gives us an example of physical birth control (she can only get pregnant at certain times of the month). Economics could be a reason not to have sex because one has too many children or cannot afford to support any. Under such a rational loving consideration for the marriage, they can refrain from having children. Obviously, this does not mean not having any sex as that would lead to adultery, which is sinful (1Corinthians 7:9). Therefore, preventing pregnancy through birth control methods is permitted if doing so is the best for the family and is based on love.
There is nothing in the word of God that speaks against limiting the number of children a couple has by using contraception such as condoms. Condoms are just another way of not getting pregnant just like abstaining from sex when a woman is in her fertile period. Using pills that block conception accomplishes the same purpose. Using these drugs, however, is each person's free right to decide since every drug has a side effect and may be dangerous to health.
Abortion (which some may think as a form of birth control), according to the Bible, is a sin since once a sperm and ovum is united a new human exists. Killing that new life is murder in God's eyes. According to the Bible, the only requirement when sperm from the man is spilled is that they both should wash with water to keep themselves clean so disease doesn't spread (Leviticus 14-15).
A scriptural example related to birth control concerns the refusal of a man to continue his brother's family line with his widow. God stated it was a sin when the brother spilled his sperm on purpose so that the family line would not continue:
"And Judah said to Onan, 'Go in to your brother’s wife and marry her, and raise up an heir to your brother.' But Onan knew that the heir would not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in to his brother’s wife, that he emitted (ejaculated) on the ground, lest he should give an heir to his brother. And the thing which he did displeased the Lord; therefore He killed him also." (Genesis 38:8-10)
When we search the Word, we find God makes sense and everything He does is out of what is good for us because He loves us.
Can believers use birth control?
Birth control and its use can be found in principles given in the Bible. The Bible also gives us guidelines concerning the sex life, in general, within a marriage. The Bible does say states a husband and wife can decide to refrain from sex for Christian purposes such as spiritual needs. They can also decide, out of love, to have sex but not have it lead to the birth of children. It should be noted that the Bible doesn't teach sex should only occur for the purpose of bearing children.
The Apostle Paul said a husband and wife can refrain from sex by mutual consent, certainly a form of birth control, so they can fast or pray (1Corinthians 7:1-6, NKJV). However, each mate must not defraud each other to fulfill their sexual needs. If both love each other, they will try to keep each other content sexually. Since they are Christians and love each other, they should also consider what each is able to fulfill sexually. One mate should not take advantage of the other or use birth control (abstaining) as a weapon. God Himself made the fertility cycle in a woman where she can only become pregnant when she ovulates. God therefore gives us an example of physical birth control (she can only get pregnant at certain times of the month). Economics could be a reason not to have sex because one has too many children or cannot afford to support any. Under such a rational loving consideration for the marriage, they can refrain from having children. Obviously, this does not mean not having any sex as that would lead to adultery, which is sinful (1Corinthians 7:9). Therefore, preventing pregnancy through birth control methods is permitted if doing so is the best for the family and is based on love.
There is nothing in the word of God that speaks against limiting the number of children a couple has by using contraception such as condoms. Condoms are just another way of not getting pregnant just like abstaining from sex when a woman is in her fertile period. Using pills that block conception accomplishes the same purpose. Using these drugs, however, is each person's free right to decide since every drug has a side effect and may be dangerous to health.
Abortion (which some may think as a form of birth control), according to the Bible, is a sin since once a sperm and ovum is united a new human exists. Killing that new life is murder in God's eyes. According to the Bible, the only requirement when sperm from the man is spilled is that they both should wash with water to keep themselves clean so disease doesn't spread (Leviticus 14-15).
A scriptural example related to birth control concerns the refusal of a man to continue his brother's family line with his widow. God stated it was a sin when the brother spilled his sperm on purpose so that the family line would not continue:
"And Judah said to Onan, 'Go in to your brother’s wife and marry her, and raise up an heir to your brother.' But Onan knew that the heir would not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in to his brother’s wife, that he emitted (ejaculated) on the ground, lest he should give an heir to his brother. And the thing which he did displeased the Lord; therefore He killed him also." (Genesis 38:8-10)
When we search the Word, we find God makes sense and everything He does is out of what is good for us because He loves us.
