"Empty playgrounds, schools without enough students to stay open, small towns deserted and abandoned. This is not some dystopian vision of the future—demographers warn this is our future. Global population growth is leveling off and by the second half of this century could begin to shrink for the first time since the Bubonic plague struck the world almost 700 years ago. Everything in our society today that depends on people is going to collapse due to this declining population crisis." —Stephen J. Shaw (data scientist and demographer)

 

For the first time in modern history, global population growth is projected to virtually stop by the end of this century. This trend is largely due to declining fertility rates worldwide—a fact highlighted by the Pew Research Center in their recent analysis of United Nations data. But it's no surprise that fertility rates have been declining, given our cultural attitudes toward sex, abortion, and the value of motherhood. ​The common view in society is that children are a nuisance, a burden, and an unwelcome financial drain. Meanwhile, the voices of mainstream media compel men and women to pursue successful careers and a carefree lifestyle, free from the "burdens" of raising children. As a result, birth control and contraception are promoted as the solution to maintaining this ideal. And when unwanted pregnancies occur anyway, abortion clinics stand ready to solve the "problem". 

 

But these voices are in direct opposition to God's established design and His purpose for creating marriage and sexual intercourse. So when looking at this subject from a Biblical perspective, it raises the question: is it wrong for professing Christians to use conventional means of birth control? In the following sections, we will attempt to answer this question.

 

God's Purpose for Marriage: Procreation and Godly Offspring

From the very beginning, God told Adam and Eve to be fruitful and multiply and repeated this directive to Noah after the Flood (Gen 1:28; 9:1). His purpose for creating marriage is clearly expressed in Malachi 2:14-15: "Because the Lord hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth... And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed." 

 

Clearly, God was looking to marriage as a means for procuring a godly lineage within the human race. Therefore, Christian marriages where godly offspring exist are important because they directly fulfill God's desire for "godly seed". Satan, however, knows this and would like to influence not only secular society, but also the thinking of the Church on this matter. He would like to discourage godly couples from choosing to have "too many" children that might then be trained in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Eph 6:4).

 

So how can we combat the devil's plan to destroy "godly seed"? To combat this problem, we must first take a look at the Bible's attitude towards children.

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The Bible's Attitude Toward Children

The Bible speaks of children as a gift from God (Gen 4:1; 33:5), a heritage from the Lord (Ps 127:3-5), a blessing (Lk 1:42), and a crown to the aged (Prov 17:6). God blesses barren women with children (Ps 113:9; Gen 21:1-3; 25:21-22; 30:1-2; 1 Sam 1:6-8; Lk 1:7, 24-25), forms children in the womb (Ps 139:13-16), and knows them before their birth (Jer 1:5; Gal 1:15). To be desolate or infertile in biblical times was viewed as shameful and a curse (Is 49:21). The married woman who couldn't conceive considered herself a failure in her “mission” to bring forth children for her husband. 

 

The Story of Onan: A Biblical Warning Against Birth Control

The story of Judah's sons, Er and Onan, in Genesis 38, illustrates this point. After Er's death, Tamar was given to his brother, Onan, under the law of levirate marriage (Deut 25:5-6). Onan, unwilling to split his inheritance with a child that might be conceived on his brother's behalf, practiced the oldest form of birth control—withdrawal. Genesis 38:10 tells us, "What he did was wicked in the LORD's sight; so He put him to death also."

 

Now whether or not we view Onan's story as an indictment against contraception, it's evident that the Bible promotes the idea of conception. And contraception stands in direct opposition to this. Moreover, none of the godly figures in the Bible are recorded as having ever practiced the use of birth control. Instead, they saw children as a divine blessing, and the man with a full “quiver” was a happy one (Ps 127:5). ​

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The Abortifacient Nature of Some Birth Control Methods

Another crucial aspect to consider is the abortifacient nature of many birth control methods, such as the contraceptive pill. Some of these methods allow fertilization but prevent the newly formed embryo from implanting in the uterine wall. This is often due to a process called uterine hardening, which creates an inhospitable environment for the embryo, ultimately leading to its death. According to the Bible, life begins at conception (Jer 1:5; Ps 51:5; 139:13, 16). Therefore, using the pill or other hormonal treatments that lead to the termination of an embryo is viewed as murder in God's eyes, since it ends human life at its earliest stage. Christians couples must be fully apprised of this fact before deciding whether or not chemical birth control is truly appropriate for them.

 

Historical Christian Opposition Towards Birth Control

For most of the past 2,000 years, Christians have opposed artificial birth control on the grounds that contraception (and abortion) were considered sinful, since they were often associated with pagan practices or heretical beliefs. Also, the early Church believed that the primary purpose of marriage is to procreate. Its doctrines and theology forbade artificial contraception for the following reasons:​

 

• It is contrary to the "natural law" of procreation

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• It promotes the mentality that children are a problem to avoid 

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• It grants humans the authority to decide when or whether a new life should begin—a power that belongs to God

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• It undermines the institution and purpose of marriage

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• It fosters the belief that humans can have complete control over their bodies​

 

The Case for Natural Family Planning

Proponents of “natural family planning” believe that every act of sexual union should be open to the possibility of procreation. From this viewpoint, no method of birth control that presents a barrier to fertilization or introduces hormones that make the uterus inhospitable to a maturing embryo is acceptable, since it violates God’s command in Genesis: 

"And God blessed them, and God said unto them, 'Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth'" (Gen 1:28).​ This verse clearly demonstrates that God expects the human race to multiply and fill the earth through procreation. It's no wonder, then, that satan seeks to undermine this holy directive.

 

God Alone is the Giver of Life with the Power to Open & Close Wombs

The Scriptures make it abundantly clear that only God is the giver of life, and only He has the power to both open and close wombs. This means that the ability to conceive is not merely a biological function but a divine act of God. The Bible provides numerous examples of God's direct intervention in granting or withholding the gift of children:​

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• "For the LORD had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham's wife" (Gen 20:18).

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• "And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren" (Gen 29:31).

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• "And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb" (Gen 30:22).

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• "The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up" (1 Sam2:6).

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• "Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward" (Ps 127:3).

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• "He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD" (Ps 113:9).

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• "And the LORD gave her conception, and she bare a son" (Ruth 4:13).

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Children and Spiritual Leadership in the Church

The Bible also teaches that the more children we have, the more honor and responsibility we are given. As an example of this, both elders and deacons must first be tested on the basis of their children's conduct and submission, implying that without children, they are disqualified from Church oversight (1Tim 3:1-7; Tit 1:5-9).

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Trusting God with Family Planning

In a Christian marriage, choosing to use birth control can be viewed as a lack of faith or trust in God. As the ultimate author of life, God calls us to trust in His divine plan for our families, even when our circumstances—like financial strain or health concerns—compel us to do otherwise. By intervening in the natural process of procreation, we are attempting to control or limit the precious gift of life that God has intended for us, which places us in a compromised spiritual position. Using birth control reflects our distrust of God and our unwillingness to fully surrender family planning into His care. True biblical faith involves relying on God's wisdom and timing, even when it challenges our personal comfort or disrupts our plans. In the end, we must be willing to believe that God's ways are always perfect and sufficient.

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Conclusion

In conclusion, it's clear that the Bible does not support the use of birth control. As Christians, we are called to resist the worldly pressures that urge couples to have fewer or no children, treating procreation as a burden rather than a blessing. Throughout His ministry, Jesus upheld the value of children, even declaring that receiving a child in His name is as if we are receiving Him (Mat 18:5). By faithfully raising godly offspring, we participate in the vital mission of expanding God's Kingdom through the next generation. Let us embrace this high calling and fulfill our role as the Church Jesus desires while advancing His purposes with faith and holy courage.

 

"And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me" (Mat 18:5).