Birth Control and the Bible

Question?  -  Newsletter  -  New!  -  Ad Space
Dating / Sex / Marriage Series
Marry Cousin?   -   Adultery   -   Divorce
Marriage License?   -   Wedding Rings   -   Kissing
Defiled Sex?  -  Sodomy  -  Polygamy  -  MORE!
Does the Bible permit the use of birth control pills, condoms, and so on to prevent pregnancy?

A Marital Decision

Birth control, as well as guidelines concerning intercourse within marriage, can be found within the pages of the Bible. Scripture states that a husband and wife can decide to refrain from such intimacy for Christian purposes such as spiritual needs. They can also decide, out of love, to enjoy intimacy while preventing the production of children. They are allowed to enjoy it for its own sake.

Refrain by Consent

The Apostle Paul said a husband and wife can refrain from intercourse by mutual consent, certainly a form of preventing birth, so they can fast or pray (1Corinthians 7:1 - 6, NKJV). However, each mate must not defraud each other to fulfill their needs.

If both love each other, they will try to keep each other content in the martial relationship. Since they are Christians, they should also consider what each is able to fulfill in bed. One mate should not take advantage of the other or use abstaining under the guise of that it is being done as a form of birth control. Intercourse should not be weaponized as punishment towards a mate.

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 the physical control of birth (she can only get pregnant at certain times of the month).

Economics could be a reason not to have intercourse because one should be able to afford any humans they choose to bring into the world. Under such a rational loving consideration for the marriage, they can refrain from having children. Obviously, this does not mean refraining completely from any intimacy, as that would lead to adultery, which is sinful (1Corinthians 7:9).

Preventing pregnancy through certain methods is permitted if doing so is the best for the family and is based on love.

Limiting Children

There is nothing in God's word that is against limiting the number of children. Condoms are just another way of not getting pregnant just like abstaining from intimacy 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 one's health.

Abortion (which some perversely believe is a form of controlling birth) is wrong and 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 word of God, the only requirement when sperm from the man is spilled is that they both should wash with water to keep themselves clean so disease is not spread (Leviticus 14 - 15).

A scriptural example related to controlling or preventing birth 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 offspring to your brother."

And Onan knew that the offspring would not be his. And it came to pass when he went in to his brother’s wife, that he spilled his seed on the ground, not giving offspring to his brother.

And what he did was evil in the eyes of the Lord. Therefore He killed him also (Genesis 38:8 - 10).

Conclusion

When we search the Bible, we find God makes sense and everything He says and does is out of what is good for us because He loves us. This especially includes his principles regarding birth control and the use of contraceptives.

Recommended Articles
What Special Relationship Does God Want?
Lesbians and the Bible
Did Illicit Sex Produce Old Testament Giants?
Outlines of Biblical Books!




Dating / Sex / Marriage
Does Bible Approve of Dating?
Is It Better to Be Single?
Should God Choose Our Mate?
What Is the Best Age for Marriage?
What About Interracial Dating?
Are Couples Living Together Married?
Arranged Marriages
Marriage Contracts
Sex Before Marriage
What Does Bible Say About Sex?
Sex During a Woman's Period
Can a Husband Rape His Wife?
Abusive Husbands
Best Bible Verses For Weddings
How Does the Bible Define Marriage?
What Is Unequally Yoked?
Best Bible Verses About Marriage
Best Bible Verses About Family
Humorous Marriage Quotes
Traits of a Virtuous Wife!
Can a Husband Convert His Wife?
Adultery in Proverbs
Should Wives Be Submissive?
Parents In Proverbs