Is There Biblical Support for Church Teaching on Birth Control?
Originally posted on Catholic Online Forum
It has been asked 'where in the bible does Jesus speak against artificial birth control?' (Or was it 'where in the bible are we told artificial birth control is wrong, sinful?')
Jesus did not speak directly against artificial birth control, for such a thing did not exist at that time. If He had spoke against it, it would not have been understood exactly what He was referring to. Just like if He stated “It is wrong to pull the plug on someone’s feeding tube”. They would have all turned to each other with blank looks on their faces.
But He did address the issue which is the foundation of the Church’s standing on artificial birth control. That is the issue of the importance of our life giving qualities within the context of marriage. Now some may argue that this has to be delved into rather too deeply for understanding, to be a Truth that Jesus wanted us to have. But Jesus’ words have a way of being multilayered. Many meanings and Truths oftentimes share the same words spoken by Him. That is just another wonderful quality of Our Lord. This is why we are to pray to the Holy Spirit for guidance. For our Lord’s words speak to us today of Truths that those in His day would not have been able to comprehend. And I suspect that future generations will have a need for guidance from His words that would be equally incomprehensible for us today. I often wonder how many times He actually stated “Let those with ears hear”.
In Mark chapter 10 the Pharisees question Jesus about divorce, and He answers by first speaking of marriage:
2 The Pharisees approached and asked, "Is it lawful for a husband to divorce his wife?" They were testing him. 3 He said to them in reply, "What did Moses command you?" 4 They replied, "Moses permitted him to write a bill of divorce and dismiss her." 5 But Jesus told them, "Because of the hardness of your hearts he wrote you this commandment. 6 But from the beginning of creation, 'God made them male and female. 7 For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother (and be joined to his wife), 8 and the two shall become one flesh.' So they are no longer two but one flesh. 9 Therefore what God has joined together, no human being must separate."
Let us look in Genesis chapter 1, where Jesus took an actual quote from (one of the few times where the actual scripture Jesus quoted is recorded. So it must be very important).
26 Then God said: "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and the cattle, and over all the wild animals and all the creatures that crawl on the ground." 27 God created man in his image; in the divine image He created him; male and female He created them. 28 God blessed them, saying: "Be fertile and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and all the living things that move on the earth."
Notice here that we are made in God’s image, male and female in his image. In sterilizing ourselves, either temporarily or permanently, changing that which God created us to be, we alter the image. For God is life-giving, so therefore we, made in His image, are also made to be life-giving. Bring in the fact that Jesus quoted this scripture verse in talking about marriage, stating that the two shall become one flesh so that they are no longer two, but one flesh. Can we not see how the blessing of marriage is God’s way of showing Himself to us? Can we not see how sterilizing ourselves with ABC alters our beings so that we can no longer reflect a True image of God the way He intended us to? Can we not see how ABC prevents us from becoming one flesh? Is it so surprising that the rate of divorce corresponds so closely with the rate of ABC usage? Sex within marriage, by God’s intent, becomes more then just a physical act of pleasure or a form of procreation. The nuptial act of sex is actually a way of drawing closer to God! It is also a physical manifestation on earth an image of the makeup of the Trinity! If we interfere with the design God gave our sexual unions, we are interfering with our relationship with God. We are interfering with our understanding of God. What kind of guidance would our Church be if it approves of us behaving in such a manner?
The Theology of the Body is not just some human man’s invention. The Theology of the Body is an example of how the Church is ‘modern and updated’ by addressing a modern problem and explaining it with a biblical foundation (Mark 10, Genesis 1). It is inspired by the Holy Spirit
God bless Pope Benedict XVI! May his shoulders be strong.
posted by Paula @ 10:56 PM
4 Comments:
Never quite thought of it that way before. Interesting viewpoint.
Hey Paula,
I followed your link and found this post most interesting. I just want to address one point you make right away.
When I make bring this issue to you, I want to say first that I do not believe I should tear down your position that using birth control is a problem. I am Catholic, as you know, but the Church and I differ on this and the married priest issue.
I hope saying that doesn't make what follows offensive to you.
There was artificial birth control at the time of Jesus. The Egyptians had practiced it since the birth of civilization (condoms) and almost all peoples had some form of elixer that could either render folks temporarily infertile or create spontaneous abortions.
I will say positive things now:
Thanks for putting a biblical perspective of this issue. It means a lot. keep the dialogue up.
I am trying not to be either 1) a hypocrite, or 2) a heretic. Non-spontaneous abortion inducing birth control just doesn't seem wrong to me.
God bless!
Zack
Zack,
I'm glad you popped over to my site, and doubly glad you responded to my posting.
Having earnest questions about our Catholic faith is neither hypocritical nor heretical. Choosing to ignore the teachings while refusing to look into why the Church teaches the way she does on the other hand is heresy, and then continuing to call oneself Catholic after one acknowledges they are not behaving in a manner Catholics are called to behave, that is hypocrisy. But I do not believe you to be doing either.
I believe if one has disagreements with Catholic teaching, one must not hide that and just follow teaching blindly. One must still follow the teaching, but one must also look further into the teaching, leaving no Catholic stone unturned if you will, until one reaches an understanding. Such experiences draw us closer to God, and God blesses us with wonderful graces when we have an open heart, and this aids in our understanding of the Church's teachings.
I too have had issues about such matters as birth control, women and married priests, and when I was much younger nonmarital sex, and even the True Presence. But when I finally opened my heart to God and looked further into the 'why' instead of insisting I and those that agreed with me were right, God blessed me with an inner understanding that at first I could not (and much I still cannot) express with words or logically in my head.
Yet somehow my heart knew (and knows) and I followed (and follow) that, and am slowly learning logically that which God has already instilled in my heart. I have yet much to learn. But (like a child who does not run out in the middle of the street after my ball because that is what my parents taught me, even though I do not understand why yet) I choose to follow all Church teaching even the ones I do not understand...yet.
I often remind myself of my favorite bible verse:
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths."
Proverbs 3:5-6
Regarding your statement about the artificial forms of birth control in Jesus' times. You are correct. When I originally posted this on the Catholic Online Forum, I knew that forms of birth control were not foreign in those times, but this fact slipped past me when I wrote it, I was thinking more along the terms of the Pill or IUD, those sort of things. Later I did think about it, and it was a good lesson to be a bit more cautious about making points.
Thank you for pointing it out to me though, for had I not thought about it already, I would have wanted to. It does no good to make 'arguments' with statements that don't hold a lot of water.
I'm glad to hear of others differentiating between artificial birth control(ABC) that can be abortive, and ABC that is not abortive.
As for the whys ABC is not healthy for our souls and relationship to God, and how it can damage marriages, you may want to check into the "Theology of the Body" by Pope John Paul. Christopher West has written some good introductory books on the TOB. If he ever comes into your neck of the woods to speak, I highly recommend checking it out. I attended a seminar here in 2004, and it was like sunlight pouring into darkness for me.
Thanks for your comments, I'm excited that my blog captured your interest. I don't maintain it very well, lol. It's just my bits and pieces blog. Maybe having some people interacting with me on it will get me more motivated to post more.
Very nice of you to talk with me about these important issues. God bless!
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