Preaching about procreation in these times is truly difficult. The children in the photo are my 7 kids, and I never planned to have that many children, nor did I have a budget or wealth as some might think to support such a family. If I hadn’t given my life to Christ at 22, I wouldn’t have formed a Christian home and probably wouldn’t have had so many children. But whether you’re Christian or not, whether you’ve surrendered your life to Christ (which I invite you to do at the end of this study), it’s important to be clear about what God says through His Word about children and procreation. The birth rate statistics in Spain are chilling. In 2014, a study by La Caixa confirmed that Spain is at the bottom of the birth rate in Europe, with an average of 1.3 children per woman, compared to 2.05 in Ireland, 2 in France, or 1.90 in Sweden. In Latin America, the average is over 2 children, citing, for example, 2.6 in the case of Peru and 2.4 in Colombia.
CHILDREN ARE A BLESSING FROM GOD
On the second page of the Bible, it says:
“And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” Genesis 1:28
I always say jokingly that if we don’t believe what the second page of the Bible says, will we believe the rest? But the Word is clear, saying, “God blessed them” and “be fruitful and multiply.” A Christian marriage should be very clear about this. The world does not believe in it because it does not believe in God or in the power of God. We live in a clear era of narcissism, but Christians must have faith, put Christ first, and not allow ourselves to be contaminated by the thoughts and currents of the masses on the subject of family and children.
In Genesis 9:7, the same thing is repeated (or confirmed):
“And as for you, be fruitful and multiply; bring forth abundantly in the earth and multiply in it.”
CONTRACEPTIVE METHODS: ARE THEY ALLOWED BY THE BIBLE
“And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother’s wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother. And Onan knew that the seed should not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother’s wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest that he should give seed to his brother. And the thing which he did displeased the Lord: wherefore he slew him also.” Genesis 38: 8-10
Today we live in a world turned upside down. When people are young in their 20s or 30s, they use contraceptive measures everywhere, and when they later want to have children, they cannot because they have physiologically altered their bodies with those measures or because they have passed the age. Then they turn to fertility clinics to have a child, and we find ourselves in the greatest era of triplets and quintuplets in history.
Spain is the European country with the highest birth rate of twins and the third worldwide, with an average rate of 4% of births, while the normal rate is between 1 and 1.5%. Why don’t we heed the Bible and let God bless us with children?
DESCENDANCE FOR GOD
Why does God desire that a Christian marriage have several (if not many) children? Very simple, because God knows that we are going to instruct our children in the ways of God.
If we contrast this with the Bible, God promises Abraham a great offspring even when his wife was barren.
“Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.”” Genesis 15:5
God wanted to give children to Abraham because He knew that Abraham would teach them the way of God.
“For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.” Genesis 18:19
And indeed, there is nothing that pleases God more than us having children and teaching them the way of God. Therefore, God is very clear that in a Christian marriage, the offspring will be for Him, and He desires to give us offspring for that purpose.
“Did he not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union? And what was the one God seeking? Godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth.” Malachi 2:15
WHEN TO HAVE CHILDREN? AT 20, 30, OR 40 YEARS OLD?
If we ask this question to a doctor, they will tell us that the most suitable age to have children from a physiological point of view is at an early age since a woman’s body has better qualities. However, physiological aspects differ from mental or spiritual ones. In a Christian marriage, children should be born as soon as possible, without expecting anything in return (material things) from God.
In the book of Psalms, we find these precious verses:
“Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.” Psalm 127:4-5.
Our first child was born when my wife and I were 26 years old, and our last one was almost at 40, and honestly, it’s not the same to have a child in your twenties as it is in your forties. The body is not the same, nor is the patience or vitality. Of course, if we had married late, waiting to have a better financial stability or greater maturity, we wouldn’t have been able to have many children because neither the body nor the wife’s fertile age would allow it.
IS IT NECESSARY TO HAVE MONEY TO HAVE CHILDREN?
During the time of the prophet Jeremiah, the people of Israel had been taken captive to Babylon; they had lost everything (their houses, lands, possessions…), and God tells them not to think about returning but to marry and have “sons and daughters.”
“Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease.” Jeremiah 28:6
Considering the context of this passage, it couldn’t be worse, but God told them to have faith.
The current world we live in leads us to first have good jobs, good houses, good financial stability, and then get married and have children. Eventually, people marry late and have few children. In my case, I got married at 24, with a typical incipient job for that age, no own house, living in a modest rented place, no financial stability, nothing material at all. But I had great wealth because I had God in my life and in my marriage. With the wedding and with the children, God has been giving blessing after blessing as it says in the Bible:
“All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God: You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country. The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks. Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed.” Deuteronomy 28:2-5
Therefore, having several children is an act of faith. If we have faith in the Lord and entrust our lives and our marriage to Him, He will act.
SHOULD GOD’S MINISTERS GET MARRIED AND HAVE CHILDREN?
The first reference to ministers (priests) of God were the Levites who married and had children. Also, the apostles were married individuals, and although the Word does not mention their children, they probably had them. In Matthew 8:14, there is a direct reference to the mother-in-law of the apostle Peter:
“And when Jesus was come into Peter’s house, he saw his wife’s mother laid, and sick of a fever.”
But the clearest mention of this issue is in 1 Timothy 3, where the Word recounts the requirements of bishops and deacons. In the specific case of bishops (which includes pastors, priests, or ministers), it says:
“This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)” 1 Timothy 3:1-4
So, the Lord tells pastors and ministers that if they marry, they should have children (plural) and rule their house well. Having children is crucial because members of a congregation will turn to their minister or pastor when they face difficulties in raising their children or in their marriage, expecting to receive word and counsel from their pastor. Such members will expect to receive spiritual guidance and advice that will help them in the Christian upbringing of their children. However, if the pastor has no life experience on this subject, he will struggle to provide Christian counsel.
FINALLY, WHAT SHOULD I DO?
The issue of children is a personal and free decision of each marriage. Pray with your spouse for God’s guidance on how to proceed in this important area of marital life. Children are the responsibility of both spouses, not just one, so it is necessary for both to be spiritual and seek God’s guidance. In my personal case, it was not easy due to sacrifices and hard work, but I can say that I do not regret it at all because the Lord has fulfilled in our lives everything He says in His Word, and thanks to my children, I have grown spiritually and as a person.
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