I am starting to think that the government might want us to be having babies. It's alright with me. There is a new movie coming out following a few babies from birth to year 1 in life. This seems so strange to me that this movie has made it to the theaters. Then I watch the television and everyone on reality tv is going into labor. There are tons of new show about unexpected pregnancy stories, having babies at 15, having 18 babies, birthing stories, designing babies rooms, adopting babies and countless others.
I'm not sure what's going on, but what ever it is, I like it.
8 comments:
I'm the exact opposite. Less babies in this world.
Now.. I'm not saying "kill all the babies" or advocating abortion or anything. I just wish more people practiced self-control and safe sex.
God created sex for procreation, pleasure, and union with Him between spouses. "safe sex"- removing procreation from sex- is robbing the union as God intended it. Babies, and children in general, create tremendous amounts of growth, selflessness and maturity for adults. Throughout scripture, children are always a blessing not a curse because God is the Great giver of life.
Take your rose-tinted glasses off! It’s childish to say that there should be more children in the world when there are already too many. I know there are too many because there are children out there without parents, without a warm place to sleep, without dinner. I not only read about it and see it on the news, but I see it firsthand (on the streets on Seattle, and at the food bank I volunteer at). Last week some gal near Pike Place was begging me for money claiming she was pregnant & could not afford food. I asked her if she couldn’t afford food for herself, how was she going to feed her baby for the next 18 years? There are parents out killing and torturing their own children. And I’m not just talking about people in other countries. It’s happening right here, in Western Washington even (I’m thinking about that man from Tulalip who was recently convinced of murdering his young daughter, or the woman in Carnation who starved her stepdaughter). Or you have people like “Jon & Kate Plus 8” who exploited their children for money, and in the process killed their marriage (making their kids come from a so-called “broken home”). Yes, children are intended to be a blessing from God, but it doesn’t always turn out that way. It’s a sick time, and people are doing desperate things. It is said in the bible that you should stay single, unless you burn with lust. And not everyone who burns with lust is cut out to be a parent, and there were child-less couples in the bible. Katrina argues that having a child “create tremendous amounts of growth, selflessness and maturity for adults”, but I disagree.. Adults should be all of those things before even considering trying to conceive a child. Yes, married couples should practice safe-sex as well as non-married couples (even though I don’t believe in sex before marriage does not mean that it doesn’t happen), and using such measures is not selfish. It’s smart, it’s practical, and it’s taking much needed measures to ensure that your future children will be brought into the world under the best possible circumstances. I mean, you girls & the majority of your friends are in college, right? I’m sure you know young married couples who are still in college, right? Well, newsflash, if they became pregnant, then someone (if not both) is going to have to quit college to go work at the 7-11 just to make ends meet.. It sounds dramatic, but happens every day. That’s no life to bring a baby into.
And I don’t believe the Government wants people to have babies. I think that pop culture, media, and retail want people to have babies because babies sell… its social propaganda.
You’ve used some true and extreme cases (John and Kate, Tulalip father). Yes, these are reality. Yes, these are harsh and terrible. But in no way do these change or dictate the love and community we are called to supply and create. When there are more loving families, willing to sacrifice time and money for their children and community, then there are more people to help those who are in need. I know of many families, including my own, who have been able to nurture and care for unwanted children because of the strong, loving home life we created. Couples do need to seek God’s timing for when they should or should not have kids, but we are all human and imperfect – there are several biblical examples of when it didn’t seem like the “right” timing for someone to be pregnant, but God knew what they needed to fulfill His ultimate purpose. To wait for “the best possible circumstances” may seem like the right thing but isn’t always what God plans for us. I know of several women, including my own mother who have been pregnant at times which society wouldn’t have necessarily marked as ‘the best possible circumstances’ but those have formed and shaped our family the way God intended them to. Obviously there are terrible people out there, selfish and irresponsible, who build an unhealthy, hurtful life for their children- but we can always find bad examples of bad people… in marriage, in careers, in religions… that doesn’t mean we abstain from those things because of their sinful nature. Over the years, my family has taken in many unwanted children; their lives have been changed because of the love our family has to offer. I am not saying everyone should go out and have babies, that’s ridiculous. I know there are many amazing child-less couples and people out there, I am not speaking against them. But, building strong, loving families is a crucial way to extend the mission and love we have been called to do.
Interesting discussion. :) It's funny that this stern discussion arose from a very light-hearted post. I think it's worth noting that Heather was writing tongue-in-cheek when she talked about the government.
Melissa brings up a good point with the oft-forgot words of Jesus, that those who can remain single for the sake of the gospel, should.
On the other hand, some couples can serve Jesus better together than they could have singly.
Katrina, if you're suggesting that "safe sex" at any time is robbing sexual union, I would have to disagree with you. But if you're saying that always and only having safe sex is, I resonate. There is certainly a blessing to be had in having children. To keep yourself from having them is a loss.
On the other hand, not everyone should be a parent. Melissa has a strong point. I presume there are more terrible parents than good parents. Parenting presents a great opportunity to grow, but it seems most parents don't take the opportunity. I see kids being unfairly yelled at in public way more than I see a family that looks truly healthy.
I haven't given much thought at all about concepts of God's will related to birth control. It's easy to be misunderstood when you're talking about large concepts of free will and chances, accidents, the devil's malice, etc in specific terms like pregnancy.
I strongly believe that not all that happens in my life is the will of God. [I do believe He shapes all that happens for His purposes, though.] That being said, I'm reluctant to believe that any pregnancy between my wife and I would absolutely be divine will.
I think it's very important to trust our Creator, as you're implying, Katrina. But I do think it's important to plan as best we can.
Perhaps for some couples God leads them to have no birth-control and have every baby and never tie the tubes - even with the risk of having unhealthy children in the later years, as I've certainly seen. But I don't think it's fair to say every couple should go that route. [this is all assuming you mean people should never have safe sex]
Anyhow, those are my quick reflections on a serious discussion over a very light-hearted blog post.
but, i agree with Heather. more babies in this world.
Yes, many more babies would be lovely!!! As a 'pre' grandma expecting my first grandbaby in March- I am infected by this 'conspiracy' ;)...oh for little cuddly babies who smell like baby (this includes throw up and more) :)
As the saying goes- "Don't throw the baby out with the bath water"- just because there are some terrible scenarios- let us not give up on precious life!!
This was meant to be a very light hearted post. I enjoy the discussion though. When I talk about it being conspiracy I am definitely exaggerating. I love to toy around with the idea that the government is controlling and moving us through the media, but this is a really simple joke I have since reading George Orwell's 1984. So, I hope that you can take what I said here lightly. I do want more babies in the world, but I obviously don't want them to come into this world with irresponsible parents and under horrible conditions. In writing this post I was just showing my love for everything baby and jokingly saying if the government does want us to have more babies I'm in. :)
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