Question
What is the Christian view on sex, and can you use any form of birth control?
Answer
The gospel of Christ is very specific that sex is permitted only within the marriage bond. The word fornication is the all-inclusive term for sexual immorality. No one who practices immorality can enter into life (1 Cor. 6:9–10). However, the marriage relationship exists not just for the purpose of procreation (as some mistakenly teach) but also for the lawful satisfaction of the natural desires which God gave us. 1 Cor. 7:1–5 deals directly with this issue. Paul writes, “Because of immoralities, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. Let the husband fulfill his duty to his wife, and likewise also the wife to her husband.” As you can see, the argument in favor of marriage is based not upon procreation but upon the satisfaction of desire. It is a way to avoid immorality. In verses 8–9 the apostle acknowledges that there are advantages to remaining unmarried, but hastens to add: “If they do not have self-control, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn” (meaning, burn with desire). The argument against birth-control maintains that marital sex is solely for the purpose of procreation. As we can see from this passage, that argument is false. Therefore, birth control itself is not sinful unless it interferes with life after conception. Abortion would be sinful because it presumes that human life doesn’t actually begin until birth. Abortion pills and even devices such as the IUD fall into this same category. One more thing: though the Scriptures present the case for sexual satisfaction as a reason for marriage, it is still true that God’s first command to His creation was to “be fruitful and multiply…” (Gen. 1:28). Young couples who are putting off having children for the sake of careers, financial gains, or worldly enjoyments should think twice about the direction of their lives. From a biblical perspective, one of the greatest fulfillments of a woman’s creative purpose is the bearing of children (1 Tim. 2:15).
By Doug Focht
