Does the Bible say it's acceptable to abstain as a form of birth control?

  • Thread starter Thread starter ManOnFire
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
M

ManOnFire

Guest
Does the Bible say it’s acceptable to abstain as a form of birth control? Are there any other references to any forms of birth control of those times?
 
Abstain? As in not have sex at all? Yes, that is perfectly acceptable. The only other method I can think of which was mentioned in the Bible is Onin. He withdrew before he ejaculated. That was harshly condemned, though, so it is not an acceptable method.
 
OxygenMan said:
Abstain? As in not have sex at all? Yes, that is perfectly acceptable. The only other method I can think of which was mentioned in the Bible is Onin. He withdrew before he ejaculated. That was harshly condemned, though, so it is not an acceptable method.
Click to expand...
Oh sorry. I meant abstain during fertile periods, but now that I think about it, I don’t know it that info was even theorized by people back then.
 
I have one that would apply, but first, I’ll preface by saying that nowhere in the Bible does it say that all teachings of the Church must be found in the Bible. But that’s an argument for a different day. That said, wisdom formed by Biblical principals helps the Church discern every issue of life and teach the Christian how to live a life of virtue and sanctification.

So, Natural Family Planning (NFP) developed in the context of the Church to help us become more aware of the natural cycles of the female body so spouses can lessen the possibility or increase the possibility of becoming pregnant depending on their desire. Theology of the Body is another teaching that helps us understand, respect and appreciate our bodies and human sexuality.

That said, here’s a Bible verse that applies to abstaining in marriage:

"For the wife does not rule over her own body, but the husband does; likewise the husband does not rule over his own body, but the wife does. Do not refuse one another except perhaps by agreement for a season, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, lest Satan tempt you through lack of self-control." (1 Corinthians 7:4-5)

It was also custom in the Church at one time to abstain from intercourse during Lent and Advent and also on Sunday. In many Eastern Orthodox churches the old ladies will give a woman a hard time if she has a baby due in December–“Ahhh, you broke the Fast!”
 
ManOnFire said:
Oh sorry. I meant abstain during fertile periods, but now that I think about it, I don’t know it that info was even theorized by people back then.
Click to expand...
The Church, which has the power of binding and loosing, has declared that it is acceptable.
 
ManOnFire said:
Oh sorry. I meant abstain during fertile periods, but now that I think about it, I don’t know it that info was even theorized by people back then.
Click to expand...
Correct - the ancient concept of reproduction was that the male seed contained the complete child and the woman was merely an incubator for the early development of the child (adding nothing to the physical makeup of the child except nourishment).

This misunderstanding of biology contributed to numerous issues which persist even in today’s teachings.
 
ManOnFire said:
It sounds like it’s more practical than biblical.
Click to expand...
As with many Church teachings, it is not an either/or situation, but both/and. The point is to be open to the gift of life so that both the procreative and the unitive aspects of marriage may be respected and fulfilled. The “be fruitful and multiply” is not given on a rigid schedule, after all.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top