Sola scriptura and contraception

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Sola scriptura advocates, prior to 1930, every Protestant church, regardless of denomination, taught, based on scripture alone, that contraception was against God’s law?

Which scripture passages, prior to 1930, did sola scriptura advocates use, to condemn contraception, and which scripture passages do some, (not all) - sola scriptura advocates use today to condone it?

The only thing I could find regarding the condemnation of contraception, is the following passage, and it is not a proscription against contraception per se; what Onan seems to be violating is his duty to his brother’s wife. I could find nothing that condones contraception:
  • “Then Judah said to Onan, “Sleep with your brother’s wife and fulfill your duty to her as a brother-in-law to raise up offspring for your brother.” But Onan knew that the child would not be his; so whenever he slept with his brother’s wife, he spilled his semen on the ground to keep from providing offspring for his brother. What he did was wicked in the LORD’s sight; so the LORD put him to death also.” Gen. 38:9 *
 
You’re misunderstanding the concept of* sola scriptura*.

And there are still plenty of Protestants today who disapprove of contraception.
 
VeniEmmanuel said:
You’re misunderstanding the concept of* sola scriptura*.

And there are still plenty of Protestants today who disapprove of contraception.
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Okay, then break it down for me and then respond to the OP? I know there are Protestants today who disapprove of contraception, I’ll change the OP to: some sola scriptura advocates…
 
I am very interested in the topic of this discussion, and will post a reply tomorrow at some point, but for the moment it is too late, and I need to go to sleep.
 
VeniEmmanuel said:
I am very interested in the topic of this discussion, and will post a reply tomorrow at some point, but for the moment it is too late, and I need to go to sleep.
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Looking forward to it Veni. Get your sleep.

God bless
 
joe370 said:
Sola scriptura advocates, prior to 1930, every Protestant church, regardless of denomination, taught, based on scripture alone, that contraception was against God’s law?
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I’ve heard this before from Catholic sources but I haven’t been able to verify it. I was born in 1945 and was very aware of the introduction of the birth control pill. At the time, I heard Catholics were opposed to it on moral grounds but heard nothing about the position of any other group on this subject. I have been a Baptist all my life and I know quite a bit about Baptist history, and it has always been a non issue. They never promoted birth control; they never opposed it either because to them it is not a moral issue. If you can show me where Baptists ever opposed birth control, I will gladly recant but I don’t think you can.
 
Zenas said:
I’ve heard this before from Catholic sources but I haven’t been able to verify it. I was born in 1945 and was very aware of the introduction of the birth control pill. At the time, I heard Catholics were opposed to it on moral grounds but heard nothing about the position of any other group on this subject. I have been a Baptist all my life and I know quite a bit about Baptist history, and it has always been a non issue. They never promoted birth control; they never opposed it either because to them it is not a moral issue. If you can show me where Baptists ever opposed birth control, I will gladly recant but I don’t think you can.
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The OP is not limited to just the Baptist church. Zenas, the questions are: prior to 1930, every Protestant church, regardless of denomination, taught, based on scripture alone, that contraception was against God’s law?

Which scripture passages, prior to 1930, did sola scriptura advocates use, to condemn contraception, and which scripture passages do some, (not all) - sola scriptura advocates use today to condone it?
 
joe370 said:
The OP is not limited to just the Baptist church. Zenas, the questions are: prior to 1930, every Protestant church, regardless of denomination, taught, based on scripture alone, that contraception was against God’s law?

Which scripture passages, prior to 1930, did sola scriptura advocates use, to condemn contraception, and which scripture passages do some, (not all) - sola scriptura advocates use today to condone it?
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They didn’t use scripture before 1930. They don’t use scripture now. Like I said, with Baptists it has always been a non issue. Would you use scripture to tell you whether to use a Mac or a PC?

I really can’t speak for any group except Baptists.
 
Roman_Catholic said:
Hello Veni. What is your understanding of Sola Scriptura?

God bless
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It seems to me that the traditional understanding of Sola Scriptura is that the scriptures are the final judge in all theological matters. So if there was a clear message in the scriptures that contraception was either permissible or impermissible, then some church or person who held to the doctrine of Sola Scriptura would have to hold to that message of the sciptures. However, if there is no clear message or if the issue simply is not mentioned, then it is not the case that the Lutheran, for example, would have to have no position on the permissibility of contraception, as he could use philosophy or theology to come to a position on that ethical issue.

Seeing the Bible as the final authority does not necessarily mean that all other philosophy or theology goes out the window.

So the reason that the pre-1930’s Protestants Churches were against contraception could (not directly, anyway) have any thing to do with the Scriptures, but could because they believed in natural law theory or some other philosophical theory that was anti-contraception.
 
Zenas said:
They didn’t use scripture before 1930. They don’t use scripture now. Like I said, with Baptists it has always been a non issue. Would you use scripture to tell you whether to use a Mac or a PC?

I really can’t speak for any group except Baptists.
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So, speaking on behalf of just the Baptist church, you are suggesting that the Baptist church did not, prior to 1930, and does not presently, use scripture alone (sola scriptura) - to disapprove/denounce contraception?

Okay, so what did the Baptist church use prior to 1930, and what does the Baptist church use today, to disapprove/denounce contraception, if not sacred scripture?
 
So sola scriptura (bible alone) - is not the Christians final authority per se, for sola scriptura advocates? Philosophy or theology, outside sacred scripture, can also be a means to doctrinal truth for the sola scriptural advocate?
VeniEmmanuel said:
It seems to me that the traditional understanding of Sola Scriptura is that the scriptures are the final judge in all theological matters. So if there was a clear message in the scriptures that contraception was either permissible or impermissible, then some church or person who held to the doctrine of Sola Scriptura would have to hold to that message of the sciptures. However, if there is no clear message or if the issue simply is not mentioned, then it is not the case that the Lutheran, for example, would have to have no position on the permissibility of contraception, as he could use philosophy or theology to come to a position on that ethical issue.

Seeing the Bible as the final authority does not necessarily mean that all other philosophy or theology goes out the window.

So the reason that the pre-1930’s Protestants Churches were against contraception could (not directly, anyway) have any thing to do with the Scriptures, but could because they believed in natural law theory or some other philosophical theory that was anti-contraception.
Click to expand...
 
Zenas said:
I’ve heard this before from Catholic sources but I haven’t been able to verify it. I was born in 1945 and was very aware of the introduction of the birth control pill. At the time, I heard Catholics were opposed to it on moral grounds but heard nothing about the position of any other group on this subject. I have been a Baptist all my life and I know quite a bit about Baptist history, and it has always been a non issue. They never promoted birth control; they never opposed it either because to them it is not a moral issue. If you can show me where Baptists ever opposed birth control, I will gladly recant but I don’t think you can.
Click to expand...
Hey Zenas,

In 1931 after the Lambeth Conference made their decision on birth control The Committee on Home and Marriage of the old Federal Council of Churches issued a statement defending their decision and argued in favor of limiting family size by contraception. This statement was protested by Southern Methodists, Southern Baptists, and Southern Presbyterians.

There is a Baptist preacher named Dr. Thomas White who tries to raise awareness about birth control and preaches against it’s use.

Also Luther, Calvin, and Wesley were against birth control. I couldn’t find specifics from the Baptists, but here are statements from other denominations after the 1930 Anglican Lambeth Conference that allowed birth control.

The Lutheran Church
  • “Birth Control, as popularly understood today and involving the use of contraceptives, is one of the most repugnant of modern aberrations, representing a 20th century renewal of pagan bankruptcy.”
    — Dr. Walter A. Maier, Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri.
The Methodist Church
  • “The whole disgusting [birth control] movement rests on the assumption of man’s sameness with the brutes. … Its [the Federal Council of Churches] deliverance on the matter of birth control has no authorization from any churches representing it, and what it has said I regard as most unfortunate, not to use any stronger words. It certainly does not represent the Methodist Church, and I doubt if it represents any other Protestant Church in what it has said on this subject.”
    — Bishop Warren Chandler, Methodist Episcopal Church South, April 13, 1931.
The Presbyterian Church
  • “Its [Federal Council of Churches] recent pronouncement on birth control should be enough reason, if there were no other, to withdraw from support of that body, which declares that it speaks for the Presbyterian and other Protestant churches in ex cathedra pronouncements.”
    — The Presbyterian, April 2, 1931.
Here is a really informative article written by a Lutheran on the Christian tradition and birth control,
touchstonemag.com/archives/article.php?id=20-04-020-f
 
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