What does God say about children and life?

What does God say about the bearing

of children?

When God created Adam and Eve, the first man and woman, He "blessed them" and said to them, "Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it" (Gen. 1:28; cf. 9:1,7). God's Word also teaches that children are a blessing of the LORD, and that the conception and formation of a child in the womb is the result of God's creative working.

The Bible says: "Lo, children [are] an heritage of the LORD: [and] the fruit of the womb [is his] reward. As arrows [are] in the hand of a mighty man; so [are] children of the youth. Happy [is] the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate" (Ps. 127:3-5).

In the next psalm (Ps. 128), God's Word says: "Blessed [is] every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy [shalt] thou [be], and [it shall be] well with thee. Thy wife [shall be] as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table. Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD. The LORD shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life. Yea, thou shalt see thy children's children, [and] peace upon Israel."

Therefore, even though the world may consider children a burden and a curse because they get in the way of selfish and sinful ambitions and goals, Christians view children as a blessing and gift of God to be desired.

And, even though people often attempt to control the numbers and timing of children born, God is ultimately in control. He gives conception and closes the womb, and He forms each child in the womb of his or her mother and gives life. Consider the examples of Rebekah, Leah, Rachel, Ruth and Hannah (cf. Gen. 25:21; 29:31; 30:22-23; Ruth 4:13; 1 Sam. 1:5,10-11,19-20; 2:21).

The Bible teaches that the conception and formation of a child in its mother's womb is a creative work of God: "For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully [and] wonderfully made: marvellous [are] thy works; and [that] my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, [and] curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all [my members] were written, [which] in continuance were fashioned, when [as yet there was] none of them" (Ps. 139:13-16; cf. Eccl. 11:5).

We also learn from the Bible that it is God's will and command for husbands and wives to seek and desire to have children (Gen. 1:28; 3:16; 9:1,7; 1 Tim. 2:15; 5:14). And, since the Scriptures clearly teach that human life begins at conception when God begins forming the child in the womb, and that it is murder to kill or destroy the life of another human being -- including an unborn child (Ps. 139:13-16; Eccl. 11:5; Gen. 25:21-23; 9:5-6; Ex. 20:13), Christians condemn as sin abortion -- in all its forms -- and reject as contrary to God's will the modern views and practices which would seek to limit and prevent the conception and the bearing of children. Why do Christians regard all human life as sacred?

"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth" (Gen. 1:1); and, "...God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his [own] image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them" (Gen. 1:26-27).

The Bible teaches that every human life is a creation of God and that every human life is precious to God, for God created man in His own image (Gen. 1:26-28; 2:7,21-22; Ps. 139:13-16).

Therefore, except in the cases of punishing evildoers and waging just wars to protect life and property, God has reserved for Himself the right to end or destroy a human life (Genesis 9:5-6; Romans 13:1-4; 1 Peter 2:14; Exodus 20:13; Psalm 31:15; 39:4-5; 90:1-3; Job 14:1-12; Acts 17:24-28).

Therefore, we must condemn as murder and sin the practice of abortion, euthanasia, self-inflicted death (suicide) and all other unjustified taking of human life.

Randy Moll is the managing editor of the Westside Eagle Observer. He may be contacted by email at [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author.