Posted on 01/17/2006 1:31:49 PM PST by WKB
Rev. R. Albert Mohler, Jr., the president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, says it's "an absolute revolt against God's design" if husbands and wives purposely avoid bearing children.
On his Web site and other articles and interviews, Mohler argues that "marriage, sex and children are part of one package" and that "to deny any part of this wholeness is to reject God's intention in creation and his mandate revealed in the Bible."
In a CNN interview, the Baptist leader added, “We grow up by having children. Without that responsibility, we have a generation of perpetual adolescents just growing old."
Hi Pamlet!!
There is a great free downloadable Bible program called Theophilos http://www.theophilos.sk/
It's easy to use and you can use the serach function using one or two words (or more) from a verse you are trying to find. :-)
In context, I believe Jesus was speaking of issues where the one judging was involved in the same sin he was judging his brother for.
In other places in the Scripture you are told to judge all things and have discernment.
Not to mention the fact that it's just his opinion. :-)
Well I am in a weird mood today, even more so after reading this thread. My first thought was to respond "Hey, I'm a single Godly man AND I belong to the same church as Al Mohler." However, that just seemed too cheesy of a line (but it's true!)
I think so, but he seemed to think he was promulgating doctrine.
I'll have to look at it...
We have e-sword .. we like it because it has numerous translations, the KJV has a feature that you can highlight a lot of words and see the translation... AND it has numerous commentaries attached... it's pretty nifty!
http://www.e-sword.net/index.html
I simply brought up Mohler's apparent tendency to paint with a broadbrush on this subject. The article in the OP very well could be his new statements. I would post the original blog and the very lengthy discussion pertaining to singleness being sin immediately afterwards on Crosswalk but that was back on Crosswalk's old forums and it's no longer available. The post you are referring to was his um, clarification of his original statements.
I don't necessarily disagree with some of his assertions but if he is wanting to get his message heard and applied he needs to use a better means of communicating. His original statements were done in a way that caused people's defenses to go up instead of breaking down the barriers to hearing what was said. Delivery is everything at times.
He failed to take into account the many walking wounded from broken families. When as many Christian marriages are failing there is going to be some serious fallout affecting the children. It's not an easy subject to broach but tact goes a long way in reaching people.
My condolences for your loss. Losing a baby is one of the hardest things I think someone can go through.
I think having children does in a sense force you to stop putting yourself first, but there are other things that can make that happen also. :-)
A long time ago my dad told me this. "No matter how old you get, there is still a small part of you that feels like 17 inside."
He probably thinks he is. :-)
I'm not in complete agreement or disagreement with him.
Even though I am a free Baptist (not SBC) I am personally more catholic-like in my mindset towards birth control. I guess it would be fair to say I out Catholic the catholics because I do not believe in it at all.
They say they don't but do use the NFP method of birth control, whereas I say use nothing.
Now that was a fun thread!!
Oh girl! I can see you have left some of those fundamentalist independent baptist roots!! :-)
I went from being in a liberal church to a being a fundamentalist. What a journey that way.
The whole Baptist world was gettin' it's grove on with Praise and Worship music and I wanted to discuss doctrine and the KJB!!
I knew I had to leave there and find my people.!!
Oh hugs to you! I know the pain of miscarriage ..
This conversation is painful to so many by the high emotion that's running in the thread. I think the HUGE thing to keep in mind is the crux of what this guy is saying is people who CHOOSE on their OWN not to have kids - or to delay having kids... rather than seeking God's will.
You know - I recently read the Mitford books - (I know some feel they're fluff - which they are.. :) ) The main character often refers to "the prayer that never fails" ... which is simply "Thy Will be Done" ... it hit me as SO strong - as this is something I've personally been struggling with on a number of fronts... seeking HIS Will... As a Christian I know God is in control - but true blessings and personal relationship with Him comes from WANTIN His Will to be done... (Just where I'm at right now... :)
So what's your opinion to the good reverend's views? According to him If you're older than 20ish, especially a guy oh wait a man, and not called to singleness according to what he's written you could be sinning.
I don't necessarily disagree with everything he says but I do know that there are many singles out there who haven't been blessed yet with marriage and family. Most of them haven't waited for selfish reasons either. I'm one of those who always wanted to get married and have a family but it has not happened yet. I have done other things ministry wise that was possible only because of still being single.
I'm of the opinion it's better to listen to the leading of the Holy Spirit and live in peace than to rush into marriage for my own selfish reasons and regret it every day of my life.
Well I think different people are called to present God's ideas differently. It's funny that some feel so angry about it.. I honestly didn't see problems with his ideas when I read his (Mohler's) actual words. I read the original article - then read his clarification and didn't see any inconsistencies.
Yes - there are walking wounded - and it's hard .. BUT sometimes truth hurts.. and when so many emotions are stirred it really makes me wonder .. maybe it is what needed to be said?
Ahhhh a "KJV forever" person ... well I've been through the arguements and still feel there's something to be said for other translations. It's a matter of discernment .. ;)
Actually the big KJV split among "fundies" is sort of silly. Nit picking in my opinion .. and it tends to keep people from learning the true Word .. the Holy Spirit is the one who helps us discern - so really how can one "translation" be more inspired? But that's an arguement for another thread I think.. and is one that I'm not TOTALLY versed on.. laugh...
Can you identify yourself and your intention in a private mail message, please? Thank you.
Are you so sure "the so-called reverend" isn't living by those words?
Some read that and stop with "Do not judge." But, that's not what it says. Context is important. Words mean things. Matthew 7:1-5 (especially vs. 2 and 5) further clarifies the idea of judging others.
well I'm embarrassed, no wonder I could not find it in the dictionary :-P
Look at it this way - you described what it DOES, not what it IS. ;)
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