Childlessness A Sin, Southern Baptist Leader Says

KWTX ^ | 1-17-06

[N. Beaujon]

hehehe. Great comments.

[moog]

the wife and I have children, raise Beagles

Are those Beagles good hunting dogs??

[N. Beaujon]

That's one of the points. It makes one grow up and take on adult mature responsibilities that otherwise people don't.

Oh right, because there is SO much evidence that having children makes people into mature adults.

Sanctimonious, judgmental drivel from the pulpit, I believe, is a sin. If the guy is so desperate for new parishioners he should try saying something useful.

[Mrs. Don-o]

"What about if you're not married and don't have kids? Is it a sin then?"

No.

[Mrs. Don-o]

"Can someone just slap him?"

Somebody should slap the headline writer, for quoting something he didn't say.

[Mrs. Don-o]

"Does this count as a fatwa?"

If by "fatwa" you mean "religious commandment," it came early. Genesis 1:28 --- "And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply.."

A commandment and a blessing.

[Mrs. Don-o]

"Is birth control a form of a abortion"?

All birth control is not abortion, but many use abortion as a form of birth control.

[TheBrotherhood]

I agree.

[TASMANIANRED]

Euroweenies.

[tallhappy]

because there is SO much evidence that having children makes people into mature adults.

My guess is you don't have children.

[N. Beaujon]

...because there is SO much evidence that having children makes people into mature adults.
My guess is you don't have children.

You don't have to have, or not have, children to be an astute social observer.

[tallhappy]

So I am correct.

OK.

Don't sweat it.

[King Prout]

oh. such *fun*, this.

[AD from SpringBay]

This from a friend of mine:

The AP reports that the Rev. R. Albert Mohler Jr., president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, has stirred debate by asserting that it's "an absolute revolt against God's design" if married couples purposely avoid bearing children. A bitter response to Mohler's argument was written by Social Ethics professor Miguel De La Torre, a fellow Southern Baptist minister, alumnus of Mohler's seminary and father of two who teaches at the Methodists' Iliff School of Theology in Denver. De La Torre protested that whether Mohler realizes it or not, his theology is "white-supremacy code language advocating for the increase of white babies." Declining birth rates have been a concern of religious, social, and economic leaders, and Mohler also warned about "huge social problems" that lie ahead, but his primary concern was that raising children is a God-given duty, "a gift from the Lord" (Psalm 127:3-5), and "one of the most crucial opportunities for the making of saints." De La Torre criticized Mohler's viewpoint as anti-birth control, however, Mohler didn't oppose contraception, nor did he define the number of children a couple should have. He also said he wasn't talking about couples who are unable to have children, only those who would "reject this intrusion in their lifestyle."

The Mohler-De La Torre feud reflects two competing approaches: thinkers like Mohler want to apply biblical principles as fully as possible in the 21st century, while De La Torre believes it's "the height of biblical naivete to impose modern concepts upon ancient texts."

Mohler believes the Bible fully applies today, while De La Torre does not. De La Torre, like the deconstructionists, would like to make the Bible contemporary by updating its "mythological structure." And rather than looking for the intended meaning of the Author(s), he would rather "find" his own meaning in the text.

May God deliver us from all such ministers of Satan dressed as "angels of light."