Good afternoon Doc.
This is a good subject, and in fact is one that my bride to be and I discussed with the priest that will marry us yesterday.
As I have already stated, we will use NFP for the first year or so before we have kids. The thing that always bothers me is the so many Catholics do say it is not birth control, and then wink and tell you how to use it like birth control. The thing is, at different times in the Church (both RCC and non RCC), sex of any kind was viewed as either sinful or at best not recommended. There are many cases where married couples are honored for NOT having sex at all in the early church, and Augustine himself said that a Christian will have fewer children, because they do not have time to have sex but must serve God.
The thing is, at different times in the Church (both RCC and non RCC), sex of any kind was viewed as either sinful or at best not recommended. There are many cases where married couples are honored for NOT having sex at all in the early church, and Augustine himself said that a Christian will have fewer children, because they do not have time to have sex but must serve God. ~~ redgolum (orthodox Lutheran)
IMHO, blessed Saint Augustine was wrong on this (as a Protestant, I also disagree with Augustine's Pro-Papal Ecclesiology -- although I am of course a great fan of his Predestinarian Soteriology). At the risk of psychoanalyzing a far better man than myself, with no professional psychological credentials, and across 1600 years of elapsed time -- it's worth remembering that Augustine may have had a few minor sexual hang-ups, resulting from his debauched youth (and his admirable renunciation of debauchery after his Conversion).
- Let's say that one couple abstains from childbearing, and spends 100% of their time "Serving God".
- Let's say that another couple devotes 50% of their time to "Serving God", and 50% of their time raising four children (I guess, for the moment, we'll grant the curious notion that raising up Children for service in Christ's Church is not "Serving God") who then go and do likewise.
The first Couple, by devoting all their efforts to "Serving God", has acheived a 100% "return on their investment" for the benefit of Christ's Church. Well done, thou good and faithful servants; enter now into the Joy of thy Lord.
But the second Couple, by raising up Children for Our Lord, has acheived a 250% "return on their investment" for the benefit of Christ's Church (perhaps compounded, generation upon generation, as they serve as Christian Patriarchs to their grand-children in their golden years).
Which Servant has accomplished more, for the Kingdom, with the Talents which God has given them?
Augustine was taking the Short View of things (which is a bit ironic, given his endorsement of "Long-View" Amillennialism). I think it is probably better, particularly for the Amillenialist (unless I am mistaken, orthodox Lutherans are confessionally Amillennialist) to take the Long View of things.
Best, OP