It is a question of intent. If the intent is not to have children in order to pursue financial gain, or pursue a career (a “me-first” attitude), then you need to rethink your values; why did you get married in the first place? If the intent is to delay for whatever reason (school, medical concerns, etc.), then perhaps it is okay.
It is also a question of the type of birth control. Abortifacient birth controls are certainly not the best since they can prevent implantation, while non-abortifacient birth controls just prevent fertilization. In general, if a church is going to be okay with birth control and still be Biblical, it will say that preventing fertilization is okay, but once the egg has been fertilized it should be in God’s hands.
As for the statement that “People who cannot afford them should not have them,” there are 2 ways to take it. Are they saying that they don’t believe God will provide for them if they have a child? Alternatively, are those who say that “God will provide” means that they should have all the kids they can putting God to the test by having more children than they can afford to provide for?
“As for the statement that “People who cannot afford them should not have them,” there are 2 ways to take it. Are they saying that they don’t believe God will provide for them if they have a child? Alternatively, are those who say that “God will provide” means that they should have all the kids they can putting God to the test by having more children than they can afford to provide for?”
This whole thing makes me think of Matthew 6:24-33
24
15 “No one can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
25
16 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat (or drink), or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?
26
Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they?
27
Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? 17
28
Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin.
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But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them.
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18 If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith?
31
So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’
32
All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.
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But seek first the kingdom (of God) and his righteousness, 19 and all these things will be given you besides.
34
Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil.
In this day and age I have yet to see people have children to “test God” but I suppose anything could happen. It seems they are aborting them because of the “me first” attitude.
I believe you are correct, they don’t have faith that “God will provide”.