Why Evangelicals Should Rethink Contraception, Part Three

The Stream ^ | Aug '18 | Julie Roys

[CondoleezzaProtege]

Like most of my colleagues, I intended to have two, maybe three kids. And like them, I thought the Catholic view of sex and contraception was ridiculous.

That was about 25 years ago.

Since then, I’ve discovered Theology of the Body (TOB) — Pope John Paul II’s biblical analysis of what it means to be human. This radically transformed my view of the body, human sexuality — and in turn, birth control. And now, I don’t think the Catholic view is ridiculous. I think it’s biblical. And though I’m not dogmatic about it, I, like a growing number of evangelicals, no longer feel comfortable with contraception.

John Paul argued that contraception profoundly distorts the marriage analogy. Christopher West explains:

Christ did not sterilize His love. When we sterilize our love, we are changing what is happening in the sexual act itself to the point that we are no longer imaging Christ’s love for the church. We are no longer imaging the Trinity. In fact, it becomes a counter-image … of Christ and the church.

Rejecting contraception does not mean couples must have as many children as possible. There are valid reasons to avoid pregnancy. And there is a way to do that without violating the spiritual significance of marital intimacy. It’s called natural family planning (NFP).

NFP works with our God-given body, rather than against it.

[ealgeone]

You don't seem concerned about anything except attacking Christ's Church ans His Blessed Mother.

From the Roman Catholic in the church of ebbtide, membership 1, who daily posts articles against the pope.

Comical....yet sad at the same time.

[ealgeone]

ebb....read slowly. I. have. already. answered. this.

[ebb tide]

in the church of ebbtide, membership 1, who daily posts articles against the pope.

More deflecition. You're so predictable.

[ealgeone]

Last time ebb.

[ealgeone]

Run on back to your caucus threads.

[ebb tide]

Another threat?

[ealgeone]

Another threat?

I don't make threats unlike some. I still have the email btw.

Now, run along.

[Religion Moderator]

Stop the bickering.

[ealgeone]

I’m out!

[af_vet_1981]

You're presuming RC couples are practicing abstinence.

Abstinence is the fact or practice of restraining oneself from indulging in something. Abstinence is part of Natural Family Planning (NFP), which is the general title for the scientific, natural and moral methods of family planning that can help married couples either achieve or postpone pregnancies.

When husband and wife wish to attempt pregnancy, they will understand that intercourse during the fertile phase of the wife's menstrual cycle will likely result in pregnancy. When wishing to postpone a pregnancy, husband and wife would abstain from sexual intercourse and any genital contact during the fertile time. No artificial methods are used during the fertile time.

How often a husband and wife have marital relations is between them, as long as they do not sin in doing so. It is not a sin to abstain by mutual consent to wait for a more opportune time.