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.

[Captain Walker]

Then enlighten me (seriously).

Luther is on the record condemning birth control; he specifically stated that Onan’s sin was wasting his seed. (Look it up; there was no question in Luther’s mind about what the sin was.)

There is nothing on record anywhere by any non-Catholic Christian denominations that gives support to the practice of birth control; it wasn’t until Lambeth in 1930 that it became accepted among non-Catholic Christian denominations.

(I mean, show me I’m wrong.)

[ealgeone]

The issue is Rome allows birth control through NFP. They're avoiding pregnancy. That's what you're trying to avoid.

[Elsie]

The Nephites and Lamanites also dropped below the replacement level.

[ebb tide]

The issue is Rome allows birth control through NFP.

If you had read the article, that is not the issue:

Why Evangelicals Should Rethink Embrace of Contraception, Part Three

Deflection has always been your strong suite.

[Elsie]

Deflection has always been your strong suite.

Call no man father.

[af_vet_1981]

The issue is Rome allows birth control through NFP. They're avoiding pregnancy. That's what you're trying to avoid.

They're trying to avoid sin. Abstinence is not contraception.

Contraception is “any action which, either in anticipation of the conjugal act [sexual intercourse], or in its accomplishment, or in the development of its natural consequences, proposes, whether as an end or as a means, to render procreation impossible” (Humanae Vitae 14). This includes sterilization, condoms and other barrier methods, spermicides, coitus interruptus (withdrawal method), the Pill, and all other such methods.

The Historic Christian Teaching
Few realize that up until 1930, all Protestant denominations agreed with the Catholic Church’s teaching condemning contraception as sinful. At its 1930 Lambeth Conference, the Anglican church, swayed by growing social pressure, announced that contraception would be allowed in some circumstances. Soon the Anglican church completely caved in, allowing contraception across the board. Since then, all other Protestant denominations have followed suit. Today, the Catholic Church alone proclaims the historic Christian position on contraception.

[ealgeone]

>>The issue is Rome allows birth control through NFP. They're avoiding pregnancy. That's what you're trying to avoid.<<

They're trying to avoid sin. Abstinence is not contraception.

LOL! They're trying to avoid pregnancy.

NFP helps people know when to have sexual intercourse. It can be used if you are trying to achieve or avoid pregnancy.

It's just another form of birth control.

You guys have more man-made rules than the Pharisees did.

[ealgeone]

I did read the article.

Rome is trying to deflect away from the fact that NFP is just another form of birth control. Plain and simple.

[af_vet_1981]

Up until 1930, all Protestant denominations agreed with the Catholic Church’s teaching condemning contraception as sinful.

What does your faith community teach now about sterilization, condoms and other barrier methods, spermicides, coitus interruptus (withdrawal method), the Pill, and all other such methods ?

[Zionist Conspirator]

Ugh! Onan was killed for disobeying G-d by the act of wasting seed. Wasting seed is a very serious sin for both Jews and non-Jews.

[Captain Walker]

It seems to be a very serious sin for everyone but Protestants.</s>

[ealgeone]

You're reading into the passage way more than what is there.

The issue was disobedience in this case by not "going in to her".

It's not a verse to build a whole belief around regarding "spilling the seed" or not.

[af_vet_1981]

The issue was disobedience in this case by not "going in to her".

No
He did "go into her."
He was disobedient because pulled out prematurely to avoid giving her an opportunity to conceive a child (coitus interruptus). It is a grave sin.

• And Onan knew that the seed should not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother's wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest that he should give seed to his brother.
• And the thing which he did displeased the LORD: wherefore he slew him also.

Genesis, Catholic chapter thirty eight, Protestant verses nine to ten,
as authorized, but not authored, by King James

וְהָיָה אִם-בָּא אֶל-אֵשֶׁת אָחִיו => and it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother's wife

[ealgeone]

The point remains he was disobedient.

[ebb tide]

No, you are arguing that two wrongs make a right.

It's called “rationalization”, a trait common among contracepting (artificial) prots.

[ealgeone]

No, you are arguing that two wrongs make a right. It's called “rationalization”, a trait common among contracepting (artificial) prots.

Roman Catholics who wear scapulars......

[ebb tide]

There you go with you deflections again.

True to form.

[ealgeone]

No deflection. Merely noting the facts.

[ealgeone]

I will state again, NFP is contraception just by another name.

Because Rome has said it's "ok" you think it is somehow different.

[ebb tide]

Your argument is just rationalizing that prots can artificially contracept because some few Catholic practice NFP.

It’s called “rationalization”.

You’d do better ranting about you obsession with scapulars and your hatred of the Blessed Mother.