A Southern Baptist preacher has brewed up a storm of debates since he told seminary students that taking birth control pills is a sin and equivalent to committing murder.
"[T]he third function in that birth control is to prevent implantation on the uterine wall. And if it reaches that third function, that third function does not take effect until the seventh day. The seventh day is seven days too long, and its murder of a life," said the Rev. Thomas White at a Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary chapel service earlier this month.
"I want you to know that the third form of birth control known as the pill, that third form that it has is wrong – it is not correct according to Scripture," said White, who serves as vice president for Student Services at SWBTS.
The Oct. 7 sermon has since drawn fire and concern from students, faculty and fellow Southern Baptists, some of whom agree with White to a certain extent and some of whom have charged him of being a legalist.
"We have SBC (Southern Baptist Convention) leaders, including seminary professors like Dr. White, Southern Baptist agency Presidents, SBC trustees and other leaders who are preaching personal opinions as if they were mandates from God," the Rev. Wade Burleson, pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Enid, Okla., wrote in a blog post last week. "This type of legalism will destroy not only the fabric of cooperation upon which our Convention was built, it will ultimately destroy the powerful message of the gospel ..."
Dr. Richard Land, president of SBC's Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, told the Dallas/Fort Worth news channel WFAA, "I don't believe prudent planning is rebellion against God's will as long as couples accept God may cause them to have unplanned pregnancies anyway."
But Land said he ultimately agrees with White.
In his 38-minute sermon, White expounded on Psalm 127 and expressed his views on birth control for six minutes. During that short segment, White said life begins the moment an egg and sperm meet and thus a pill that prevents that life from implanting on the uterine wall is wrong.
More generally, he also stated that planning family life your own way and according to your own time and not entrusting God with your destiny is a sin.
"We are sinning when we say I'm going to control every aspect of my family ... we don't trust Him," he said.
White issued a clarification in a blog post last Thursday, explaining that he does not believe all birth control is murder but that he opposes "abortifacients which prevent the progression or continuation of life" – including the third function of birth control pills.
"We live in a society which largely feels that children are a burden but the Bible tells us that children are a blessing," added White, who confessed to using contraception with his wife in the past out of "selfishness."
"There is perhaps nothing in America that we have misunderstood as much as the fact that children are a blessing from the Lord," he had said in the sermon.
White stressed that he does not speak for SWBTS but said he believes his view is consistent with the Southern Baptist Convention's views on the unborn.
Explaining the SBC position on the issue, Land said in a statement, "The Southern Baptist Convention is not opposed to the use of birth control within marriage as long as the methods used do not cause the fertilized egg to abort and as long as the methods used do not bar having children altogether unless there's a medical reason the couple should not have children."
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Daniel,
Thanks for that bit of wisdom. A little late for me though! Where were you five years ago when that knowledge would have been extremely useful? LOL.
I keep trying to convince my wife to let me buy a riding lawn mower...
Just FYI, I have 6 children ranging from 26 to 2. Do you know why you have to keep having kids? If you don't you have to mow your own lawn when you get old....
I get the idea this guy is against any type of birth control. It's the belief that birth control interfers with "God's plan". Still, there are those who think open-heart surgery interfers with God's plan by intervention in death. I just don't see how you can extend the abortive arguement to birth control pills as they keep the female from releasing the egg in the first place.
GoldenEagle and Prophet,
I love it when God speaks so clearly!
Eagle,
We kinda experienced the same thing. When my wife was pregnant with our first born, a prophet told us that it was a boy and that our next child would be a girl. We hadn't even found out the gender at that time, but God was right on both accounts....
wbmoore and eagle.
Amen! God is good and His mercy endures forever! He opens doors that no one can shut, and shuts doors that no one can open. His wisdom is far above ours; our wisdom is foolishness before Him. But those who call upon His name, though foolish before man, will stand holy, pure, and full of wisdom and His glory. He will use the weak things of this earth to confound the wise. But their prideful hearts are hard and deaf to the truth. But continue to speak of His wonderous deeds, for we will overcome by the blood of the Lamb and by the words of our testimony!
My wife was told she could not have children. She got right with God, and now we have 4. It is God who opens and closes wombs.
Prophet, I have to tell you this story, because it still sends chills up my spine to this day.Years ago I attended church with a couple who were told they could never have children.She prayed to God for a Samuel much like Hannah in the Old Testament.While attending a Revival meeting, the Speaker stopped and said to her God has heard your prayers, but you are not going to have a Samuel, you are going to have a Ruth instead.The doctor told her she could not have children due to internal damage.She not only had a baby girl, which she did name Ruth, but she ended up having a second girl, which she named Esther.Doctors don't know everything, but God sure does.
DP, plus a huge AMEN to your other point!!
DP, I think his point is that there are birth control devices that are abortive and others that prevent the sperm and egg from uniting, my sense is he is only opposed to those birth control devices that are abortive and not the latter.
Daniel,
Yes you can. Doctors told my wife that she'd never be able to have kids....
We have two beautiful kids.
God can do whatever He wants, however He wants. He's not constrained by any feeble attempts by man's "power" or "knowledge".
Interesting story. I don't find any Biblical basis for his position but interesting none the less. If we believe that life begins at conception then what's the difference in preventing conception and just not having sex in the first place?
Still, I can tell you (believe me) that when God wants you to have a child no birth control pill or otherwise is going to stand in His way. Can I get a witness...? :D
But you need to understand...that even if I forgive someone of their sin, it does not absolve them of their sin. It absolves me of any responsibility I have to forgive them. Only God can absolve someone of their sin (not a priest), and only when they confess it to God and ask forgiveness of their sins.
You see, you involve yourself in hypocricy. You say "Only God can forgive us when we sin against Him and only after we ask for Him for His forgiveness."...and then out of the other side of your mouth you say that priests can only forgive certain sins. What gives? I'll tell you what...just a lot of false doctrine that even the Catholics cannot agree upon amongst themselves.
Actually, I really don't need you to ask for forgiveness in order for me to forgive you. I give it whether you ask for it or not. When you twist the scriptures, and claim God said something when He obviously didn't, I take it personal. Maybe I shouldn't. Afterall, God can take care of Himself.
Prophet, that's laughable... you forgiving us for sins against scripture and against God. Who do you think you are? How arrogant! Only God can forgive us when we sin against Him and only after we ask for Him for His forgiveness.
Yes Prophet, if I sin against you and ask your forgiveness, then you have the obligation to forgive me for that transaction. If I have sinned against someone else, or against God, you have no right and no obligation to forgive me. It's none of you business.
Don't be so arrogant. I agree with sscitsongas, you think you are enlightened, but really you're not. 2000 years of Church history tells me differently. For 2000 years, men far holier then I imagine you to be, have been praying and receiveing guidance from the Holy Spirit. Yes the Church that Jesus founded on Peter the Rock has been here for 2000 years. As Jesus said, hell would not prevail against it. Hell won't bring it down, not even with your help!
sscit,
We're all enlightened by your post.
prophet
"I forgive the Catholics for their sins. Not only against me, but also against the Scriptures and God. But I am also compelled by God to preach the Truth"
Yes, of course, your religion and your beliefs are the correct ones. You are the enlightened one, you know the universal truths. God speaks to you directly I'm sure. Unless one has adopted your beliefs they are wrong. I know some jews and muslims that tell me the same thing.
supertekk,
Yes, I forgive the Catholics for their sins. Not only against me, but also against the Scriptures and God. But I am also compelled by God to preach the Truth. And some people are going to be offended when I do.
citsonga,
You're a Catholic?
ms, I appreciated your openness as well and I too look forward to future interaction and may you be blessed as well, believer
prophet, perhaps you were born a century or two too late, the world has moved onto a more enlightened state.
Okay, okay. Let me rephrase that. Most Catholics...
I have yet to meet a Catholic with more than 6 kids. I know they're out there, but it's the ones who preach it, but don't practice it that end up on CP.
The Duggards sure live that commandment, and they're protestants.
I'm not angry. Just speaking the facts. Why do you take it personal for?
To Prophet and Believer I enjoyed the conversation thoroughly, thnx for expressing your thoughts and feelings so freely, Sincerely from my heart, may you both have a blessed day, I look forward to speaking on other subjects with you as well in time thnx.
Prophet you are surely filled with hate for Catholics, please heed gods word and treat your neighbor as thyself, forgive those who offended you so that you may be forgiven.
If you know that every Catholic falls short of multiplying then you definitely must be God to know all of them are failing...
With this ability to know all please list there names so I can see if I am included in your narrow minded statement.
May God have pitty on us all for the sake of our souls, and may we forgive those who sin against us so that we may be forgiven for our own sins, AMEN.
Nice scripture. It's the same one God gave me when He called me to be a prophet.
But it still doesn't change the second part of my previous post.
I've been told by countless Catholics that God commands us to be fruitful and multiply, but yet they don't.
If anyone is condeming you Prophet then shame on them, regardless of thier religion. We are not here to condemn each other, we are here to attempt to encourage each other to follow the path that God set in front of us which includes being compassionate towards each other, loving one another like we love ourselves and Loving god to the upmost with all our heart, mind and soul.
So just so you know I am not condemning anyone, so take no offense to what I believe and have read in the bible. However I do offer advice to you and the scripture reading to back it up so that you may make your decision knowing what pleases God. This is my duty and every other christians duty in the world. Too many christians become offensive and attempt to argue matters by making irrational statements that go against what the bible clearly states because they are allowing there emotion which stems from the flesh to take action rather then thier hearts.
EZEKIEL 33:7-9 = You, son of man, I have appointed watchman for the house of Israel; when you hear me say anything you shall warn them for me. If I tell the wicked man that he shall surely die, and you do not speak out to disuade the wicked man from his ways, he shall die for his guilt, but I will hold you responsible for his death. But if you warn the wicked man, trying to turn him from his way, and he refuses to turn from his way, he shall die from his guilt, but you shall save yourself.
You can read and understand what God is pleased with, the one verse I put earlier is not the only that supports my theory however if you don't take him at his word there why would you take it elsewhere in the other books of the bible. Therefore I have made my statement I will be praying that you will sincerely think about what the bible says and make a decision that is pleasing to God. Either way you are my brothers and sisters and I respect you and will constantly be praying for you. I believe you are all good but sometimes, myself included, we can be led away with our mind and our needs from what are heart ask of us. God Bless You All.
supertekk,
"To the contrary PROPHET shame on you for believing that people are ignorant in attempting to please God by listening to what he is saying, even if you are not willing to do so you should commend those who love God enough to heed his word and attempt to do what is pleasing to him.'
Kind of like the Catholics condemning me for using a condom? I'm trying to please God be being responsible, and the Catholics rake me through the fire.
"Wasting his seed is no different then using birth control which does obviously waste your seed my friend."
So is having sex when the wife is not ovulating. Again, you prove that Catholics view is that sex is for procreating. If that is the case (which is stated often by Catholics) then Catholics are failing miserably at their own convictions.
ms, so you're going to base your whole view on the use of birth control on this one passage that your have to put a spin on to make it fit and then tell any Christian who uses any type of birth control that they are in sin according to this one passage of Scripture. Well your absolutely right on one point we're certainly going to have to agree to disagree on this one.
I also understand that Dr. White is not condemning all birth control but this is one step of many heading christianity back in the right direction and moving the morale standard to a higher level. God Bless.
Wasting his seed is no different then using birth control which does obviously waste your seed my friend. I have read this book many times and it is clear, birth control has the same effect as the method used by Onan and does have relevence. Many just fail to understand it or do not want to understand its meaning. So I assume we agree to disagree. Read it again my friend, I have, and clearly God is upset about the wasting of seed. Onan not living up to the law of the land and people is not as important as Gods want of us to procreate. God Bless You Brother.
ms, the issue of Onan has nothing to do with the use of birth control but rather disobedience and selfishness in his refusing to allow his sister-in-law to become pregnant by him. He knew that while he would have to support the child, he would not receive any of his deceased brother's estate, since legally it would all belong to the child. In other words you have to totally misinterpret this verse to make it say that God is opposed to birth control devices. Once again Dr. White does not condemn the use of birth control but only those birth control devices that perform an abortive function as opposed to a preventive function.
To the contrary PROPHET shame on you for believing that people are ignorant in attempting to please God by listening to what he is saying, even if you are not willing to do so you should commend those who love God enough to heed his word and attempt to do what is pleasing to him.
Aside from what was mentioned in this story I think everyone who believes Birth Control should read thier bibles GENISIS 38:9-10 clearly tells us that it is wrong to waste your SEED by taking Onan's life for doing so because it was displeasing to god. In a matter a fact I would prefer more Christians would take the time to read thier bibles and this would surely lessen the controversy of such debates.
God bless you prophet and may the Lord enter your heart and open your eyes so that you may understand the word of the Lord, Blessed be the name of the Lord, Amen.
As I scan through the comments on BC & reproduction, its interesting to me how one christian attacks the views of another christian on the subject of reproduction. This subject alone tells us why the founders of the US wanted to keep religion out of goverment.
Oy. Such ignorance....
(not of you, believer, but of the Catholic system and the people who follow it)
prophet, once again this is from my days as a catholic, condoms are manmade whereas the rhythm method is totally natural nothing manmade is involved.
believer,
But how is that different than condoms?
prophet, unless things have changed when I was still in the catholic church they were opposed to any artificial forms of birth control such as condoms, at that time the only approved method I heard talked about was the rhythm method.
Like I said. The Christian Post can do an article on all types of birth control. I don't think we need to attack other peoples' personal beliefs, as long as we still have freedom to choose what we will do.
I know that. But I wonder what the Catholic's beef is with it then. And I wish I could get a straight answer from one of them that actually practiced what they preach. Because it seems to me that this group "National Family Planning" is no different than using a condom.
Condoms do not cause the death of a fertilized egg.
jcfollower,
But in what catagory does that put condoms?
The best thing that the Christian Post could do at this time, would be to publish an expose on which birth control methods cause the death of a fertilized egg and which do not. Then let Christians decide for themselves, based on the facts.
Yes, it is heartbreaking that so many good Christian believers are committing abortion and they don't even know it.
jcf, I totally agree Christian women and men alike are not being told the whole story when it comes to the use of birth control and like you it bothers me that so much of the responsibility is put on the woman.
I have to say this. Women should be discussing this topic more than the guys. We need their input and they need more information.
jc,
Kinda. We just started talking about how the RCC thinks that ALL forms of BC are wrong, even if they don't involve abortion.
It seems that we may have gotten on a bit of a tangent here. We don't need to argue about the differences between Catholicism and Protestantism, and their differing views of how many kids to have.
Rev. White said that the pill is a form of abortion. If you believe that life begins when the egg is fertilized, then the Reverend is right.
The travesty is that Christian women and women in general are not being told that about the pill. Women need to really question their doctors closely on whether or not a birth control method causes the death of a fertilized egg.
Sorry, that last post was for chris in regards to Natural Family Planning.
So, it helps you determine when is the best time to get pregnant, if that is your goal...and when the best time to have sex if you don't want to get pregnant?