But Christians should never discontinue the growth of their family for reasons like being able to live in a higher financial position. Deciding on the true needs of a family and what ultimately are pleasurable pursuits can be helpful in deciding on the number of children a family can feasibly maintain. But it should be said that no matter how much we plan, unforeseen circumstances do come; and even if we think we can afford a child, situations may arise that put a family in financial distress. On the opposite end of the spectrum, families sometimes believe they cannot afford a child, but when they revisit their priorities, they then find the financial means for the addition to the family.
Some people of the secular persuasion have even suggested that families should not have children they cannot afford, but that would inevitably rule out all people with low incomes. Are they not as entitled to have families as higher income families if they so choose? Depending on what your priorities are, you might not ever have a child if you wait till you believe you can afford one. Christian families may wait for a time that is more suitable, though they should never be coerced or forced into not having children simply because they are poor. Many large families, both in the past and in the present day, have been rich in love, if they are not in wealth.
In Christian families, on matters of importance such as the size of one's family and birth control measures, prayer and conviction of conscience should be the ultimate deciding factors. We should never let the secular materialistic society that we live in guide our decision of whether or not to bring another child into the world. Only God knows how many Billy Grahams or Mother Theresas would be here today had it not been for abortifactant measures of modern birth control. The Word of God and the Holy Spirit is the Christian family's ultimate authority and we should never take for granted what the world seems to be telling us is the truth. God is the author of truth and His word says that He knew us before we were formed in the womb and that He sanctifies and ordains us to be His instruments. (Jeremiah 1:5).
The truth is that any form of birth control that destroys a child in the womb, whether that child is one-celled or many-celled, is an abortifactant. Christians, who ignore this fact, will have the blood of innocent children on their hands and must face God's judgment along with the consequences that it brings. That is not to say, that when a Christian participates in these practices out of ignorance, that they cannot be forgiven and reconciled in their relationship with God. God will and does forgive those who repent. Every Christian who is faced with these decisions must ultimately follow their own conscience where birth control is concerned. We must not be judgmental of those who do not agree with this view, neither should they be judgmental of those of us who hold this view. God in His own time will convict His people that life is always the best choice.
