Pastor Dave Ginter
 
Response:
 Prophylactics, taken from the Greek word meaning to prevent before hand, raises the issue of the purpose of sexual union. Some churches take the position that God gave sex primarily to populate the world. If so, God did a horrible job with this particular design since most women can only get pregnant a few days a month.  I don’t know how much people understood in Biblical times about the best time of the month to conceive. But now days, we have pretty good idea. Therefore, if sexual intercourse is only for pregnancy (as some teach), knock it off when you know it is unlikely to work, eh?

Fortunately for you, “R”, the Union Church doesn’t take this position regarding sex. In fact, we take no position. We don’t even take a position regarding those churches which DO take a position. How position-less is that?! Why have we decided this?? Because the Bible takes no position. Obviously, modern medicine’s prophylactics were unknown during Biblical days. So the real question for a devoted follower of Jesus Christ becomes this: how are we to know if God would approve? Let’s go back to the original intention for sex. What is the Biblical understanding of intercourse?

In the Bible, there exists a principle of “firsts”. When you want to understand about creation, go back to the first creation. When you want to understand God’s view of Capital Punishment, examine how God handled the first murder. In this case, if you want to better understand God’s view on marriage, turn back to the first marriage. Whenever Jesus was asked questions about the nature of marriage, He always returned to Adam and Eve (i.e. Matthew 19:4 & Mark 10:6). What do we learn about this institution from the “first couple” of the Bible?

Marriage was designed by God to be the most intimate experience here on earth between two who are very different, male and female. God did not design sex to be experienced by two of the same (for example female with female). Why? Because in the sexual act, we have a picture of the relationship God wants to have with people: intimate and connected. God (Who is uniquely different from a human – we call this unique difference HOLINESS) wants to “enter into us” in an intimate relationship. The Bible has a long tradition of using the Bride/Groom/Marriage analogy to describe God’s desired relationship with us (see 2 Samuel 17:3; Isaiah 61:10, 62:4-5; Jeremiah 2:2; John 3:29; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Revelation 19:7, 21:2, 9).

Okay, where do prophylactics enter into all this debate? Are there any principles from Biblical literature we need to consider before determining the usage of such preventative devices? I do not share the Roman Catholic’s view that sex is designed by God for procreation. Therefore, I personally have no problem using birth control to prevent unwanted pregnancy.

However, there is one more issue to consider: when does “life” begin? Most Biblical Christians agree with Scripture that life begins at conception. If that is the case, and if you choose to use a prophylactic which ends pregnancy even soon after conception, are you supporting an early stage of abortion? Something to consider, eh?
 


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