Birth Control
from the
Biblical Perspective

The Importance and Defense of Innocent Human Life

Father David C. Trosch

Faith is not a question of feelings but is rather a question of acceptance and adherence to authenticated teachings out of love and trust in God. Christians should at the very least accept the Word of God – the Holy Bible – as authentic teaching. Jesus Himself made the following statements:

"Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place." [Matthew 5:18]

"It is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for the smallest part of a letter of the law to become invalid." [Luke 16:17]

The law Jesus referred to was teachings of the Old Testament with particular reference to, "The Law of Moses." Saint Paul made the following clear statement in regard to the approved Scriptures – now referred to as the Old Testament,

"All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness," [2 Tim. 3:16]

The authenticity of the Old Testament should not be questioned at least in regard to matters of faith and morals as Jesus and His disciples frequently quoted from many of the passages in a fashion that should be seen as giving them unquestioned authority through the auspices of God the Father. While the New Testament accounts had not been enumerated, it should be clear that the teachings and writings of the apostles were also to be honored.

"Therefore, brothers, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught, either by an oral statement or by a letter of ours." [2 Thes. 2:15]

"And consider the patience of our Lord as salvation, as our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, also wrote to you, speaking of these things as he does in all his letters. In them there are some things hard to understand that the ignorant and unstable distort to their own destruction, just as they do the other scriptures." [2 Peter 3:15-16]

After Noah and his family had finished their tasks in regard to the ark, God gave them the following series of permanent instructions:
  1. "God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them: "Be fertile and multiply and fill the earth.[Genesis 9:1]
  2. "Every creature that is alive shall be yours to eat; I give them all to you as I did the green plants. Only flesh with its lifeblood still in it you shall not eat." [Genesis 9:3-4]
  3. "For your own lifeblood, too, I will demand an accounting: from every animal I will demand it, and from man in regard to his fellow man I will demand an accounting for human life. If anyone sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; For in the image of God has man been made." [Genesis 9:5-6]
  4. "Be fertile, then, and multiply; abound on earth and subdue it." [Genesis 9:7]
These directives of God establish the high value of human life and the limited value of all other forms of life. Human fertility is of such great importance that God both opened and closed this segment of instruction with the command for pregnancy and care of human life following birth. In verse six God made it abundantly clear that the wilful taking of innocent human life was to be punished with the extreme penalty – death at the hand of humans. (It should be kept in mind that God had set the example of taking guilty human life when He brought the great flood upon the Earth. Men, within their limitations and directives of God, are to follow the examples set by God. While major destruction of human life should always remain in God's control, it is man's duty before God to remove life from those who are doomed according to just teachings.)

"Whoever takes the life of any human being shall be put to death;" [Leviticus 24:17]

"All human beings that are doomed lose the right to be redeemed; they must be put to death." [Leviticus 27:29]

In subsequent books of Moses further clarifications were made so that those guilty of knowingly taking innocent human life where distinguished from those who had accidentally or for legitimate reason taken human life. It should be clear that all who wilfully take innocent human life without moral imperative are guilty of cold blooded first degree murder and are fit subjects to be put to death at the command of God. They are deserving of no protection.
In recent decades a full understanding of the female fertility cycle has been established. This understanding has been known by the Creator from the beginning. God, the Creator of the Universe, also designed/engineered all that it contains. In the following passages God established His design for promoting procreation.

"When a woman has her menstrual flow, she shall be in a state of impurity for seven days. Anyone who touches her shall be unclean until evening." [Leviticus 15:19]

"If a man dares to lie with her, he contracts her impurity and shall be unclean for seven days; every bed on which he then lies also becomes unclean." [Leviticus 15:24]

"You shall not approach a woman to have intercourse with her while she is unclean from menstruation." [Leviticus 18:19] – Stated in the format of a commandment.

"If a man lies in sexual intercourse with a woman during her menstrual period, both of them shall be cut off from their people, because they have laid bare the flowing fountain of her blood." [Leviticus 20:18]

"In you are those who uncover the nakedness of their fathers, and in you those who coerce women in their menstrual period." [Ezekiel 22:10]

The foregoing places coitus following a period of abstinence during almost all women's period of fertility. Additionally during her fertile period she emits pheromones that encourages associated males to have intercourse with her. Also during this period she is normally more friendly, more desirous of and more receptive to advances than she otherwise would be. The intention of God is that women (married) become pregnant and provide potential members for the kingdom of Heaven. God is unlimited in His ability and capacity to share. Those who enter eternal life will also want to share with as many individuals as possible. What is good for God is good for everyone else.
God has also provided a means for natural spacing of children for women who nurse (lactate) abundantly. There are also factors in life that reduce the probability of pregnancy such as malnutrition, stress, as well as some mental and physical health problems. Doctrine of the Catholic Church also allows, under limited circumstances, the use of the fertility cycle for temporary abstinence. Such usage may never be primarily for the avoidance of pregnancy. The contraceptive mentality is gravely offensive to God's eternal plan of maximum sharing with Him following this life.
To emphasize the importance of children Saint Paul associated motherhood with salvation. It should be understood that men must accept their natural responsibilities to obtain salvation. Any act by man or woman that frustrates motherhood is offensive to God. While motherhood is normally the product of the woman's pregnancy, it is also practiced in unselfishly taking care of other children whether orphaned, abandoned or otherwise in need of mothering. While it is natural to want to adopt an infant, and this is a good act, it is more meritorious to adopt older children.

"But she will be saved through motherhood, provided women persevere in faith and love and holiness, with self-control." [1 Tim. 2:15]

Both science and rational faith agree that human life begins at conception. Science and faith both understand that only what is natural to adults – nourishment, shelter, protection (love) – in their environment is necessary for the unborn in their natural environment. From the instant of conception the preborn are completely human and are worthy of full protection as is any born human being. Adults, according to their status in life, who knowingly fail to protect them will be subjects for the wrath of God.
In God's sight the lives of the unborn are to be more valued as they have not yet had an opportunity to develop a direction of relationship with Him. Without bodily form they will never be able to develop to their maximum designed potential and are therefore in reality deserving of the greater protection (defense).
Punishment following conviction for a crime is in the hands of legitimate authorities. Vengeance is not defensive action and is not authorized by God.

"Beloved, do not look for revenge but leave room for the wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." " [Romans 12:19]

"for it (moral government authority) is a servant of God for your good. But if you do evil, be afraid, for it does not bear the sword without purpose; it is the servant of God to inflict wrath on the evildoer." [Romans 13:4]

Jesus, who is the fullness of truth, came for division; to separate the just from the unjust through conflict that calls for death to this life and can result in material death.

"Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth.
I have come to bring not peace but the sword." [Mt. 10:34]

Jesus' admonishment of Simon bar Jonah was due to his failure to distinguish between proper and improper usages of the sword. Simon had both failed to understand the prophesy of Jesus regarding His death and failed to recognize the long term spiritual value of the arrest and ultimate death of Jesus.

"Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back into its sheath, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot call upon my Father and he will not provide me at this moment with more than twelve legions of angels? But then how would the scriptures be fulfilled which say that it must come to pass in this way?" [Matthew 26:52-54]

"Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword into its scabbard. Shall I not drink the cup that the Father gave me?"" [John 18:11]

This is made even clearer when Jesus commanded the use of the sword for personal protection from common robbers and murderers as follows:

"He said to them, "But now one who has a money bag should take it, and likewise a sack, and one who does not have a sword should sell his cloak and buy one."" [Luke 22:36]

Murder is the willful taking of innocent human life. NOTE: While the NRSV renders Exodus 20:13 "You shall not murder*," (* Or kill) most other versions do not begin to use the term murder or a variant until the book of Numbers. It seems apparent that the translators of the NRSV recognized the proper meaning of the commandment and relegated the literal translation of the word to a footnote. The probability is that the term "murder" had not yet come into common usage.
Killing has the broader concept of taking the life of any human being whether innocent or guilty. A person who kills in defense of himself or another innocent human being acts righteously. A person who is about to take the life of an innocent human being is to be defended against in whatever way is deemed necessary for surety of protection. The impetus for defensive action is even greater when a known, practicing, publicly unrepentant murderer of innocent people is at hand. God's command to punish murderers is clear. The life of an innocent person has great value to God while the life of a murderer is forfeited through his intent and action. The lives of innocent children are valued for their potential relationship with God and their ability to reproduce according to God's thrice repeated command. (See Gen. 1:28 for first reference.)
No passage in Scripture states, "Thou shall not judge," but cautions as follows:
  1. "For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you." [Matthew 7:2] — [Judge rightly and you shall be judged rightly.]
  2. "Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right?" [Luke 12:57]
  3. "Stop judging by appearances, but judge justly." [John 7:24]
  4. "on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge people's hidden works through Christ Jesus." [Romans 2:16]
  5. "The spiritual person, however, can judge everything but is not subject to judgment by anyone." [1 Cor. 2:15]
  6. "Do you not know that the holy ones will judge the world? If the world is to be judged by you [Paul is speaking to Christians of faith.], are you unqualified for the lowest law courts? [3] Do you not know that we will judge angels? Then why not everyday matters?" [1 Cor. 6:2-3]
  7. "Let marriage be honored among all and the marriage bed be kept undefiled, for God will judge the immoral and adulterers." [Hebrews 13:4]
On the last day Jesus will be the judge of all mankind (Mat. 25:32ff). Eternal judgement is at the hand of God. Temporal judgements based upon the Word of God are to be made by man. Failure of man to judge according to God's will should be seen as condemnatory.
In reference to the following passage it should be noted that the death of the unborn child was not intended. The sense of the reference is that two men were fighting and a wife gets involved. It is because of her action in that fight that her baby miscarries following having been struck by the man; possibly even in his own defense. It is because of the value of life that he must pay a penalty, the more so had he been responsible for starting the fight. Had he intentionally struck the woman to cause the death of the child he would have been guilty of murder and put to death. Although the woman's involvement could be considered instinctive, she had no right to place her child at risk by interfering in the fight of her husband.

"When men have a fight and hurt a pregnant woman, so that she suffers a miscarriage, but no further injury, the guilty one shall be fined as much as the woman's husband demands of him, and he shall pay in the presence of the judges." [Exodus 21:22]

"When two men are fighting and the wife of one intervenes to save her husband from the blows of his opponent, if she stretches out her hand and seizes the latter by his private parts, you shall chop off her hand without pity." [Deut. 25:11-12]

The importance of procreation cannot be overemphasized. Many women do not realize the value of the service they do in bearing children as gifts to God in unity with the activity of the Holy Spirit. No act of a woman that is apart from motherhood or in support of motherhood, at least indirectly, is of value to God. It is heartbreaking that opposition to life is rapidly increasing and resulting in the loss of so many to eternal life. While God's forgiveness is available, denial in regard to the offense of abortion renders the mercy of God unobtainable. Mercy is freely offered but is not given unless there is both request for mercy and penitence.
One must rationally be able to understand the content of the Bible, in faith, in order to believe, read, teach, and practice it. Emotional reactions (feelings) are not proper foundation for understanding or interpreting the Bible. Women are instructed to be silent in meetings as at least some would cause disturbance through emotional presentations that would be counterproductive to learning. Additionally it is well known that the thought processes and natural interests of women differ from those of men. Proper interaction between husband and wife on matters of faith strengthen the marriage bond. The husband has responsibility for helping his wife understand matters of religion. He must search for or inquire about answers he does not know. NOTE:  The phrase, "should be subordinate," does not mean that women may be subjected to injustices or immorality. For everyone God's will always has priority. Absolute obedience is due God, not man regardless of his title.

"As in all the churches of the holy ones, women should keep silent in the churches, for they are not allowed to speak, but should be subordinate, as even the law says. But if they want to learn anything, they should ask their husbands at home. For it is improper for a woman to speak in the church." [1 Cor. 14:33-35]

- CATHOLIC APOLOGETICS -