C
Paul may have been married do to his station as a Pharisee as that is one of their cardinal rules. Many theologians think the Paul is a widower and his wife died. No one has posited if Paul had kids or if he even had the chance to. In 1 Cor 7 paul makes a number of exhortations regarding marriage and sex. it is just after talking about sex that Paul in verse 7 that he says he wishes we could all remain as he is. As he is in regards to what? That husbands and wives should not deny each other except for a time then come back together.
Some also think Paul is actually married but has not divorced his wife because under the new covenant, unless she commits adultery, he can not. But as an apostle he must travel and do to the danger he would not take her with him but instead leave her to take care of his families tent making business. But this is all based on how the passage reads and there is no direct evidence to support Paul being single, married or widowed only that he does not have a wife with him as Peter did.
When the Lord does not want a married couple to have kids there are two ways He stops it. One he makes them barren. Cruel to us from our point of view but as God, well within his perview. The other is a gift of the Holy Spirit called Voluntary Celibacy. In this case the Holy Spirit helps a person abstain from sex altogether.
In the case of the OP, neither is the case. They simply don't want kids. Well I don't want to pay taxes but the bible says I must. I don't want to work but the bible says if I don't then I don't eat and I am not ready to give up food. The bible also says be fruitful and multiply. Now where does it say, unless you don't want to. It doesn't, not in one single place. There is a reason God gave us, his creation this gift and it is meant to be used.
Yes kids are a real responsibility. But what a responsibility. They bring such joy to the world and with them, great gifts. Of course culture says wait or don;t have them at all. Use your money on yourself. Hook up don't marry. Its ok to be gay and practice it. Culture says all these things. God says be fruitful and multiply. I pray they change their mind and bring a child or five into the world. Who knows what gifts God will give them. Sure they could have the anti-Christ but thats not likely. They could have the next billy graham or the next einstien or the next mother teresa. Or they could have a son or daughter that simply grows up loves the Lord and lives a good and godly life and quietly impacts his or her own little slice of the world.
Again, from the point if view of a family that has been denied it appears to be a selfish reason not to have kids. Thats the way I see and the way I call it. Note I have not directly interacted with the OP or anyone else that thinks that not having kids is a good thing. All I have done is show the other side. I didn't have to read that post but I did. I didn't have to respond but I did. You have the same choice. Feel free to skip my posts if you don't agree with them. You won't hurt my feelings in the slightest. What i have done I have done because I believe with my whole heart that the greatest thing we can do is create the next generation and raise them in the fear and admonition of the Lord, that they may one day past that onto their children. We are stone tossed into a pond but you never know the effect the ripples have. I really don't think the best plan is to stop throwing the stones in which is what happens when there are less children.
In Christ,
Bishop SEH
Some also think Paul is actually married but has not divorced his wife because under the new covenant, unless she commits adultery, he can not. But as an apostle he must travel and do to the danger he would not take her with him but instead leave her to take care of his families tent making business. But this is all based on how the passage reads and there is no direct evidence to support Paul being single, married or widowed only that he does not have a wife with him as Peter did.
When the Lord does not want a married couple to have kids there are two ways He stops it. One he makes them barren. Cruel to us from our point of view but as God, well within his perview. The other is a gift of the Holy Spirit called Voluntary Celibacy. In this case the Holy Spirit helps a person abstain from sex altogether.
In the case of the OP, neither is the case. They simply don't want kids. Well I don't want to pay taxes but the bible says I must. I don't want to work but the bible says if I don't then I don't eat and I am not ready to give up food. The bible also says be fruitful and multiply. Now where does it say, unless you don't want to. It doesn't, not in one single place. There is a reason God gave us, his creation this gift and it is meant to be used.
Yes kids are a real responsibility. But what a responsibility. They bring such joy to the world and with them, great gifts. Of course culture says wait or don;t have them at all. Use your money on yourself. Hook up don't marry. Its ok to be gay and practice it. Culture says all these things. God says be fruitful and multiply. I pray they change their mind and bring a child or five into the world. Who knows what gifts God will give them. Sure they could have the anti-Christ but thats not likely. They could have the next billy graham or the next einstien or the next mother teresa. Or they could have a son or daughter that simply grows up loves the Lord and lives a good and godly life and quietly impacts his or her own little slice of the world.
Again, from the point if view of a family that has been denied it appears to be a selfish reason not to have kids. Thats the way I see and the way I call it. Note I have not directly interacted with the OP or anyone else that thinks that not having kids is a good thing. All I have done is show the other side. I didn't have to read that post but I did. I didn't have to respond but I did. You have the same choice. Feel free to skip my posts if you don't agree with them. You won't hurt my feelings in the slightest. What i have done I have done because I believe with my whole heart that the greatest thing we can do is create the next generation and raise them in the fear and admonition of the Lord, that they may one day past that onto their children. We are stone tossed into a pond but you never know the effect the ripples have. I really don't think the best plan is to stop throwing the stones in which is what happens when there are less children.
In Christ,
Bishop SEH