Is it a Sin to be childless?

[Shouryu]

But this guy said its a sin...

The man being questioned says, "They should read their Bible more," and I agree...and yet I disagree with his interpretation. I have read my Bible MANY times, continuously. Yes, children are a way that God chooses to bless us (as well as curse us by with holding them...see Michel), and we see those blessings demonstrated in the Bible. But there is no explicit command, neither from God, either from God in the Old Testament or Christ in the New Testament. The closest thing to an explicit command is in Genesis 1, and that is specifically given to Adam and Eve...and that commandment has been fulfilled.

His stance on the world versus Biblical attitudes colours his interpretation, but for me the give away is in the fact that he lays a qualifier on it. If he's laying qualifiers on something so that he can colour something as a sin SOMETIMES, but maybe not a sin the other times...I just don't see God working that way in the Bible very often. In the Word, sin is sin. Very few commandments are given qualifiers (divorce and manslaughter being the only two that come to mind quickly), and the list of qualifiers is crazy short.

COMMANDMENT: Men are not to lay with men as one lays with a woman.
Qualifier: NONE

COMMANDMENT: You shall not commit sexual immorality (fornication and adultery).
Qualifier: NONE

COMMANDMENT: A man is not to divorce his wife.
Qualifier: Except in the case of adultery, and a wife may leave if there is spousal abuse.

COMMANDMENT: Be fruitful and multiply.
Qualifier: Except if you're not healthy enough to give birth.
Qualifier: Except if you are unable to conceive.
Qualifier: Except if you want to wait for a while, because school.
Qualifier: Except if you want to wait because her parents said so.
Qualifier: Except if you want to wait until you inherit the farm.

One of these things does NOT look like the others.

So either it's NOT a commandment, and someone is looking for a way to MAKE it one, or God is very very inconsistent with how He deals with us. I know that my Bible says my God is a God of order, not chaos and confusion.

And lastly...if you've done your work as a Christian, if you've immersed yourself in the Word, and prayed in the Spirit and listened to what He's said to you...you should never have to ask "Is such-and-such a sin?" You should never have to go looking on YouTube or on websites to know whether or something is a sin or not, because if you are truly a follower of Christ, then you have read His Word, and you are indwelled by His Spirit, and THEY will tell you whether or not something is a sin. A man on a website is NOT your spiritual judge - CHRIST IS. And if you don't know how God is judging your actions and thoughts, then you have work to do, my brother. If you're really seeking after Him and putting Him at the forefront in every aspect of your life, then

1) you wouldn't have these questions/any questions you had would be answered
2) any attitudes you have that do not align with God's plan for you would slowly change

meaning that WHO CARES what YOU think about having children?! If you are seeking after Christ every possible moment of your life, then your life will unfold according to His plans for you...and if His plans for you include children, then your attitude about it IS going to change, because following Christ isn't about picking and choosing what we want when it comes to what HE has planned for us. For some of us, many of us, He has children planned. For some of us, He doesn't. WE don't get to choose. We only get ONE choice: are we going to follow Christ or not? Once we choose Him, then it's whatever He has in store for us, whether we like it or not...because whatever He gives us, whether we like it or not, is for His glory, and His glory alone.

 

[cinder]

I am not sure if this deserves another thread or not. but for now let me continue here. Is it a sin to have a childless marriage? I really want a wife whom doesn't want a kid either. It is too much of a burden to me to take care of the kids. I would much rather use the time and money on the kids to go on vacations with my wife, buy things that she likes, go to fancy restaurant. Having kids doesn't necessary i couldn't do those things, but at a much higher price. Not to mention if the kid doesn't behave, it would ruin the atmosphere. I faintly remember myself for not behaving at numerous times, i bet i must have ruined a lot of what is supposed to be a good memory for the family. Also teaching him is a hassle, i have to be a moral compass all the time. I don't want to do that just to teach my kids, totally not worth it.

But this guy said its a sin...

The guy in the video makes some good points, and the point you should pay attention to is what he says about worldly vs. godly attitudes. Because you are displaying the attitude of "children are a hassle and a bother" that he was talking about, and that is a place where you aren't in line with the way God views the world. That being said, as long as you hold such attitudes, you shouldn't be having or raising children. They will understand very quickly that you resent them and don't value them and problems will result.

Seriously though, after your recent threads in singles the best advice anyone can give you is to find a godly man that you respect and would like to turn out like and ask him to mentor you. Your posts sound immature and overly concerned with finding a wife. Marrying a woman who is just as immature and only looking at a relationship for what she can get out of it is practically a recipe for divorce. What would keep the two of you together when life got hard? The hard times are pretty much a guarantee so plan for those as well as the times when everything is good. Seriously, I think the best thing you can do for yourself is find a godly mentor to help you mature in faith and life and grow in your understanding of God and of love.

 

[ukkez]

that guy seemed to waffle alot. but yeah alot of people have given you good advice and i think its a case of god will bring you a wife that is right for you, and i dont know weather she will want children or not because at the end of the day your mind might change later on in your life if its gods will. i didnt think i wanted children, i mind has always been there is alot of children in the world that need adopting, that need to be shown love and i feel selfish for having one of my own, but my husband wants us to try and we have now found that there is a problem and it will be difficult for me to carry a child, no imposable but could be difficult, now does that mean god has put adoption on my heart to save me from great pain now, i believe so. but we will see a few years down the line what will happen. god changes or tells us things that might not make sense at first but if you talk to him you will hear what he wants and sometimes its not what we want but its to be obedient.
god bless you, i pray you find wife that god intended you to be.

 

[Tintin]

No, not having children isn't sinful. And frankly, some people shouldn't have children. And those who are unable to have children should be able to have children.

 

[Lynx]

Thank you Shouryu. Now that old Sesame Street song is stuck in my head.

One of these things is not like the others
One of these things just doesn't belong
Can you guess which one is not like the others
By the time we finish our song?



But anyway, this whole thing sounds like the quiverfull movement. And children can be a blessing. I know whenever my grandmother needs a ceiling fan or heater installed or something taken care of, as soon as my uncles (her sons) know about it, it's done. But kids ain't for everyone and there's nowhere in the Bible that says everyone should have a kid.

 

[sassylady]

It's not a sin to not have children, but we are commanded to be fruitful and multiply.

Raising children is a long long hard road at times. And you do put them before what you want or need. I never wanted children but I am a better person for having had them. I learned to be much more selfless and have empathy for people I would not have had if my husband and I never had them.

You may meet and marry a women who says she does not want children but often a woman will begin to have a desire to have a baby. Just something God put in a woman. You may have to face that conflict at some point in your marriage if you two are still young enough to have children.

 

[levi85]

Its not a sin. You know the Bible says childrens are a blessing to the parents. The childrens are like the arrows on the string of bows for the parents

To be childless does not mean you can abort the childrens on the mothers womb. Its a murder and is a sin.

God bless you in understanding

 

[Miri]

There are spiritual children also, in this sense the whole "be fruitful" verses
have a whole new meaning.

I don't have children but I spent several years every year for 1 week as a leader
on a children's camp for a mission organisation. I have also taught and helped out
with Sunday school and kids clubs.

Then there are the things we do to further the gospel among adults.

Hopefully we all have some spiritual children "adults and kids" who we
have helped come to salvation.