A Pastoral Concern -- On motherhood and children

It was in Bible Class a few weeks ago that I had the participants respond to this thought question: "Agree or Disagree?  Motherhood is despised in our nation."  The reactions were mixed.  Some thought that statement was far too strong.  I would contend that it is unarguable.

Here is a link to a video in which Planned Parenthood boasts how they have women's health care as their primary objective.  Repeatedly, the claim is made that Planned Parenthood provides prenatal health care to expectant mothers.  

Planned Parenthood denies claims that they are an abortion factory--invading the wombs of expectant mothers, killing the child that is growing inside her, and illegally selling the baby body parts (skip ahead to the 5:30 mark which notes that Planned Parenthood officials testified under oath that they did this).  And if you are curious, here is some of the undercover footage that the previous link refers to.  (Note: This video shows footage that can be very disturbing.  View at your own risk.)  Planned Parenthood's claim that they provide women's health care, in particular prenatal care, is at best a gross exaggeration.  The video linked above would tell you it is a lie.  

For Planned Parenthood to claim that they provide prenatal care (and in a few clinics, they do) is like McDonald's telling you that they sell ketchup.  It's there, but that is hardly the purpose for their existence.

Over the past several elections, abortion has been a key issue.  It is alarming how vehemently women fight for this to be a right.  In the case of Michigan, it is now a constitutional right.  How is it that the blessing God has given to women that they are able to conceive and give birth to babies is something that should be terminated, but that killing those babies in the womb is good and needs to be defended and funded with tax dollars?

This goes beyond abortion, unfortunately.  Many Christians (sadly, not all) rightly label abortion as murder and, therefore, evil.  But many Christians have also adopted the mentality that having many children is to be avoided.  Obviously, some married couples cannot have children; for reasons known only to God, he has chosen to withhold this blessing.  But many want to limit this blessing.

The Psalms teach us to confess, "Indeed, children are a heritage from the Lord. The fruit of the womb is a reward from him. Sons born during one’s youth are like arrows in the hand of a warrior. How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them" (Psalm 127:3-5).  But are children viewed as a blessing?  Perhaps one or two, but after that maybe not so much.

In what other area of life would we avoid more blessings?  Who says, "I have too much money.  I've got to avoid getting more"?  "That's too many promotions.  I had better start to refuse them"?  "I can really feel my strength coming back to me after that surgery.  But it had better not get too much better.  I don't know if I could handle that"?  But in regard to a large family?  There we set limits.

Excuses to avoid large families usually betray priorities and what we consider to actually be our blessings.  Are children expensive?  Yes.  But it is possible to afford children with careful spending and lifestyle choices.  Poor people still have families.  They had to live without certain luxuries to do it, but it can be done.  But if a certain lifestyle is the priority, children are avoided.  Do children require a lot of time and energy?  Yes.  But if my time is only for my pleasure and hobbies, children will be avoided.  While some may have a legitimate reason for avoiding more children (e.g., a life-threatening condition during pregnancy), for most the honest admission is: "I want my money, time, and energy devoted to me."

Understand that choices have consequences.  I lead chapels at three nursing homes each week.  Some of the residents there never had any children.  It is a choice that they regret as they are now lonely and rarely see visitors.  This is something that young people should consider about their future.  That future will get here faster than you think.

What could possibly be a greater use of your money, time, and energy than to raise children and to invest in the next generation?  And what people will you have a greater impact upon than your own children?  There is no greater thing you will do in your life than raise your children.

If you want to get a glimpse of God's faithful love to you, have a lot of children.  You will pour out money, effort, time, and other gifts on them, and you will not get a whole lot of recognition or thanks for it--at least not until your children are doing it for their own children.  God's grace is given so freely and richly, and we don't recognize his generosity or often give him thanks for it.  God created people so that he could love and bless them.  God grants children to a married couple so that they can love and bless them.  As God showers us with love and blessing, so parents do for their children.

Planned Parenthood is a staunch opponent to the high calling of motherhood.  They kill babies.  The spirit of our society is not as violent against motherhood, but it still discourages it.  Young girls are encouraged to get a college degree and have a career.  They are told that a career is doing something valuable with your life (and yes, it surely can be).  But stated implicitly or sometimes explicitly, motherhood is not revered as doing something valuable.  If there is a war on women, this is it.  

God has honored women by being the people through whom children come into the world.  This is a great and high honor.  It needs to be taught so that it will be appreciated and so that motherhood will be highly honored again.