Essay for Bible Class

Traci

Systematic Theology

Who Lives and Who Dies - Is this God or Man’s Decision?

God has an ultimate plan for every single one of us. But does that mean we have no say in our lives? Do we have to throw up our hands and let everything happen as it happens? What about when it comes to life, for instance, a baby? When a woman discovers there is possibility of becoming pregnant she can react in multiple ways. She could be overjoyed and thrilled at the possibility of bringing a baby into this world. She could hate the idea and immediately research abortion methods. Or, another option would be to look into birth control. The question is, should she be able to have all these options, deciding whether a baby should survive or not?

When it comes to birth control you can apply it in ways ranging from taking pills that contain hormones to prevent the egg and sperm from reaching each other to men and women personally protecting themselves with physical barrier methods. Birth control can be used on a regular basis or a last minute emergency option. One of the most controversial methods of birth control is the morning after pill. Supposedly the only difference between this and the other regular pills is the amount of hormones (morning after pills have large amounts of hormones) and when it is taken (the morning after). All of these prevent the egg from becoming fertilized. There is no life to kill and because there is no life to kill, there is no harm or inhumanness involved. In the case of abortion, it is murder and it kills the fertilized egg and therefore demolishes the life. In the Bible, God makes it clear how He loves children and is extremely protective over them. Whatever control we decide to have over life better be right because we will be answering to the ultimate Father one day.

So then, birth control is not an abortion and does not kill, but is it still right? God does have a plan, but we actually have a pretty big say in our lives, because He has given us the ability to choose between right and wrong. The decisions we make are judged by God through our heart. Today, a lot of teens are careless with their sexual behavior and find themselves in heaps of trouble with “parents” being a looming job title. They figure that birth control will solve this and they can continue on with their sin with no consequences. This is bad. Abusing the ability to give birth to children is in many ways wrong and will be judged. But, because the Lord is an understanding God, I believe in certain cases birth control is morally permissible. It is not possible to come up with a list of situations you need to be in to righteously use birth control because it is up to you and you’re conscience. Keeping in mind that God wants what is best for us, for health reasons and for financial reasons this is not a bad way to go. If your heart is in the right place and you are content with where you are in life, birth control might not be a bad idea, but when it is abused to cover up sins and to patch up problems, it will only make the situation worse.

To conclude, we are all under the rule and dominion of God. He knows what is going to happen hundreds of years from now and he knows who is going to get married and have kids and who is going to have abortions, and who is going to be in jail. He has known all this from the very beginning and will continue knowing it forever and ever. We cannot trick God. As Christians, we must remember that God forms our inward parts (body, mind, and soul) at conception (Psalm 139:13-14). Birth control is a way we can stabilize our lives and feel more comfortable, either in a good or bad way (using it as a stabilizer for a sinful life). God should be our ultimate stabilizer, but He knows we are only human and we need more than just Him. Unfortunately we thrive on new and improved ways to manage our lives. This is not a bad thing, as long as we keep our goals and standards straight. Christians can use birth control as long as they believe what they are doing is right and just and if they can honestly stand before God with their decision.