What Does the Bible Say About Having Children vs Not Having Children?

With so many people intentionally choosing not to have children in this “modern world” what does the Bible say about having children or intentionally choosing not to have children?

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Having kids is a daily job, and Deuteronomy 6 has the household talking about God in ordinary moments, and Ephesians 6:4 says Don’t provoke your children; raise them in the Lord’s training.

Scripture also pushes against treating childlessness as disobedience so I also really hate it when people judge someone who chooses not to have kids (or if they’re not able to).

Look at Jeremiah 16. God tells a prophet not to marry and not to have children in that place. So, deciding not to have children can itself be an act of obedience. Matthew 19:12 is another one. Jesus talks about people who give up marriage for the kingdom and doesn’t talk down to them.

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The Bible doesn’t make having kids a test of faithfulness. Jesus didn’t have children of his own, and he still welcomed and valued them - Mark 10:13-16. So you can honor children without being a parent.

If you’re going to hold this standard for everyone you’re kind of flying in the face of Jesus right away.

If you decide not to have kids, you still have to figure out how you’ll invest in other people and look after those who are vulnerable. A fruitful Christian life reaches past your own household.

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It says ‘Be fruitful and multiply’ in Genesis, and Psalm 127 calls them a heritage from the Lord.

So having children is :100: supported in scripture but it is never commanded. Paul in 1 Corinthians 7 praises people who stay single and childless so they can give God their full attention.

It’s your choice, but just be aware of whether your choice comes from faith or from fear and selfishness.

I would much rather see people intentionally choose not to have a child if they knew they couldn’t raise them properly. That would seem a lot more Christian to me, but sometimes people get hung up on one or two pieces of scripture, ignoring any context.

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Jesus himself had no kids of his own, right and he still made a point of welcoming children in Mark 10.

Wanting children can be driven by ego or social pressure just as easily as choosing not to have them can be driven by fear.