deciding and planning to have a child, to create life purposely....could that be deemed playing God?

Question

I remember...I think it was on Montel, this family had 15 kids cause they didn't believe in any kind of birth control...they thought birth control was a sin cause it was preventing the life of a child that they might be supposed to have. And when asked was 15 it, they said...who knows? Personally I think that's a bit extreme...but whatever, as long as the kids get fed and taken care of properly.

But deciding when to have a child, in vitro fertilization, artificial insemination....is that, playing God? Cause you are trying to create life on your own whim, not Gods? Should kids be 'oops, surprise!'?

Answer 1

No. It wouldn't be playing God because God is still in control. God can still say no. God isn't going to create anything that isn't meant to be.

Answer 2

The Bible clearly states that it is God who opens and closes the womb. So even if you don't use anything that doesn't necessarily mean you will wind up with 15 or more (The Duggars?) but you might.

The point is trusting God for the size of your family weather that's none or 20. And thereby trusting Him to provide as well.....

To answer you question it's a grey area. In some ways yes and in some ways no. Not all unplanned children are "oops, surprise" they just weren't when YOU planned them. I know many couples who have gotten pregnant after giving up fertility treatments and just trusting God with the results.

Answer 3

I feel that men and women should get married and plan to have a family when they can afford a family and its ok to use birth control to time the arrival of children and make sure that a couple with a limited income don't end up with 15 children.

Couples who long to have children and can't have them go thru a lot of pain an anguish over that.

The drive to produce one's own children is very strong which is why people go to great lengths to fix what ever problem nature has which prevents them from having children the old fashioned way.

I would therefore never criticize couples who go to extraordinary lengths to bring their own flesh and blood into the world.

Remember God told us to be fruitful and multiply.

That was God's first commandment.

Pastor Art

Answer 4

in vitro fertilization is now only used because couples who want to have a child out of LOVE. Of course there are moral issues involved, but God DID give us the gift of procreation. So using the gift he gave us can't be called "playing god" but when you try to create life by artificially creating a semen or egg cell, then yeah, your tampering with something you're gonna regret sooner or later. Same thing goes with trying to revive someone thats already dead and beyond that shocky thing that doctors use when your heart stops

Answer 5

Yes, God has a plan for each of us. The good news is that if we follow His plans, we will be happy. On the other side, we have the free will to either accept or reject His plans. This setup is really not a test in the pass/fail sense. It's more an exercise in making wise choices in our lives. That takes practice and mistakes. Contrary to belief, it is the consequences, not God that "punishes" us for our mistakes. By being aware of the potential consequences beforehand, we can better evaluate the wisdom of our decisions. Perhaps the "test" you mention is to see who is honestly trying to find His path. Life can be confusing and things are not always what they seem. God knows and understands this and is infinitely patient with those who are "pure of heart". I know this from experience. If you do decide to read the Bible, just do it in a quiet space with a peaceful mind. Let your heart understand it rather than trying to let your brain figure it out. Above all, you decide for yourself what it means.

Answer 6

Trying to have a child is comparable to trying to create life on your own whim?

Nope.
The power to procreate was something unique given to God's intelligent creatures. The angels do not have this ability, only us humans.

Answer 7

No... because God gave men and women the "tools" to make babies. Trying to make a baby out of thin air in a lab somewhere, THAT could be considered "playing God."

Answer 8

I think family planning is very wise because it allows us to have the size and timing of family that we can support, when we are ready for them.

And I think any religion that forbids family planning to be completely unreasonable and in desperate need of update. Overstretched resources is a major cause of poverty, child abuse, neglect, and insanity. I wouldn't ever listen to any source that tried to tell me I can't manage my life as I think is best.