In the Western world, there is definitely an anti-baby sentiment developing. Here are some particularly stark quotes* related to humans vs. the environment:
”Large families are as much an eco-crime as 4×4 SUV’s or failing to recycle.”
“The best ‘carbon offset’ is no more carbon-dioxide emitting human beings.”
”Having children is selfish. It’s all about maintaining your genetic line at the expense of the planet.”
”Want to wreck the environment? Have a baby … Each bundle of joy gobbles up more of the planet’s food, clogs garbage dumps with diapers, churns through plastic toys and winds up a gas-guzzling, resource-consuming grown-up like the rest of us. Still, babies are awfully cute. Given that most people still intend to procreate, what’s an environmentally conscious parent to do?”
We live in a secularized age, and we’ve lost sight of fact that the earth is GOD‘S CREATION. God is the source of everything, including plants, trees, animals, and humans, but ONLY humans are created in God’s image and likeness. We have the greatest dignity because of this. Man and Woman are at the pinnacle of creation, and from the very beginning, we were told to “multiply and fill the earth and subdue it” (see Gen 1:26-28).
Concerns about overpopulation skyrocketed when Paul Erlich’s 1968 “The Population Bomb“ predicted massive famines and environmental devastation in the 1970‘s and 80‘s…. FAIL. In fact, overpopulation is generally an overblown and over-dramatized concept. The whole world‘s ENTIRE population (7.8 billion) could fit into just the state of TEXAS with EACH person having about 900 sq ft of space! (Though this scenario is completely impractical, you get the picture—world population is definitely not at a “standing-room-only“ point.) In many countries like the US, Canada, and all throughout Europe, birth rates are actually below replacement level—women aren‘t having enough children, so citizens are dying out faster than they can be replaced.
Here are some “proverbs“** that are not in the Bible (though perhaps in Cosmo or GQ):
1) Blessed are the man and woman who wait a few years before having children—they‘ll get to know and enjoy each other first.
2) Blessed are those with four years between kids—they will never have two in diapers at the same time!
3) Blessed are those with only two children—they will be able to afford to send them to college.
4) Blessed are those who never even HAVE kids—they can spend all their time, love, money on themselves!
Pope Saint John Paul II put it succinctly: “The great danger for family life, in the midst of any society whose idols are pleasure, comfort and independence, lies in the fact that people close their hearts and become selfish.“
So we’ve seen that the western world often views children as eco-crimes, hassles, and hindrances to the “good life”. But what is God’s perspective? In the Bible, children are never described in negative terms; instead, it is clear they are ALWAYS and ONLY a gift and a blessing! “Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth” (Ps 127:3,4). Every child is priceless, regardless of what contribution he or she can make to society. No matter the child’s capabilities (or lack of them), embracing his or her presence in your life will foster your Christian growth in uncountable ways.
It is essential to differentiate between the burden of HAVING a child vs. the CHILD as a burden. Pregnancy/childbirth/parenthood can bring many trials—like nausea, weight gain, sleep deprivation, limited funds for splurging, worries as the children navigate school and adolescence, crumpled fenders from new drivers, skyrocketing college tuition…. But that baby, that child, that teen, that young adult, is a GIFT from God—a human who will live eternally—and he or she is entrusted to our loving stewardship for only a short time!
As JP II said, “Human life is precious because it is the gift of a God whose love is infinite: and when God gives life, it is forever. Life is also precious because it is the expression and the fruit of love. This is why life should spring up within the setting of marriage, and why marriage and the parents’ love for one another should be marked by generosity in self-giving.”
Shouldn’t we SEEK the blessings of God rather than resist or refuse them?!
(to be continued)
*quotes from LifeSiteNews; **proverbs adapted from Kimberly Hahn
What on EARTH is she thinking now?! 