Over the past 50 years, as with many biblical views, there has been a cultural shift as to how we are told to view children. The common belief currently being promoted is that children are a burden, both to their parents as well as to society and the planet as a whole. Children are also portrayed as a burden in that they are a distraction and obstacle from other pursuits like your career status and financial goals. While having and raising children comes with its challenges, viewing children as a burden is not a biblically accurate view for how we should view parentage. The bible goes in a completely different direction to our current society and says this in Psalm 127:3-5 Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him. Children born to a young man are like arrows in a warrior’s hands. How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them! There is never a place in God's word where children are not described as either a blessing, a gift or a reward…despite the difficult circumstances that surrounded many births in the bible. With this in mind, it’s easy to see how current society and culture differ from God's viewpoint.  It is almost seen as irresponsible to have many children or to have even your first child before you have a house, an established career and comfortable savings account. In many ways, parents who have children and view family as a high priority are somehow seen as a blight to the community and to the environment.  This is directly the opposite to what the Bible says; A strong, healthy, growing family is the foundational building block of a healthy community, not something that hinders it. God told Noah in Genesis 9 to be fruitful and multiply, spread out and take dominion over the earth. We are often urged to do the opposite through all forms of media; to be fruitless, divided, clumped together in cities, with our world around us taking dominion over and controlling us through fear, debt and government overreach. This discussion of family and children gets brought up a lot here at True North Church, especially because we are known for being a church that has many children and growing families. This is not something we are ashamed of or bat an eye at, we are proud to be a church who value children and place them as a high priority in life and in ministry. The only prerequisites to having children that the bible sets out would be that the parents are married and that they are willing to love and care for the child and raise them in the ways of God. The goal of this passage is not to convince you to have children or not to have children. The goal of this passage is to encourage you to look to God and hear from Him about planning your family. We need to depend on God for guidance and provision, not the government, medical professionals or cultural influencers. And don’t ask your pastors if you should have more children or not! You’re missing the point if you do this. Pray and seek God as to what he would want for your family and stop making decisions based on the opinions of a broken and sinful culture.  Never let a fear of lack prevent you from stepping into what God has for you… A fear of lacking money, lacking parenting skills or even lacking confidence. This is where faith kicks in, we serve a God that has never and will never fail you, or your children…no matter how many you decide to have!

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. Blessed is the man
    whose quiver is full of them. Psalm 127:3-5

Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth. Genesis 9:1

A biblical study of the institution of marriage with a focus on marriage roles. Special attention will be given to understanding family dynamics and applying authority and responsibility in parenting. Special emphasis will be put on the importance of our words in fostering healthy relationships.

Arrows
Ps. Erich & Joanne Eisenhart