Pastor Bob Hammond. First published 2010. Updated 2014 and 2025.
In recent years, many Christian couples have re-visited the debate regarding the use of birth control. Some have rejected birth control methods altogether--expressing a desire to give themselves more fully to the LORD’s plan for their families (Gen. 1:28; Ps. 127:3-5). Others have chosen to limit their use of birth control to so-called non-hormonal methods -- noting concern about the potential for hormonal methods (e.g. “the pill”) to terminate early pregnancies. To help guide your own decision, consider these four observations:
1. Bearing children is one of the LORD’s primary purposes for marriage.
Genesis 1:28 “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”
Also recognize that children are a blessing from the LORD and a Godly source of happiness:
Psalm 127:3-5 “Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. 4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. 5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.”
2. The LORD knew us before we were conceived. Also, he has mandated the protection of unborn children (without regard to the stage of development).
The LORD told Jeremiah that He knew Jeremiah “before I formed thee in the belly.”
Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.”
Moses taught that a man who harms an unborn child should suffer punishment:
Exodus 21:22-23 “If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman's husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. 23 And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life."
In Exodus 21, the LORD does not specify the point of development at which an unborn child is afforded this protection. That wasn’t necessary because a fertilized human egg is simply a human being at the earliest stage of development. It is clear that the LORD desires that unborn children be protected at all stages of development - from conception forward.
3. If Christians choose to use birth control, they must recognize that many methods are abortive, i.e. they have potential to cause an early pregnancy to be terminated.
Hormonal birth-control methods such as the pill, patch, ring and hormonal injections work in three ways. First, they are intended to prevent an egg from being released from the ovaries. Second, they create an environment that reduces the ability of sperm to reach an egg. And third, they create an environment in the womb that can prevent a fertilized egg from continuing to develop in the womb. We observe that, because a fertilized egg is a human at the earliest stage of development, creating a situation that prevents the egg from developing normally is, in fact, abortive.
Note: An IUD (intrauterine device) has similar abortive potential and should therefore be avoided.
Emergency Contraception. Christians should also be aware that the so-called “morning after pill” is also intended to cause the rejection of a fertilized egg rather than to prevent conception. Some brands include: Plan B, Take Action, My Way, Option 2, Aftera, Preventeza, and Julie (a newer generic).
4. Other forms of contraception have no known abortive potential.
Two groups of methods have no known abortive potential: so-called barrier methods and behavioral methods. Christian married couples who choose to use birth control should consider these methods.
Barrier Methods. These methods involve the use of a physical barrier between the sperm and egg.
Male condoms
Female condoms
Cervical cap (including Lea's Shield)
Diaphragm
Behavioral Methods. These methods involve regulating the timing of intercourse to reduce the likelihood of pregnancy.
Fertility awareness methods
Symptoms-based methods of fertility awareness involve a woman's observation and charting of her body's fertility signs to determine the fertile and infertile phases of her monthly cycle. Most methods track one or more of the three primary fertility signs, i.e. changes in basal body temperature, in cervical mucus, and in cervical position. Other bodily cues include abdominal pain that occurs around the time of ovulation.
Calendar-based methods such as the rhythm method and Standard Days Method estimate the likelihood of fertility based on the length of past menstrual cycles. To avoid pregnancy with fertility awareness, unprotected sex is restricted to the least fertile period of time.
Conclusion
Christian couples do well to remember that “children are an heritage of the LORD.” In the event that contraceptive methods will be utilized, hormonal methods should be avoided due to their potential to cause abortions. A variety of alternative methods are available that do not have abortive potential, including both barrier and behavior methods.
