Altlutheraner

In its report on Human Sexuality, “commended to the Synod for study and guidance,” the Commission on Theology and Church Relations concluded:

In view of the Biblical command and the blessing to “be fruitful and multiply,” it is to be expected that marriage will not ordinarily be voluntarily childless. But, in the absence of Scriptural prohibition [?], there need be no objection to contraception within a marital union which is, as a whole, fruitful. [This abuse of language should not go unnoticed.] Moreover, once we grant the appropriateness of contraception [!], we will also recognize that sterilization may under some circumstances be an acceptable form of contraception. [!] Because of its relatively permanent nature, sterilization is perhaps [?] less desirable [sterilization is desirable] than less-far reaching forms of contraception [standard contraception is even better]. However, there should be no moral objection to it [for we would then have sinned, which cannot be the case!], especially for couples who already have children and who now seek to devote themselves to the rearing of those children [they wish to avoid any future gifts of God in order to raise the ones they have], for those who have been advised by a physician that the birth of another child would be hazardous to the health of the mother [good works which may place one in danger shall not be done], or for those who for reasons of age, physical disability, or illness are not able to care for additional children. [The elderly, disabled, and sick are unable to receive this great gift of God!] Indeed, there may be special circumstances which would persuade a Christian husband and wife that it would be more responsible and helpful to all concerned, under God [this statement has now been reliably supported by blasphemy!], not to have children. Whatever the particular circumstances, Christians dare not take lightly decisions in this area of their life together. They should examine their motives thoroughly and honestly and take care lest their decisions be informed by a desire merely to satisfy selfish interests.

With respect to voluntary childlessness in general, we should say that while there may be special reasons which would persuade a Christian husband and wife to limit the size of their family, they should remember at all times how easy it is for them simply to permit their union to turn inward and refuse to take up the task of sharing in God’s creative activity. [And this turning inward is what the report has ensured will happen by sanctifying it (if it could be sanctified) with God’s holy name, for which reason the Church must pray: “Cursed, damned, profaned be the name of the Commission on Theology and Church Relations, its members, and of all them that blaspheme Thy name.”] Certainly Christians will not give as a reason for childlessness the sorry state of the world and the fear of bringing a child into such a world. We are not to forget the natural promise embedded in the fruitfulness of marriage. To bear and rear children can be done, finally, as an act of faith and hope in God who has promised to supply us with all that we “need to support this body and life. [These last statements, which by themselves are pious and Christian, exist to merely lessen the crassness of the earlier blasphemy.]

The position of this report has been generally followed in the LCMS, which is why pastors now only have a few children (if any), compared with those of the Missouri Synod. Thanks be to God, there are some pastors who have not allowed their synod’s blasphemous opinion to shape their actions.