Why large Christian families are a blessing too!

I consider myself blessed - yes, truly blessed, and not cursed as many would consider it - to be the father of a large family - four boys and three girls. And I am not a Roman Catholic, but rather an Evangelical. If you live in the United States or Europe, chances are, you have not met very many Evangelical Christian couples with such a large family.

"Why would you have such a large family, when you are an Evangelical?" you may be wondering. "What, are you crazy?" is another question others might think.

Though I often hear expressions of admiration for our willingness to take on the responsibility of raising so many kids, I also can't tell you how many times I've been teased about it, sometimes rather meanly. "Don't you know what causes that?" is probably the most common line I've heard.

I've patiently endured all of the jabs, and for fear of hurting the feelings of those who cannot have children or could only have one or two, I've mostly kept my mouth shut concerning this topic. Now I am going to say just a little in my defense. This is not at all spoken with the motive of bragging or boasting, but rather, is the reluctant defense of a man who has finally been picked on, and looked down on, enough to provoke a response.

If you are a Christian couple who cannot have children, or have only been able to have one because of God's mysterious but loving will, this article is not for you. Abraham and Sarah only had one child together - Isaac - but think of how they, and the rest of the world - were blessed by him! The apostle Paul, as far as we know, never married - but just think of how we have all been blessed by him! So having no children, or only one or two, when it is God's sovereign will, can clearly be just as great a blessing as having many children.

Rather, this article is for those who think that having a large family is a burden or a curse - something to be avoided if at all possible.

If you fall into that category, please take just a few minutes to click on the link I have provided below and view this excellent video regarding the population growth of Islam and the shrinking populations of Christians in Western civilizations.

Without a doubt, unless current population trends are reversed (and according to this video, it is too late for that in many European countries), Islam will become the dominant religious force in the Western world.

When a people group ignores any aspect of God's word (in this case, the many Bible passages which teach that children are a blessing), there are always consequences - sometimes very tragic. Watch this video and you will lament at those very consequences, which we are now reaping.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-3X5hIFXYU&feature=related

Here are but some of the Bible verses which teach that children are a blessing:

Pr 14:28 In a multitude of people is a king’s honor, But in the lack of people is the downfall of a prince.
Ps 127:3 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
Psalm 127:4 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.
Psalm 128:3 Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table. 4 Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD.
Deut 28:1 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:
2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.
3 Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.
4 Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep...11 And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to give thee.
Mal 2:15 But did He not make them [husband and wife] one, Having a remnant of the Spirit? And why one? He seeks godly offspring. Therefore take heed to your spirit, And let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth.
Lu 18:16 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. [How highly Jesus valued little ones - and so should we!]

So why do we Western Christians, for the most part, no longer believe that large families are a blessing from God, as the Bible teaches?

As you will see from the video, the United States, thanks to the influx of Hispanic immigrants, is one of the few Western nations that might be able to reverse this trend in religious demographics. But it will not happen if we born-again Christians continue to believe the lie which has been foisted upon us - and has been swallowed hook, line and sinker by most of us - that large families are to be frowned on, and considered more of a curse or burden than a blessing.

So if you have no children, or no more than two children, the next time you are tempted to poke fun of, or tease another Christian couple for their large family, please think twice.

Perhaps you should bless them and thank God for them instead, because without them, their trust in scripture, and their willingness to work hard and make great sacrifices to support and care for their family, our Christian faith would be shrinking even more than it is already. They are helping to keep our faith alive for future generations, are they not?

So, if you are a Christian who in the past has looked down upon large families - perhaps you were wrong. Those children will help to keep your faith alive upon the earth for future generations! They are a part of your heritage upon the earth!

Unless we want the born-again Christian population to continue shrinking in our nation, it is critically important that we start teaching again that children are a blessing, and get serious about evangelism!

~

Rusty Entrekin is a theology graduate of Louisiana College. He and his wife Julie have seven children, with four still at home, and four grandchildren. Currently, he resides in Kennesaw, GA. He writes apologetic and theological articles to help people come to know Christ and grow closer to the Lord. If this article has blessed you, and you would like to free him up to write more, you may make a donation below.

Rusty previously decided not to apply for 501c3 ministry status, so that he can write about political matters without worrying about government interference. Because of this, your gifts will not be tax deductible. However, you will receive a far greater reward for your donation: treasure in heaven!