When Eric McClellan suggested to Jonthan Keck that I be given the opportunity to guest post on Theology21, I was pretty giddy with excitement. The posts on Theology21 are filled to the brim with the kinds of things I like to think about, talk about, and in many cases write about!
The heart of Theology21 and Pop Parables are very similar, and we often have overlapping topics, like Lady Gaga. Here’s an excerpt from the About page:
Theology and the scripture have been secularized and intellectualized. They are now academic disciplines rather than the very life and air we breath as we pursue and experience God in the every day. He is found on the streets, not in the libraries of the elites—a progressive theology that is relevant and real for both Christians and those to whom we want to speak.
Last week, Eric wrote an amazing post entitled The Unification of the Soul and Cell: Christian Thoughts on Stem Cell Research. The discussion centered around the question of when life begins, and I brought up how this relates to Christians and the use of birth control, suggesting that it is an area in which our culture has largely driven the response, and the Biblical answers have been left unsaid.
If you flip open any parenting magazine, the first advertisement is usually for some form of birth control. Like all prescription drug ads, you’ll be {mis}guided into thinking that the drug will dramatically alter your life for the better. They don’t show any images of the horrific side effects or the potential ethical ramifications of the usage of the drug in question.
Wouldn’t it be great if they included an ethical or Biblical guide for birth control in those tiny boxes and packages? Well, that is exactly what I tried to do in my guest post. Here’s a teaser:
There are some groups of Christians, such as the Quiverfull movement , who are opposed to the use of birth control.
I’m not a member in any of those groups.
I’m in the group that advocates the use of birth control in a monogamous marriage, whereby both partners have prayerfully considered the chosen method and agree that it is God honoring, obedient to His call for their marriage, and respectful of human life.
As a mom of 3 boys, I can tell you that children are indeed a blessing. However, they are not the only blessing in my life. Hence, the use of birth control. After talking with many of my friends about this subject, I can tell you that it is a common dilemma to grapple with the decision of a chosen method of birth control.
…continue reading here. Be sure to jump in on the discussion over at Theology21!
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three cheers for condoms!
lol…my comment totally just got spammed.
See what happens after I just told you that you are intelligent?! Rock on, Mo.
Thanks for sharing your “choice”. hehehe Now the real question: are you man enough to buy them yourself or do you make your wife do it?
What? people do that? that’s just weird. I get them. in bulk, of course.
Actually, what stinks is that they lock them up now. You have to go get a cashier, who’s usually half deaf from his iPod, to open it for you. “What? What do you need?” “Condoms, young man. c-o-n-d-o-m-s. And some Sudafed, while you’ve got the keys out.”
If this one doesn’t get spammed, I want a prize.
What? What kind of store do you buy them at!?!? In my neck of the woods, they are not locked up. But, that is freakin’ hilarious. Do you have to be “of age” to buy them!? Because, they certainly lock up the Sudafed round these parts and you have to be 18.
I’m in Michigan, and they lock em up at CVS and such. I think you can make
meth with them now. Or maybe it’s illicit water balloons.
I may just take a cue from @dustinv:twitter and give you the trophy for comment of the day.
I guess the West coast kids haven’t figured out how to use those in their meth recipes yet. #shhhdonttell
This thread is crazy. And crazy funny. hahaha. I have not seen any of this stuff locked up, but maybe they should. When I was a wild adolescent and trying to have sex before marriage, I would sheepishly buy a box but constantly looked over my shoulder, making sure no church member or family friend poped up and eyeballed my purchase. I think I have had a complex since then. I can’t just buy condemns now. I have to buy orange juice and cheese just to throw the cashier off and avoid the inevitable conclusion in their mind that I am about to go have sex. hahaha. AHHH man, social constructions and norms.
You didn’t ever consider that the cashier might be thinking that all of the items in your purchase were connected?! hehehe
Jonathan, you have to read this little excerpt from another post I wrote about sex: http://popparables.com/2011/04/does-god-really-say-that-sex-is-only-for-marriage/
In his book Sex God, Rob Bell explains that in the ancient world, after the vows had been exchanged, the physical act of consummating the relationship was what sealed the deal.
So, the bride and groom would say their vows, then retreat to the bridal chamber.
The wedding guests would wait for the deed to be done, probably enjoy a little happy hour of sliders and cocktails, and I’m sure make jokes with lots of sexual inuendos at the expense of the bride and groom.
Then, bride and groom would return, the DJ would annonce them husband and wife, and they would party with the guests.
As a modern woman, I have to say I’m grateful we don’t expect the immediate consummation of the marriage before the celebration.
How awkward to run upstairs to your hotel room, have sex, then return to the wedding reception to party the night away?
And, all of the most important people in your life are just standing there, thinking the same thing, “Oh my goodness. They just had sex.”
Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat!?
Good thing this tradition has been reduced to ”You may now kiss the bride“.
But, God sees the tradition of consummating the marriage through sexual union as truth.
WORD. ahhaa.
awesome comment thread. hilarious.
in ATL, depending on the store they lock them up. in wal-mart, have at it. but at places like CVS, on lockdown!
I guess CVS is more conservative than Wally World. I wonder if more people in your area buy them from W than CVS just because they’re locked up there?? The idea of condoms behind the counter just cracks me up!
Dustin, I actually noticed that in Atlanta one time while visiting my sister. I wasn’t looking for them or anything, but I just happened to pass by and thought it was very strange that they were locked up. Maybe this is part of the reason that one of the big hospitals (not sure which one – my sister knows) delivers way more babies than most?
That is a really interesting hypothesis. Makes me wonder about STD’s in the area, too.
So, I just told my hubs about the condoms on lock down in crazy places like Detroit and ATL. His response: they do that here in Seatown, too! He says it’s because they are so often stolen. You can tell I don’t buy these things.
dude, seriously?? The don’t lock ‘em up at our CVS in California. Maybe it’s that weird Michigan witch hunt thing.
Keri,
When I used to use them, I would hold up the box and shout out, “But honey, these are ribbed for YOUR pleasure, they’re perfect!” My bride was not amused.
Wearing a condom is like ordering a steak dinner and shooting your tongue full of Novacaine.
TMI, Donald!!!
I could make a ton of inappropriate jokes from my pre-Chrsitian days but I shall refrain because God’s watching.
Maybe you can make them in the Twitterverse instead. hehehe
Keri,
Birth control, God’s will, Christian marriage, and lions and tigers and bears, oh my!
I am digging that you are delving into this. I see I need to journey over to Theiology21 now…(why are you making me work like this?) LOL!
I know, clicking a link is just so adruous. At least you’re marathon ready now.
Oh my goodness – hilarious thread – almost afraid to leave a comment for fear that I too will be spammed! That Moe is so funny!
The things boys say…and do…and think! ahahahahha Good thing they keep us girls laughing!
Haha! Keri…you are about to get a BUNCH of spam!!!
If I had google ad sense installed on my blog, there would certainly be ads for Trojan, KY and a host of other things I would not want on here! hahahaha
Heading over there now. Being single for 5 years, I haven’t had to worry about birth control, but I have thought about what I would do if I ever remarried. I hated the pill. It’s so nice to not be on it and I’ll never go back. Maybe I’ll just stay single forever.
I admit, it would be nice to NOT have to worry about birth control. Wanna know something weird about the pill? Before I had kids, it didn’t really affect me at all emotionally. After kids, it made me feel like a crazy person. I wasn’t even aware of the ethical ramifications of using it. I’m not on it anymore mostly because I also didn’t like the way it made me feel, but knowing what I know now, I don’t think I could ever go back on it in good conscience.
::Sigh:: The very name “birth control” indicates that God is not in control, you are. It’s unscriptural. Why can’t Christian’s grasp this concept? Until you trust Him completely, until you OBEY Him completely you are living outside of His will. If you give Him control of every aspect of your life but keep this one for yourself to “control” you are not living a surrendered life. You do not trust Him.