A Case For Large Families

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it:” Genesis 1:27, 28

“And did not he make one? … And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit.” Malachi 2:15

I remember Pastor Carl Adams, former missionary to the Philippines, saying, “I’m so glad that my parents did not limit their family to twenty children–if they did, I would not be here today.

One reason for “the family” is so God can have a “godly seed” upon this earth. God instructed Noah to be fruitful and to multiply in order to replenish the earth (Genesis 9:1). God promised Abraham that he would make of him a great nation and to make his descendents as the sand of the seashore and as the stars in the heaven. Why? So He could have a Godly nation who feared and served Him. Why does He have a church? He has the church so that He might have a “godly seed.” The reason for seed is to multiply the genetic structure of the organism.

There are two ways to grow the kingdom of God. One is by evangelism and the other is to raise large families who love and serve God. God told Adam and Eve to “be fruitful, and multiply, and to replenish the earth.” A couple cannot multiply unless they have more than two children. If there was ever a time for us to replenish the earth, it is today.

Many of us in the church have bought into this world’s materialistic values and are now limiting our families to one or two children in order to maintain the ‘good life’. It costs to have children, but it has always cost. Have we ever stopped to consider what we are giving up in order to have the big house and the two cars?

I often watch parents who have only one child, the center of their universe, try to discipline this child. I know that what that child needs is one or two brothers and sisters. What the parents spend in money, time and emotional energy could be better spread over three children and would help with the discipline of the one.

Research forecasts that Europe will lose it’s identity and culture in just twenty years for their fertility rate is only 1.28 children per family. Any nation must have at least 2.11 children to even maintain their culture. In France, the Muslim families are averaging 8.1 children. In the Netherlands, over 50% of all births are Muslim. Germany can no longer recover their identity. In Canada and in the USA, the birth rate is only 1.6 children per family. Canada and all Europe will become Muslim nations within thirty years. How long will it take for us to be overwhelmed?

I believe we are limiting our Christian families for selfish materialistic reasons. We are sending our wives out to work for the same reason others in our culture are doing it – to buy that house and those two cars. It is easier to give our children things than to give them time and training.

As I look at some of our larger godly families who have maintained their numbers and spiritual heritage over three and four generations, I cannot but feel this is the will of God. As I watch my great-grandkids play around my feet and then worship with me in church, then I know I am blessed!

“Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.” Proverbs 17:6

Note: The reason for this column is to counter the values of our culture that oppose the direct instructions of God in His Word.