Brianna writes in and says this, I'm a 20 year old woman who by God's leading wants to

live among unreached people groups in India or the Middle East.

I've never had the desire to have my own kids, even though I love kids.

And the guy I'm currently dating doesn't either.

If we get married, we see ourselves living as Paul type missionaries.

Practically speaking, it makes sense to not have kids.

I've heard so many different opinions, but I want to know if biblically it is a

sin to not want to have kids if you're able to.

First, I'm assuming that this couple is in a totally different category than the

modern secular couple who have their personal dreams and consider children an

inconvenience on the way to self-realization.

That, it seems to me, is very common and is sinful because God and His word are not

the plumb line in those choices, but rather self-absorption is.

I don't hear that in this question, so I'm not treating that issue.

That's another issue.

Seems to me this couple has a question much more like 1 Corinthians 7 when Paul

ponders whether singleness is advisable for himself and others.

So let me draw out the implications of Paul's words about spouselessness for the question

of childlessness, because I think the principles relating to spouselessness and childlessness

are the same.

So here's what Paul says, 1 Corinthians 7, 7, I wish all were as I myself am, namely

single, but each has his own gift from God, one of one kind, one of another, to the unmarried

...