Lately, we are working our way through some frank questions from married couples.

And we have an email from a husband today, Pastor John, my wife and I are happy and thank

God a healthy couple.

We live in Mexico City and we are in our late 30s.

We have been Christians since our adolescence.

We have two kids and one more coming in the next month, a great blessing for us.

We would like to know what the Bible teaches about birth control, especially permanent surgeries

like a vasectomy or other options out there for men or permanent birth control decisions

aligned with God's will.

Let me talk through, walk through principles that have guided me in this, been married

for 46 years.

We have used various methods of, I like the term conception control now and it will be clear

why before we are done, abortion is birth control and I don't like that.

I don't claim infallibility here of course and we have to talk so carefully when there

are no very direct instructions in scripture.

In Genesis 2.18, so I'm going to go back now, this may not make sense at first but it'll

start making sense in about two minutes.

In Genesis 2.18 it says, the Lord said, it is not good for man to be alone.

Now that makes marriage normal and good.

And then if you add, Genesis 1.28, be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, now the normal

good reality of marriage is strengthened with the normal rightness and corporate obligation

on humanity to have babies and fill the earth with faithful image bearers.

...