A reader (thank you Beth) sent me a link to the article “Two Children Should Be Limit” which made me nauseated to read it, and then angry to ponder. It’s difficult to “rope my thoughts together” cohesively because there is so much foolishness in this way of thinking, and so many ways to refute it.
This man suggests it is better to kill people (either by abortion or less medical treatment) than to damage trees. And the worst part is, his perception of the problem isn’t even real! The world is not dying because of people in it. By the way, there is no stopping this tide of destruction once we hop on that train. If abortion is considered “better” for the environment, then any life killed is better. It is nothing short of madness.
I also noticed a commenter brought up the fact that the author doesn’t acknowledge the UK’s biggest population problem–immigration.
Frankly, I need no scientific evidence to convince me that the overpopulation scare is a complete myth.
Why? Because the Creator, One who knows a lot more about carbon footprints than we do, said, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth”…and He didn’t give us a number limit on that “filling”. Then He laid out simple instructions about how to best provide for ourselves and promised that He would supply every need to those who love Him and call upon Him. End of story.
If you want to get upset about real problems with the economy or food supply or other threats you feel are imminent, blame what is to blame. The presence of people on earth is not the problem; the forsaking of basic common sense in our daily lives and the rejection of the principles of God is a much bigger threat.
However, if you need the evidence, there is plenty. The article below, written in 2003, is just one source I found of documented studies that provide compelling evidence against this insane idea. Do we just believe everything that the media spits out?
I keep wondering, what is the underlying force of this theory? There is something else, deeper and more evil propelling the idea that humans are a threat to the very place created for them. Isn’t it interesting how everything in Scripture points to life, while the world’s “wisdom” is full of death?
And one more time, I beg the Christian body to think carefully about the issue of life. In the article above, the author holds birth control and abortion in the same hand for the same purpose. We must approach it as a very slippery slope.
How sad and scary it must be to live a life without the knowledge of God and His supreme control over the universe!
27 comments
That is sad! Really sad! Although we only have two childern I being one of them.
It seems to me that in our post-industrialist, consumer oriented society, 1 single adult often consumes many times more resources than families with 5 or 6 kids living more simply. And as Japan and many European countries are already learning, declining populations also mean declining economies. In the end, humanity will recognize the wisdom of what God ordained from the beginning; the problem is humanity seems to be determined to learn their lessons by experience…
I think that so much of the shift in our thinking came from the sharp decline in morality after the Industrial Age. We had been a society based on godly morals until then.
Things began to get easier and we lost the want to work hard for our food. So, anything that begins to make us look at returning to hard work must be blamed,of course, on those that are consuming the things that we want.(Like easily available food)
Society began to point to overpopulation and because we believed we were still a godly society, we believed in all the ones we felt were in it for our good(like government and science).
Today I heard us being compared to Japan and their economy. Does no one see that population decline played a huge role in their declining economic stability? Now they need people? They needed people a generation ago, now it may be too late.
Rambling, I know, just so many thoughts going through my head on this.Why did Christians ever buy into this? It doesn’t even make sense.(Apologies to Paula , I think I just repeated some of what you said)
We read this last night and I was RANTING about it all the way to bed. LOL….I can think of soooo many ways this person is misguided. So many, I almost don’t know where to begin. I’ll start and end with the fact that the socialistic policies which this crowd is always pushing (and which is also why they feel the need to control the population…Pelosi says it will save the government money b/c they are supporting people that they shouldn’t to begin with….)…um, anyway, the only way these socialistic policies even work is from the money these children pour into the government as they hit the workforce. No population, no money for the government. I wonder if any of them think through their policies and ideas more than 5 years into the future.
Kelly, I think with your blog, you are doing a wonderful job getting the message out that the current family hostile world view is not all that there is.
I would guess that there are quite a few people in our family’s situation. We have 7 children at home, 6 of whom are in school and 1 we are preparing for the university. Our life is full, full, full. My dh works about 50 hours a week.
We would like to make a difference here. We would like to do something to help turn the hearts of people back to the Lord and back to family.
But what do we do? Where can we devote the little time we have available and hope to make a real difference?
Any thoughts?
Beth
"The Republic of Korea, with a population density 3.6 times as great as China's, has a per capita output almost 16 times as great."
A agreat article about population, environment, and free market. Thanks for posting! I would also highly recommend:
The Politically Incorrect Guide (PIG, as it's affectionately called) to Environmentalism and Global Warming.
&
The Myth of Overpopulation by R.J. Rushdoony, a very handy little booklet.
I can't remember which one pointed out that if all populations grew exponentially (as liberal environmentalists have projected), we would all be just crawling with mice by now. But populations do not grow exponentially. Lots of other good stuff in both books.
Whenever I read articles like that, I remember a semi-humoristic saying that was popular in the USSR, my country of birth: “no person – no problem”.
Of course, with the current decline in Russia’s population, this assertion might need to be revised…
God’s ways are the best!
“Do we just believe everything that the media spits
out?”
Yes – because we were trained in their schools to do so:)
How wise was our Creator to compare us to sheep.
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:6
Kelly,
This is not the first article I have read lately about this. One of my favorite homesteading magazines put this as second on what to do about the money issues the goverment is having.
I believe it won’t be long and we will be like China:(
Get used to this….I am afraid our children will have no other choice!
~Renee
Beth,
“But what do we do? Where can we devote the little time we have available and hope to make a real difference?”
Love this question. I think it resonates with everyone. Even though I have the blog, I still ask this question all the time. “How can we make a real difference?”
The obvious answer is starting with our homes. But lest we miss it because it is so obvious, I think we need to deliberately be preparing our children for the spiritual warfare that has always existed and continues to.
The biggest problem I see with the Christian community is apathy. They either don’t know, don’t care, or are just too busy with life to care. Meanwhile, the political arena robs more of our freedom and then everyone wakes up one day and says, “Oh! What happened!”
Guard against apathy, both in ourselves, and in our children. Teach them that we must “run the race with endurance” and stand for truth in a world that hates it.
(Again, reading stories about our founding fathers and the stern perseverance they had is helpful. “Give me liberty or give me death.” We need more of those men and women.)
Practically speaking, writing letters (some of our FF were known with “warring with a pen”) to your senators and congressman is one way to be heard. Start a petition? Draft a well-written, documented letter urging them to reject some of these crazy proposals?
(I have a friend in the political circle who knows a lot about how to reach the people in power. I may ask him to do a guest post on “what can we do?”)
I think we underestimate the power of fervent prayer. In 2 Kings, when the young King Josiah had the OT law read to him for the first time, he tore his clothes and fasted and prayed for the sins of his people.
Random thoughts….
Kelly,
Have you seen THIS yet?
http://www.afa.net/petitions/issuedetail.asp?id=343
Better video link at:
http://www.catholicvote.com
Very sobering!
Kelly,
Over the past few years, I have come in contact with A LOT if information like you posted. Some of it is incredibly disturbing. Concerning the aggressively anti-Christian natures of many causes such as hyper-environmentalism, humanism, abortion, gay rights etc, I am reminded of Paul’s words:
“For they changed the truth of God into a lie, and they worshiped and served the created thing more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.” Romans 1:25
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According to Scripture, the lost person will, with open arms, accept wrong as right, bad as good, down as up. They don’t know any better because they are in darkness. Such people are in bondage to sin and call it freedom. It is heartbreaking.
God has ordained the kings and systems of this world to exist for one reason–to accomplish His ultimate purpose of glorifying Himself. Being a chronic “worrier” who is constantly tempted to sinfully assume a fetal position over every bit of unpleasant news, I have had a very difficult time learning to trust that God really is in control and has already won the battle over the deadly grip the world had on His children. There is so much around me just BEGGING me to worry about it and wonder “WHAT can I do to change the circumstances?” and “Am I even supposed to try to change circumstances?”
Jesus promised that the world would see an increasing amount of distress before His return. And He said His followers would be especially hated as we no longer cling to the world as our home. He said to not fret over it as these things must happen before He returns.
What do we do? Perhaps all we CAN do is pray for the lost, look for opportunities to share Christ’s love and message of salvation, and ask God for wisdom so we do not waste our energy fighting things that must be.
I believe Peter gives direction:
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“Put on humility. For God resists proud ones, but He gives grace to the humble.
Therefore be humbled under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your anxiety onto Him, for He cares for you. Be sensible and vigilant, because your adversary the Devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking someone he may devour; whom firmly resist in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions in the world are being completed in your brotherhood. But the God of all grace, He calling us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a little, He will perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To Him be the glory and the might forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 5:5-11
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Not attempting to instruct others-just sharing some of what God has been showing me as I have to continually run back to Him when things get too scary and heavy for me.
Heather
Heather,
A VERY grounded and accurate response. We do well to revisit this truth–that God is ALWAYS in control. To “be anxious for nothing” is the hallmark of the true believer.
Balancing a non-apathetic view of things with the peace that is ours can be difficult for me.
I think remembering this truth that you’ve pointed out helps us to walk in total wisdom, confidence and strength when we do have opportunity to speak truth, share “the hope that is within us” and prepare our children for the war that rages around us.
The lies being so widely propogated about overpopulation, food shortages, damage to the environment, etc. are so ridiculous: the research for them is not even good science! If you look into the matter, you’re more likely to find reputable scientists who are saying that population growth in the world is too LOW!
The problem isn’t that we have too many people, which is destroying the environment. The problem is that many people who live a very small, wealthy percentage of the world population are wasting resources at a disgusting rate.
The problem isn’t that there isn’t enough food or fertile ground to feed the world’s population: the problem is, again, waste, as well as destruction of crops and withholding of resources by corrupt governments as a way to punish various people groups throughout the world. There’s more than enough food out there. We just have a serious distribution imbalance.
~Bethany
Kelly,
It’s obvious this person is a nut! Did you read some of the responses to his post? From the ones I read, only a few agreed with him, but many others thought he was out of his gourd! No offense to you, but I actually was laughing at his article because I thought it was so unintelligent, untruthful, and sophomoric.
At any rate, I hope that you have calmed down from reading this article. Yes, I thought it was sickening too, but don’t let it get to you. Remember that we have the Lord on our side!
There’s been a lot of talk here in So. California lately about how having more than two children is irresponsible. I heard a talk-show host (usually very conservative, so it bothered me all the more) say that unless you’re the Kennedy Family (meaning unless you have lots of money) you have no business having a large family. Only have the kids you can “afford.” (including send to college)
This wave of anti-family talk on blogs and talk radio here in So. Cal. was brought on by a woman, who last week, gave birth to eight children at once. What made it more “scandalous” is that she had used IVF after already have six children at home. And she’s not married; she’s living with her parents. She used a sperm donor to get all her children.
It’s a rather bizarre situation, I admit. But, the anti-child bias it has revealed (sometimes from surprising places) has been really interesting! People who I’d thought (always sounded like it to me!) were against abortion suggesting she should have used selective abortion and not carried eight children.
*shaking head*
GT,
Yikes…although her circumstance was indeed different, it behooves me that we (collectively) have our own neat little ideas of who should have children, when and why. “Hardship” seems to be the first thing to deter the love of children, but as we’ve talked about so often on this blog (and as the video today demonstrates) hardship isn’t a reason to say “no” to children. Never has been, and the world is a better place for those who have said “yes”.
GT- not to be picky, but not all of the woman’s children were the result of IVF. The first five, I believe, were born within her marriage, but she is now divorced. She did, it seems, use a sperm donor following her divorce to continue conceiving, including the conception of the octuplets. While I agree that the circumstances of her conception were less than ideal, particularly as she resorted to some rather extreme medical interventions that I would not support even if she were married, I think we should admire her courage not to abort any of her children, as several doctors suggested she do.
~Bethany
Bethany,
All the news reports I’ve heard and read said that all her children were a result of IVF.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090131/ap_on_re_us/octuplets
Not that that really makes a difference in the story.
The reason she took so many embryos this time was because she didn’t want them destroyed. I do admire that. It’s certainly better than throwing them out or using them for science experiments!
But the whole thing was so unnatural and I was having trouble putting my uneasiness with the situation into words. Thankfully, Jill Stanek did it for me.
http://www.jillstanek.com/archives/2009/02/the_octuplets.html#comments
What I mostly feel badly about is the anti-baby and anti-big family rants I’m hearing on TV and radio. And how people are excusing abortion in the case of multiples makes no sense. How is this any less a real person just because there happens to be so many in there at once?
Anyway, it’s just too bad. You know?
I don’t think that anybody really thinks ahead. Most of us, individuals and societies, are too busy putting out today’s brush-fires to think a generation or two into the future. When you wake up, it’s too late.
Thoughts about big family/small family seem to flip-flop with each generation. I grew up during the baby-boom of the ’50’s, when at least half of the families that I knew personally had 5 or 6 children or more.
(My husband and I both came from 2-child families with single dads. Yes, in the 50’s!)
I also well remember the overcrowded classrooms, with 40 children in a classroom (our Catholic school would accommodate up to 60 children per classroom, with one nun to teach them) and the teacher shortage, when housewives who possessed teaching degrees were begged to come back to the classroom. People groaned under the tax burden to provide new schools, etc.
Then came The Pill, and everybody limited their family size. Of all the children I knew who grew up in large families, only one chose to have a large family of her own (she had 8 children, her mother had 10).
My brother and I were the envy of all of our friends, because we each had our own bicycle. Yes, a lot of this DOES have to do with having STUFF. So, limiting your family was considered to be the best thing you could do for your children and for society. The advent of The Pill helped this along.
It seems as though the trend will reverse itself again. Look at the popularity of the Duggar family!
I think ideas about these things naturally and unconsciously flip-flop in peoples’ minds in a society, depending on the needs at the time.
You ladies with large families today who think that this subject is important: Model your large-family lives before people. Let other peole see that you enjoy this, that it works, and that it is a good thing.
There is a family who lives about 30 miles from us. They have 11 children, and homeschool as well as homechurch. But, nobody sees them. They live off by themselves. I’m not knocking that, (sometimes that is the best thing to do) but they shun everybody, because they feel like we’ll contaminate them.
Just a thought. I know we walk a tightrope between letting our light shine rather than putting it under a bushel, and keeping ourselves unspotten by the world. But, YOU are the best book that anybody will ever read.
You know I am not disagreeing with you, Kelly, don’t you? Just telling how some of this got started. Thank you for allowing me to comment.
Kelly,
My husband had the opportunity to speak on a local Christian radio program about this very article. We’ll be posting the audio soon, maybe even today.
I think he gave a very good response.
🙂
Kim C.,
Ooooh..I’ll be watching for that!
Kelly,
I have been wondering lately if this isn't a direct "hit" on the immigrating families… British families are getting smaller and smaller; I don't think this is targeted at them– I wonder if this is a subtle attack to start pointing out the effects that breeding will have in their country if something isn't done in a way that won't be seen as racist & anti-immigrant?
What do you think?
~Jess
Jess,
Hmmm…haven’t thought of that. Perhaps it is. Do you think the same hidden purpose would apply to the US and any other countries where this is being propagated?
I’ll have to give that some more thought.
Not necessarily… but in Europe, the potential takeover by large, rapidly reproducing Muslim families is (I think) looming large in the minds of officials.
Just something to keep in mind when reading things from that side of the pond… and it’s something that came to mind for me when I read this particular piece a couple days ago.
~Jess
Hi Kelly, thanks for posting. I agree with you completely. Someone in the comments asked what do we do? As a family, with limited time? Ensure you and your family are really getting the PURE preaching of the Word, weekly! That is the one way we can learn and the rest of the week, read, pray, go out into the World, making disciples of all nations (teaching your own family) and showing a lifestyle that says ‘this is the good life’. Make connections, show kindness, stand for the truth. If the preaching is pure the rest will follow (godly lifestyles) by the power of the Holy Spirit and from there we can go out with good news of great joy!. I am so thankful that in our corner of the world we have pure preaching, I know this is not always the case, depending where you live, but keep seeking/praying. Don’t become apathetic, but persevere. Show your children. Do not preach, we need to have x # of children to make disciples of all nations. Being blessed with many is God’s business but God uses many others for his kingdom too. Everyone counts. Count them in.
I was going to say, there are also many things we can do, like write a letter to the editor, or to members of government, but the ultimate grassroots is the Church, Christ’s bride. Attend it, honor it, love Christ and His church and that love will spill over