Expert: Mrs. Priscilla Lyons - 6/18/2010

Question
Hi:) I love your website:) and just wanted to ask if there is anything wrong with contraception being used within the marriage to prevent an unwanted pregnancy?...
I'm asking becuse I am married but not yet ready to start a family due to being overweight, as well as having several physical health problems which are currently under specialist investigation (Hormonal problems, POCS andundiagnosed fluid retention/swelling)and which require me to be on several prescribed medications as ordered by my specialist doctors(Hormone Replacement Therapy -HRT and diuretics etc.)which could probably cause birth defects/potentially interfere with a healthy pregnancy, as well as being quite overweight and feeling unprepared mentally and emotionally (and yes, even unprepared financially as well
-my medication costs alot and is only available to buy via private prescription, which means the cost of it is not covered by the government/medicare)to handle the responsibility of caring for a (quite possibly unhealthy)child to begin with!...
I would not want to get pregnant and be told that I should have an abortion due to the risks of having an unhealthy pregnancy/newborn with birth defects, I don't believe in abortion and do not believe it is God's will for us to plan to have abortions to solve the dilemma of how to deal with any possible unwanted/unhealthy pregnancies, which will probably occur without using some form of birth control...
I have always thought that in my situation, I have good reason to believe that using birth control would be the right thing to do, but just recently I was reading about all contraception having been originally condemed by the church, even when in the context of using it within a christian marriage -saying that all contraception is in opposition of and rebels against God's will, and some people still have this view today -even using some use bible verses/passages (I'm not sure if there being interpreted correctly or if they're used out of context or not?)...
An example of exactly what I'm talking about can be found using the http I have provided below:
http://www.scripturecatholic.com/contraception.html
By the way, I'd just like to quickly point out that I am no longer a catholic, -I'm now a baptist believer after leaving the catholic church after years of wrongly beliving and personally feeling and suffering many years of such completely unnecessary self-condeming guilt and originally wrongly beliving that salvation was works-based, but I came across that article when I was doing a search on contraception methods and had a quick read of it and the part that worried me is that it states within that article the contraception was originally opposed by all of the christian church(including protestant churches to begin with) and it also quote biblical verses to definently imply to the reader that all contrception is biblically wrong -regardless of the reson it is being used!...
I really want to know the biblical truth (not just some bible verses or passages misinterpreted or taken completely out of context)as to whether or not contraception is permited or not, within the context of using it in agreement with my husband within our healthy marriage relationship?...
I love God and now know that I am saved by grace -not works, and through having a relationship through our Lord Jesus Christ, but I do want to honor God and do what is right and to live according to the will of God and in agreement to His word concerning all areas of my life out of a healthy reverence and love and respect for Him
-including honoring Him in the way I view or decide whether or not to use any contraception/HRT treatment (Some of my HRT treatment incldes a pill that treats my POCS as well as being contraceptive at the same time) at all?...
Please help!!!...
Any help with this would be really appreciated:) and I think it could help others out there who could also be confused about what the bible correctly teaches on this issue!...
Thankyou so much:) and I really look forward to reading your response soon:) -Keep up the great work!!!:)
~My Kindest Regards Always~
      Stephanie

Answer
Dear Stephanie,
   Thanks for writing.  I can't fault the Biblical interpretation that childbearing is always treated in a positive light, and that most of our reasons for contraception are selfish or from lack of trust in God.
   When I was of childbearing age for some reason I didn't consider Biblical perspective on contraceptive.  Looking back, I think I've always been a little short of estrogen, so the birth control pill seemed to help me in lots of ways.  But I can't say that I'm proud of only having two children.  I should have tried more natural ways (soy nuts help me now) to balance my hormones, and trusted God to overcome my selfishness with however many children He allowed.  
   Perhaps a case could be made that children today don't help a family's livelihood like they did in Bible times, unless they live on a family farm like our neighbors.  I am very proud and thankful for our neighbors who have eight children they are bringing up the way God intended.
   Another major issue is the husband willing to be responsible for any children born into the family not using birth control.  That usually means having high eternal values, not hooked on the material things of this world, able to control financial temptations, desiring to instill the most precious Pearl of great price to as many little ones that God entrusts to him.
   Your health situation is a valid concern for childbearing.  But also for your own well-being, I suggest you look beyond normal doctoring to more natural, God-given ways to live.  Many medications solve one problem while causing another.  If time is not of essence, there are slower, more natural, more balanced ways (and less expensive ways) to solve health problems.   Rather that the processed food that is so common, consider trying to eat more plain food without unnatural things like hydrogenated oils, high fructose corn syrup, grains without life (no germ or bran), artificial dyes, artificial sweeteners and man-made chemicals.  Eat things closer to the way nature provides, a good variety in smaller amounts.  I'm learning how nutritious and healthy different weeds are.  I pick them in a colander, rinse them and add them to beans, brown rice, or meat, etc. as they cook, or eat them in salads.
   Adequate rest and exercise are another way to be a good steward of the body God has given us.  Using white vinegar or hydrogen peroxide instead of cleaning chemicals, and natural oils instead of beauty and health products can save money and be a little safer on your health.  I surprised myself to find brushing my teeth with just water worked fine!  Ok, so this is just my perspective.  Anyway, it's fun to save money and try to improve my health at the same time.  I'm also excited this year seeing what a 2% chlorine spray does to poison ivy.  My husband has used expensive, toxic chemicals to kill vegetation around our pecan trees, but this may be much better.            
   After all is said and done, a person may never feel totally prepared for children, but do try to communicate with your husband and ask him to lead the way to having a family.  Having your husband be the head of your home, responsibly being involved to lead your children to know God, is a wonderful blessing.
   I'm so glad there are people like you who want to please God by following the Word He has given us.  As I read in Deut.4:40 this morning, I know His Word is for our benefit, that it may go well with us and with our children after us, and that we may prolong our days upon the earth, which the Lord our God gives us, for ever.  I am so thankful He has provided a perfect eternity for us with Him.  I want to grow more and more in my trust to follow Him, and I know you will also, for His glory!
   Priscilla