Mike States sent me this link to an article reviewing a recent book by Corinne Maier that has made waves in France. The book's title, "No Kid: 40 Reasons Not to Have Children."
A quote from the book:
“Children are there to stop you enjoying yourself. It’s a child’s hidden face. Believe me, he will be very inventive in this area. He will be ill when you (finally) arrange a night out, he will bug you when you celebrate your birthday with your friends, he will hate it if you bring someone he’s never met back for the night, and beyond that you won’t dare tread for fear of traumatising him for life.” She goes on to list the things you will almost certainly have to give up after having children. They include: a full night’s sleep, a lie-in, deciding to go to the cinema on the spur of the moment, staying out later than midnight (babysitters have to be relieved), visiting a museum or exhibition (children start mucking about after five mintues), taking your holiday anywhere other than destinations where there is a beach and a kids’ club, taking a holiday during term-time and smoking in front of your children, now deemed a “crime against humanity”.
It is truly amazing how one may present selfishness as virtue. The Bible says that children, despite the inconveniences, are a blessing: "Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward" (Psalm 127:3). God gives us the dominion mandate (Gen 1:28), and men revile it. This is the way sin works. God forbid we practice self-denial for the sake of someone else and for the sake of God.
A glad father, JTR
4 comments:
And what is more selfish than a church, or pastor, exhorting reproduction to enlarge its, or his, place in the world? Hypocrite.
Oh, of course you use moderation. allow me to correct: fascist hypocrite.
Dear anonymous,
The reason I use comment moderation is to screen out profane language or personal attacks (which, sadly, sometimes appear in comments I receive). I have decided, however, to post your comments.
If I could discern the kernel of a legitimate question in your posts, it would be something like, "What is the legitimacy of encouraging people to marry, establish Christian homes, and raise godly children?" This should spring from a desire to obey scripture (Genesis 1:28; Psalms 127-128) and to magnify God's glory (not mine or my church's). The God of the Bible is pretty jealous of his glory. In Isaiah 48:11 he says, "I will not yield my glory to another."
Am I a hypocrite? Sadly, sometimes I confess I do act hypocritically. I am a sinner. I fall short of God's standards for righteousness on a daily basis. But God has graciously given me hope in Christ, and I am trusting him to make me day by day more like Christ. Your comments remind me of a constant need to be humble, and for that I am thankful.
JTR
Ha Ha, lighten up. If someone read this book and then decided not to have children that would be wonderful. If someone is swayed into not having children based on this book then they probably had no business having children in the first place. It's not like the Human race is in any danger of becoming extinct. I for one would prefer quality people over quantity. I believe that when people have babies just because it is the thing that society, or religion, has told them to do then they are being selfish. I do happen to believe that children are a blessing from God I just also believe that far too often the parents aren't a blessing to the children.
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