Unheard Of: A Christian's Choice to NOT Have Children

By Amanda Smith

Would it be wrong for a Christian to choose to not have children? After all, it's only natural, but is it mandatory?

From a Christian and pro-life perspective, author Amanda Smith shares her belief regarding the choice of a Christian to never get pregnant or raise children and why she herself has chosen to be child-free. She also offers her opinion as to why an individual may possibly be happier if they choose this route versus what is considered the norm--not just for Christians, but people in general. This book well handles the very controversial, little discussed, and unheard-of subject of Born-Again Believer choosing to pursue only after Jesus and whatever He has called them to do with their lives rather than parenthood, to the point that the reader will most likely not be left with any questions as to what they should do by the end of this book.

Can you handle it? Read this book if you dare to find out!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Aug 23, 2023
• ISBN: 9798888322291

Amanda Smith

Amanda is married to her partner and friend Michael, and they have two beautiful, smart, and funny daughters Josephine "JoJo" and Theodora "Teddy," as well as a house full of animals to share their home.

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Unheard Of

A Christian's Choice to NOT Have Children

Amanda Smith

ISBN 979-8-88832-228-4 (paperback)

ISBN 979-8-88832-229-1 (digital)

Copyright © 2023 by Amanda Smith

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

All Bible verses are quoted from the KJV or NKJV Bible.

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Introduction

The Childbearing Religion

Train Up a Child in the Way They Should Go—Then What?

Kids and Communism

Healthy Habit no. 1: Don't Get Pregnant

Happiness and Money: Is It Wrong?

What to Expect When You Are Not Expecting

Notes

About the Author

In dedication to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, to whom I prayed for much guidance and wisdom concerning the writing of this book; and my parents, especially my mom, for teaching me the realities of having and raising children, despite it being looked down upon and misunderstood by many, and giving me the chance to make my own decision and share it with others.

Introduction

Iwas probably about eight years old when I asked my mom one of those innocent, yet uncomfortable questions that most parents dread their children asking: Hey, Mom? When people have kids, where does the baby come out? I believe was about the way I phrased it.

At that age, of course, I most likely would have been old enough to detect a bent truth had she chosen to do such. At the same time, however, she didn't necessarily have to tell me the answer. She could have waited until I was older to give me the answer, or even better for her, she technically could have just not told me and let me find out for myself once I was grown.

But she didn't. She just blatantly gave me the answer, to which I believe I responded, Eww… But after that, I found that any question I asked her regarding having and raising children, she would answer without hesitation. Even if I didn't ask, she would at times, on her own accord, share details about the realities of childbearing and rearing, which I would listen to very attentively.

The more she would teach me, the more my eyes would open, realizing how difficult raising children is, especially in this present world.

But another thing that I love is that she never told me not to have children. She just informed me of the truths pertaining to this and let me make my own decision, the same which I would like to do for you.

I haven't met many people in general, much less Christians, who don't want kids or even realize that it is an option, and I believe the main reason for that is because no one has revealed to them that it is one. Most people just assume the role of parenthood, especially Christians, without even thinking that they don't necessarily have to.

I do want to make clear, however, that I in no way support abortion, nor am I one of those people that believe that the world is carrying too many people, and if we keep having kids, the earth is going to self-destruct, or whatever it is that some think. I am 100 percent pro-life. On the other hand, I do believe that people do and should have the choice to never become pregnant and may possibly have a happier life if they choose this path.

I didn't write this book to try to force anyone reading it to choose a life without kids, but to make it more real to you just how challenging having and raising kids is, especially in today's world. I like to think of the choice to have kids as an investment, where the investor must decide wisely whether or not to invest since if he does invest, he cannot get any of his investment back and the consequences may be severe and irreversible. To help him make the right decision, chances are he is going to review the terms of the investment, and from there decide whether or not he thinks it is worth the risks. In this book, I am showing you some of the terms of the investment, in hopes that you—whether you choose to have kids or not after reading this—will be able to make an educated decision, not based on what everyone else seems to be doing, but by your own learning and understanding of this scarcely-discussed topic among individuals and Christians, which may even be considered as unheard of.

Chapter 1

The Childbearing Religion

As I mentioned earlier, I have yet to meet someone who claims Christianity that doesn't want to have children, mainly due to the fact that most are not aware of their choice not to and typically just assume the role. Some Christians even claim that it is wrong for a person to not have kids, casting shame on those who have not yet fully decided. But the Scripture says,

There is now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 6:1)

With that being the case, I would like to show you how that teaching is unscriptural, and that the choice of whether or not to bear children is a neutral one—unless you feel God directing you in a specific direction—and has nothing to do with your Salvation. Even if you're not a Christian and you are reading this, you may find the information regarding this topic rather interesting.

So here is the number one Scripture that Christians bring up regarding the choice to have kids:

And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it… (Genesis 1:28)

We see here the command of God to Adam and Eve (the first people on earth) to bring forth children, and because God commanded them to do it, most Christians believe they are supposed to as well.

Let me do my best to show the deeper context of this Scripture. When God created the world, it was perfect. There was not a thing wrong with it, nor with the two humans that God created to dwell in it. No sickness, no disease, no evil people; it was totally perfect. Who wouldn't have kids in a world that great?

But I believe the real reason God commanded Adam and Eve to have children is because He knew they would sin, resulting in the need for a Savior to come to earth to save humanity. And the way Jesus would come to earth was by being born because although He had to be fully God to save mankind from their sins, He also had to be fully man. It's not that God couldn't become man a different way; after all, He created man, but His way was to be born of a woman, which causes the need for a lineage that would trace back to Adam and Eve. Had Adam and Eve not had children or their children after them, Jesus could not have been born, which means there would have been no Savior, which further means that everyone who died would go to hell. Faith in the sacrifices that God commanded them to offer up would have been useless to save them as well, for it was faith in the coming of Jesus and His dying for us that the sacrifices represented. So it makes sense that God would instruct Adam and Eve to have children so that Christ could be born unless He chose to become man a different way, but as stated, this was the way ordained by God.

The other groups of people that God gave this same command to were Noah and his family (Genesis 9:7) and Jacob (Genesis 35:11).

Now that Christ has come, is there really a need to have children? Well, the only other person that the Bible says has to be born is the Antichrist, who will be the most evil person to ever live, to say the least; so unless he has already been born, we're just waiting for someone to give birth to him.

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