Is It All Right for a Married Couple to Choose to Remain Childless? 
A. That's a bit like asking, "is it wrong not to marry?" Obviously not! But when the apostle Paul, for example, chose not to marry, he saw it as a sacrifice for the sake of Christ (1 Corinthians 9:5). Paul was willing to give up something good for the greater good of his special calling from God.
Similar principles apply to this question. Declining God's gift of children is a choice never to be taken ...
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Related Topics:
Children, Choices, Freedom, Having Children
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Jenn
"Or are they choosing this path prayerfully because they feel called to love God and serve him and others in a different way? Childless-by-choice couples always should ask whether they have a special responsibility to serve God's people in ways couples with kids can't." That's us exactly. It's a different calling, and one that (like parenting) is challenging, exhausting, and rewarding. I'm glad the author made this point. But it's too bad the author then concludes with the same sentiment that is always hurtful to couples without children: "If you don't have kids, you're missing out." I think this sentiment fails to take into account that, just as some may be called to be large families, others are called to be single or to be a family of two.
Aerith
LOL @ Tasha. Sorry, but we've heard of that before. Please show how ABSOLUTELY NONE of the things in the bible can be proven, especially biblical prophecy.
Jenee
I understand completely not wanting children, but I'm not married yet. I do believe it is up to the individual what they choose to do, its better to live childless than to bring a child into the world you cannot or do not want to care for out of obilgation, it will make the child fee resented, unloved, and you will definately feel the backlash of it sometime. As for Tasha, I had to laugh at your post and ask, - why are you so angry, and why even bother reading this if you know its clearly from a Chrisitan standpoint, and its annoys you that much?
Joann
I loved this article! It was very kind and compassionate towards childless Christian couples, and yet it also reminded us that we also need to be made aware of our true motives in deciding not to have children. I am a 40-year-old single woman with no children of my own. I never got married because I happen to like my freedom, privacy, and solitude, plus remaining celibate helps me to focus more on God and what He has planned for me and also what He wants me to do for Him. I become distracted very easily and can't focus on more than one thing at a time, so if I were to get married and have children, I might end up putting God on the backburner and focusing too much on my husband and kids. However, if God ever did decide that I should have a husband, then I probably would want kids because they really are one of God's most precious gifts, and I wouldn't want to deprive my husband of fatherhood. I still believe that having children is a private matter, though. It is no one's business.
Anonymous
I like the approach of this article, it's one of the first Christian articles I've seen that addresses Childfree living. However, it's quite judgemental in some instances, where it says that Christians should simply live to serve others. I disagree. God has given us life and freedom. It's impossible to live a fulfilled life if you don't serve in some way. But to go to the extreme by saying that a 'cancer researcher' is a good exception, is just that - extreme. I'm neither a cancer researcher nor a great humanitarian. My feelings are simple: Life these days is exhausting enough. My mentor, counsels many married couples who are struggling with exhaustion because of the demands of the jobs we do these days. Adding a child to that mix is like throwing a grenade into a marriage. My husband and I want to live a quiet life, not being exhausted every time. Children also bring great financial strain. I don't think God wants us to suffer unnecessarily. We've made a wise choice!
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