Should Christian couples practice birth control? This topic is receiving more press in a variety of circles for divergent reasons. Part of the dialogue on the subject is being fueled by the "Quiverfull Movement."

ABC News online highlights Ken and Devon Carpenter along with their eight children as representative of Christian families that have become part of a movement that takes its name from the Scriptures: "Happy is the man who has a quiver full of [children] Ps. 127:5." "Quiverfull followers believe that all forms of contraception, all forms of birth control and any form of family planning goes against God's plan."

"If there is a grandmother to this movement, it's Nancy Campbell. Her magazine has been advocating this lifestyle for decades. Campbell explained why followers even have a problem with natural family planning or the 'rhythm method.' 'When we really stop and think about it, it's not natural,' she said. 'We have to go against the way that God designed our bodies. He designed them to be fruitful, so if a couple [doesn't] want to have children...they've got to do something to their body so it doesn't work the way God planned it."

Campbell's argument is logical. But, does it necessarily square with Scripture? I commend her and those committed to such a position and lifestyle. However, as I have been asked about this particular issue a number of times by couples who sincerely want to follow God in this area, some brief biblical balance is in order here.

First, this issue is one that falls into the category of liberty of conscience as no absolute command concerning the subject is given in the Scriptures. Certainly Christians must apply the whole of Scripture to their marital lives and glean principles that impinge upon specific issues even in an indirect way. In this instance, there are no principles which would mandate a "no birth control of any kind" position. Regarding the issue of liberty, Paul asked, "Who are you to judge another's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand (Rom. 14:4; see 1-7 for context)."

Second, as a related issue, because God is the Creator of all things and because His creation is good, Christians are not obligated to reject something simply because the world has abused it, distorted it, or co-opted it. Certainly we may never cause others to stumble in the exercise of our liberty, but, the false dichotomy between flesh and spirit has its root in Gnosticism and is not biblical. Therefore, if God does not forbid all forms of contraception, and He doesn't, then some forms of birth control are permissible. Paul said, "I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteems any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean (Rom. 14:14)."