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Does God Command Christians to Have Children?

Q: Hi Dr. E! I was listening to your podcast about if it is a sin not to have children. If you are infertile, do you think that it would be God’s design to adopt then? I guess it is just confusing how this is a command from God to have children but He allows for infertility which I believe that only God can give the gift of children. And where does IVF come into play there and are you obligated to continue putting your body through that process? 

Summary

What does the Bible actually say about having children, infertility, adoption, and IVF? In this episode of Ask Dr. E, Michael Easley addresses a difficult question from a listener struggling to reconcile God’s command to multiply with the reality of infertility.

Dr. E begins by clarifying that God’s command in Genesis to Adam and Eve to multiply and fill the earth should not automatically become a universal command requiring every Christian couple to have children. Infertility exists within a fallen world, and God’s sovereignty does not disappear when circumstances become painful or confusing.

The conversation then turns to adoption and IVF. Adoption can be a beautiful way to build a family, but infertility does not automatically mean a couple must adopt. Likewise, IVF raises significant ethical questions involving embryos, donor conception, surrogacy, legal responsibility, and the potential long-term consequences of reproductive technology.

Rather than offering a simplistic answer, Dr. E encourages couples facing infertility to slow down, seek wise Christian counsel, understand the ethical issues, and prayerfully consider their options.

The episode ultimately points toward grace, stewardship, and trust. Having biological children, adopting, or choosing to stop pursuing additional children does not provide a simple measurement of faithfulness. Families are gifts, but every family looks different.

Takeaways:

• The command to multiply in Genesis should not automatically be treated as a universal command requiring every Christian couple to have children.
• Infertility exists within a fallen world, but infertility does not mean God has surrendered His sovereignty.
• Adoption can be a beautiful way to build a family, but infertility does not automatically create an obligation to adopt.
• IVF involves significant ethical questions surrounding embryos, donors, surrogacy, legal responsibility, and reproductive technology.
• Couples facing infertility should seek wise Christian counsel and carefully understand the ethical implications before making decisions.
• The number of children a family has is not a simple measurement of faithfulness, and families should approach childbearing with wisdom, grace, and stewardship.

Links Mentioned:

Jim Denison IVF Article

Find more episodes of Ask Dr. E here.

If you’ve got a question for Dr. Easley, call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.