Boomlet? AP Reports that Births Are at a 45-Year High (by Pastor Steven)

The AP is reporting that 2006 saw the highest number of births in the Unites States since 1961 (read the full story here). There were “nearly 4.3 millions births in 2006.” Of course, this is in part because of the simple growth of our population and the numbers have still not reached the levels of the baby boom during the 1950’s. Nevertheless, this increase stands in stark contrast to the general trend in the western industrialized nations.  

While Brad Hamilton of the Center for Diseases Control and Prevention notes that it is too early to call this a trend (he rather refers to it as a “noticeable blip”), I think it is notable that the corresponding increase in the U.S. fertility rate – the number of children a woman is expected to have in her lifetime – reached 2.1. This is the minimum fertility rate for a population to replace itself.  

Perhaps this is the beginning of a trend toward children being seen as more of a blessing than a burden. Nan Marie Astone, a professor at Johns Hokins quips, “Americans like children. . . . We are the only people who respond to prosperity by saying, ‘Lets have another kid.’” While Astone (see quote above) would see this trend as a simple result of economic prosperity because of the common assumption that children are a burden, I can only hope that it is a result–at least in part–of evangelical believers rejecting the cultural view of children and viewing them as the Bible and history teach us to view children.   

The psalmist writes:  

Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward.  ⁴ Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth.  ⁵ How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; They will not be ashamed when they speak with their enemies in the gate. (Psalm 127:3-5, NAS)

The Bible calls children “gifts,” “rewards,” and “arrows.” These are incredible terms that help instruct us about how to view children.  

In contradistinction to our culture, the Bible indicates that the man who has a quiver full of children is a blessed man. Culture seems to look at the family with more than two and wonder what is wrong with them. They say things like, “You do know what causes that don’t you?” and whisper other not-so-polite things to others when the family comes to church. 

I praise the Lord for all the children that God has blessed Poplar Spring with. I cannot wait until Mother’s Day when we will once again celebrate the births and dedicate both parents and children to the Lord. I praise the Lord that we as a church are learning that our culture is often selling ideas that are empty (like “When you have children you can’t enjoy life anymore”). God ordained the family to be the primary building block of society and he has given us the charge to rear another generation of Christians that will impact the world and bring glory to Him. If we don’t, who will? Well, the Islamic nations are sure multiplying – but we will have to save that for another time.