We Are To Multiply

In order to gain a context for the answer to this somewhat controversial topic in question, we immediately need to be pushed back to Genesis 1:28 “Then God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth…” So what is the obvious point that God is making in this verse?  We are to procreate as human beings, as creations of God.

There may be some random passages which speak about mismanaging a sanctioned opportunity to procreate like the strange account of Onan in Genesis 38:9-10, but that seems to be addressing a specific failure to continue a generational family line.

God Values Embryos As Life

Abortion as birth control is obviously forbidden, as well as something like the “morning after pill” because they both tamper with a developing child already conceived (see Exodus 21:22 “If men fight, and hurt a woman with child, so that she gives birth prematurely…”  Notice the woman is referred to as being with child).  Psalm 139:16 says “Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed…” (my substance, being yet unformed is all one word in the Hebrew: golem – something rolled together, an embryo, a fetus. The interlinear actually reads: “My embryo saw your eyes”).  So we can see that God has great respect for the pre-born, biological development of a human being, which He calls a child.

Silence On The Subject

There doesn’t seem to be any specific, technical mention about birth control in the Bible. So, while avoiding the problems mentioned above, it seems that God leaves things up to the discretion of the couple. Medically speaking, when making the decision to decide on the right birth control pill, a married couple should do research to make sure that the pill chosen does not tamper in any way with an already conceived embryo. That would be the Biblical thing to do.

This is just one’s humble opinion. Do your own research, formulate your own conclusions, and pray that God will give you insight.

A casual research of the term “physician” will assist us with developing an understanding of doctors and medicine from God’s view point.

Old Testament View of Doctors

In Jeremiah 8:22, the prophet is noticeably upset about the spiritual state of Judah.  So he formats his communication to help us understand his concern.  He says…”Is there no balm (Hebrew:  tseriy / medicine) in Gilead, Is there no physician there?”  His point is, if there is medical, physical healing available in Judah, why isn’t there any spiritual healing and potential of recovery in that way?  Jeremiah viewed physicians and medicine as something positive.

Jesus’ View of Doctors

Jesus said in Matthew 9:12 “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick”.  The clear implication being, physicians benefit sick people. In Colossians 4:14, Luke is referred to by Paul as, “Luke the beloved physician”.  So, we see that, one of the human authors of a book of the New Testament was a medical doctor, and he was call beloved.

Mark 5:25-26 does tell the story about “a certain woman (who) had a flow of blood for twelve years, and had suffered many things from many physicians.  She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse.” The message here is that sometimes…no matter how competent and how numerous the doctors and medicines are, they still will not be able to accomplish a cure.

In this situation, it provided the opportunity for Jesus to step in and preform a miracle.  But the overall message from the bible certainly does not depreciate or prohibit the use of medical doctors or medicine.

Apologetically, most evangelicals believe in micro evolution (as opposed to macro evolution)…minor variations that have and are happening as the years go by.  The bible probably doesn’t speak to this issue, but does reference the migration of mankind (the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham and Japheth…who their descendants were…and where they geographically gravitated to, and how they developed ethnically, Genesis 10).

As people transitioned ethnically, animals went through micro transitions as well.  But the basic types of animal life that were created by God from the beginning of human history, was established and recorded in Genesis Chapter 2.

Although the bible does not use the specific word “dinosaur”, scripture does reference two unusually huge creatures that fit the description:

Behomoth

Job 40:15-19 “behemoth” (Hebrew: בַּהֲמוֹת bĕhemowth): large, land quadrupeds.

Notice the discription…
Verse 16 “his strength is in his hips”
Verse 17 “He moves his tail like a cedar” (elephant, hippos, etc. have little tails)
Verse 18 “His bones are like beams of bronze”
Verse 19 “He is the first of the ways of God” (Core creation of God, not a mutation?)

Leviathan

Job 41:1, 2 “leviathan” (Hebrew: לִוְיָתָן, livyathan) slithering animal, serpent , dragon, any very large aquatic creature

Notice the description…
Verse 1 “Can you draw out Leviathan with a hook, or snare his tongue with a line which you lower”
Verse 2 “Can you put a reed through his nose, or pierce his jaw with a hook?” (Would the answer be “no” because leviathan is too large?)
Psalm 104:26 “There the ships sail about, that leviathan, which you have made to play there” (Large bodies of water where ships sail…that is where leviathan habitation is)
Isaiah 27:1 “Leviathan that twisted serpent, and he will slaythe reptile that is in the sea”

God’s Greatness On Display

Remember, the bible is not simply an encyclopedia meant to document every detail of every creature and event in history. It is more importantly an historical account of God’s creation, human history, our fall into sin, and God’s rescue mission for his creation through the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. And with everything God created, there is a purpose. Regarding these large creatures mentioned above, the contexts seem to operate around the premise of these creatures reflecting the greatness and competency of God.