In the November 2013 issue of the American Family Association Journal, staff writer Ed Vitagliano shares facts and figures with authors and culture critics, Eric Metaxas and Jonathan Last their concern that, as birthrates continue to decline in many nations, societal decline at large will follow. Here is my take on that:
We’ve known for years about Far Eastern nations with a one-child policy and now, consequently, there’s a fast-growing aging population, which has in turn created serious economic problems for those countries. Without as many young people working, those governments may have to borrow money to pay for seniors’ retirement. For any nation to remain strong and healthy, it must replace those who die…they must have more babies! But that’s not happening. Japan’s finance minister Taro Aso suggested a solution to a government panel there: “this problem won’t be solved unless you let [the elderly] hurry up and die!”
In our Western Civilization, as well, many young couples are choosing not to bear and raise children. And why? Who’s going to love and care for them when they get old and feeble? What’s with this choice to avoid reproducing ourselves? Do we think this world is such a scary and dangerous place that it would be irresponsible to bring more children into it? Are there way too many people on this planet anyway? Must we decrease our carbon footprint and get out of the way because we’re consuming too much energy and the planet’s resources, or taking away space from the wild animals? Let God answer:
“God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply {have children}. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over its creatures.” (Gen. 1:28, NLT)
“Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him. Children born to a young man are like arrows in a warrior’s hands. How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them!” (Ps. 127:3–5)
So, where have the children gone? Because so many have never even arrived.
-John Driggers (4/22/2024, V6 #17)
