What should a married Christian do when not ready to have children?

[Paprika]

So like if a person can't have kids, birth defect, removed uterus, medication, whatever, they shouldn't even bother with marriage?

Adopt.

My understanding of 1 Cor 7:9 was that it was better to marry than to lust.

And it is good to stay unmarried, as was Paul.

But yes, I'd agree that one end of marriage is for the sexual desire to be fulfilled, but that's not the main end. The unity that copulation produces is meant to promote another end.

The undergirding worldview is also very important. Nowadays (in the West) marriage, having been emptied of much of its prior significance and meaning, is often seen as merely another stage of the romantic relationship.

[One Bad Pig]

What about people who marry later in life, or already have children from a previous relationship?

What would that change?

[Ana Dragule]

The main end of marriage should be to produce and rear children and not for romance/lust; focus on the latter has well sapped the meaning and social centrality of marriage.

So like if a person can't have kids, birth defect, removed uterus, medication, whatever, they shouldn't even bother with marriage? Might as well give up dating/courtship now?

What it if is only one of produce and rear, like if they can produce a child to be adopted for an adopting couple that is willing to pay for medical expenses or if they can adopt but can't get pregnant themselves?

My understanding of 1 Cor 7:9 was that it was better to marry than to lust.

[Paprika]

What about people who marry later in life

The main end of marriage should be to produce and rear children and not for romance/lust; focus on the latter has well sapped the meaning and social centrality of marriage.

[MaxVel]

IMO, if one is "ready" to be married, then one should be "ready" for the natural consequences - i.e., children.

What about people who marry later in life, or already have children from a previous relationship?

[Catholicity]

There are hormonal birth controls that don't prevent implantation?

Not that I know of. The first way they work is to prevent ovulation. The second way is to make the lining of the uterus hostile to sperm. The third way is to prevent implantation. Also I am with one bad pig. I am OK with barriers because if something happens then the pregnancy can continue even if the situation is not ideal as in financial not thinking you are ready etc. After the honey moon baby we became more aware of the better NFP method which a lot of people have put a ton of research into. We have made some decisions and fingers crossed so far so good.

[thewriteranon]

If it is done right, it's pretty effective. It's something that takes some time to get down well and does not work well for women who are not very regular.

Well, and the old fashioned "rhythm" method is quite different than modern forms of NFP.

In any case, I'm as regular as a calendar so it'll probably be one of my go-tos.

[One Bad Pig]

Does that include medical concerns with safely carrying the child to term or is that the responsibility readiness that you speak of?

If there are medical concerns with safely carrying the child to term, how would waiting help? I'm just not convinced that deliberately circumventing a natural biological function for convenience is in any way Christian.

[Ana Dragule]

We tried that..... And we all know what we brought back from our honeymoon. That said if you DO use NFP research it extensively to make sure you are a good candidate for it. Otherwise I strongly believe in non hormonal dual barriers aka diaphragm and condoms or spermicide gel and a condom sponge and condom but that is more my personal philosophy that life begins AAT conception not at implantation. Some hormones prevent not just conception but implantation. Morally of course I am against this.

There are hormonal birth controls that don't prevent implantation?

[Ana Dragule]

You do know what they call people who rely on the rhythm system for birth control. Parents.

If it is done right, it's pretty effective. It's something that takes some time to get down well and does not work well for women who are not very regular.

[Ana Dragule]

IMO, if one is "ready" to be married, then one should be "ready" for the natural consequences - i.e., children.

Does that include medical concerns with safely carrying the child to term or is that the responsibility readiness that you speak of?

[Jedidiah]

We tried that..... And we all know what we brought back from our honeymoon. That said if you DO use NFP research it extensively to make sure you are a good candidate for it. Otherwise I strongly believe in non hormonal dual barriers aka diaphragm and condoms or spermicide gel and a condom sponge and condom but that is more my personal philosophy that life begins AAT conception not at implantation. Some hormones prevent not just conception but implantation. Morally of course I am against this.

You do know what they call people who rely on the rhythm system for birth control. Parents.

[One Bad Pig]

IMO, if one is "ready" to be married, then one should be "ready" for the natural consequences - i.e., children.

[Catholicity]

Having knowledge of how fertility (and especially your fertility) works will be helpful not only in avoiding conceiving when the timing isn't right, but in having kids if/when you are ready.

In other words, look into Natural Family Planning methods.

We tried that..... And we all know what we brought back from our honeymoon. That said if you DO use NFP research it extensively to make sure you are a good candidate for it. Otherwise I strongly believe in non hormonal dual barriers aka diaphragm and condoms or spermicide gel and a condom sponge and condom but that is more my personal philosophy that life begins AAT conception not at implantation. Some hormones prevent not just conception but implantation. Morally of course I am against this.

[Ana Dragule]

Variety is the spice of life.

Yeah... Not very helpful.