Get married asap

I hope this is a joke?

What was alarming, weird, or negative in the original post?

I was just surprised as I had not heard this argument within Reformed circles. Pressuring young people to get married and have as many children as possible does not seem like wise advice. And, as someone who is unable to have children, I am a bit offended at the idea that children are the only reason for getting married and the implication that having as many children as possible is the only way to happiness. As this is a sensitive subject for me it's possible I am reading more into it than was intended. If that is the case I apologize for jumping to conclusions.

Thanks for the comment ma'am, maybe my message wasn't clear (with many assumptions) and I appologies for being offensive.   Surely children are not the only reason or even the main one to getting married.

[quote=Alex T]

We [Christians] Americans are breading ourselves out of existance, we're waiting till late 30s to get married and having on average 1.3 kids!  I argue that if we focus our efforts to get married the earliest possible and have the maximum number of kids, 7 or more!

The only needed requirement is to find a compatible spouse, that's a person from the opposite sex, who accept and respect your Christian faith, accept you as a partner for life, understands the marriage covenant -willing to commit, and raise Christian kids.

Doing so, we not only live a happy life, but also in 30 years we can dominate this country and lead a larger Reform!

[/quote]

I am going to make two points, one in agreement, and one of caution.

First, while this statement may seem to some, offensive or a joke, it does deserve some consideration.  If you look at religious numbers around the world, Islam is growing rapidly due to immigration, and birth rates.  Christianity is dying out, sadly partially due to low numbers.  Of course evangelism, spreading the gospel, and supporting Christian children in the faith, also are important in keeping the faith alive.  However, the Bible does say,

"God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." Genesis 1:28

I do not believe that this commandment ended with Adam and Eve or during old testament times.  This does not mean that everyone is called to a lifestyle of marriage and having children, but there are those who can help teach others children, or support those who do have children, and if you are unable to have your own, there are thousands and thousands of children who can be adopted and raised to have a good strong family who will teach them of the love of Jesus Christ.

Second, my point of caution. 

I am a 25 year old single male.  While I have met women who I believe qualify based on the quoted criteria above, this has never been good enough to just get married and have kids.  I have been waiting for a women who I know has the same values and beliefs that I do.  I have been waiting to be in a position where I can properly support a family with children, and be able to give them a safe and secure environment.  An environment where we can raise our children in the knowledge and values of the Bible, who will see the relationship of Jesus and the church reflected in their parents.  When this occurs I am willing to have as many children as is healthy and possible.

I believe that having children in a marriage that is based on less then this is irresponsible on my part and not God honoring at all.  If there is to be a divorce, (which I am against) or one parent does not believe that the Christian values being taught to the children are as important, or the marriage is no different then a non-christian marriage, then it does more harm then good to have children.

So I will happily marry at a later age, and have fewer children, if it means that it will be a strong family structure that honors God.

“Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” Proverbs 22:6

By being the role models, and by living out our Christian values we will lead this Country to a larger Reform.