Radio co-host mocks Natural Family Planning

Smith stated:

You know it used to be that a lot of children were assets. A child coming into the home was an asset because it was an agrarian society and you all had your own farms and the more children, the more help you had on the farm, and all. But, you know, as time when on and we became really a - no longer an agrarian society, but, you know, one that was really sort of dependent upon manufacturing, and so forth, children no longer became an asset, but they became a liability and I think that when you figure now how much it costs to raise a child through high school and all, a lot of people, you know, they just say, "Well, who needs them?" You know, because it does just cost a huge amount of money to clothe them and feed them and all when they're not really producing or are productive at bringing back into the family, you know, financial assets and so forth, and thus they are a liability, rather than an asset today.

Smith's answer reflected a Malthusian philosophy and utilitarianism, rather than Biblical Christianity. Malthusianism is a philosophy that advocates population control through artificial contraception as a preventative for poverty and environmental harm. Utilitarianism is a theory of pragmatic ethics that teaches things -- and people -- have value only as long as they are useful. Smith blends both philosophies by indicating that if children cannot contribute financially, then they become a liability whose birth should be prevented.

This is consistent with comments made by Smith on the same radio program on Feb 8, 2011, where he advocated for the abortion of conjoined twins.

"It's awfully hard to actually suggest abortion," said Smith. "But, you know, I'm sure that, uh, in a case like this where the life expectancy is just, you know, is so bleak, and all, that I'm sure that the Lord would not condemn her if she went ahead and had an abortion at this early stage of the development of the fetus."

Certainly if we abandon the doctrine that man is the image bearer of God, then destroying those who cannot contribute to society becomes easy. However, if we accept the doctrine that man is made in the image of God, then destroying human life becomes not only a crime, but an act of war against the God whose image we all bear.

It is the Christian way to put the lives of others above our own. It is the Christian way to love one another - faults and all - just as Christ loves us and gave Himself for us. That is the pattern that should guide our actions as Christians.

"Because innocent lives are at stake, we felt compelled to speak out to correct this erroneous teaching from Pastor Smith lest families deny themselves the blessings of children, or worse, take the lives of innocent children in the womb wrongly thinking they have the blessing of God. We pray for Pastor Smith that wisdom from God, and not humanist philosophies, would be the basis of his speech, and that if he will not better consider Biblical teachings on life and children, that he would abstain from publicly discussing such issues," said Newman.

Listen to the April 30, 2012 radio segment

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