The Real Population Threat

The Real Population Threat: Al Mohler writes that the real population threat the world faces isn't over-population, but "depopulation." Referencing a USA Today article by Philip Longman, Mohler states, "On a global scale, we are seeing the population of older persons exploding and the numbers of young persons falling." He concludes, "the trend toward childlessness bring consequences, and these are not easily reversed. The more we distance ourselves from the natural blessings of the natural family, the greater our vulnerability grows. China, Longman notes, is fast becoming a nation in which one child supports two parents and four grandparents. Not only is this pattern unsustainable -- it is untenable." Read the full article.

Comments (4)

The future don't look pretty on so many levels. Time to get ready, church!

Posted by Rich Shipe | March 25, 2009 3:24 PM

I actually was part of a discussion about this very issue in a biblical counseling class I had last semester. The lost are killing themselves off because they fail to be fruitful and multiply like God has commanded. I believe very much that this is a consequence of the sin issues of the world today, i.e. sexual liberation, relativism, materialism, etc... What is the opposite side of this? The church is growing and becoming younger because it is fulfilling the command to be fruitful and multiply.

Posted by Sam Cobb | March 25, 2009 11:54 PM

I would have to respectively disagree with Dr. Mohler, or at least beckon that he be more nuanced in his "conclusion."

Instead of just haphazardly having children, without the means to provide and care for a child, people (even if for selfish reasons) may be doing a good thing for society, on the whole.

Inductive reasoning to reach a definitive conclusion is fraught with error.

@Rich: the return is pretty, no? That is the future.

Posted by kerrin | March 26, 2009 1:00 AM

Thank you for this post. I am wondering what your views are on birth control. Is it ever OK to use something that would block the blessing of children for a time or a season or to say that two, three, or four children is all that you would want or could handle? It seems like you have a smaller family yourself with just three children, so I am interested in your insights. Thank you for any perspective.

Posted by Sonya | March 26, 2009 6:43 PM

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