The first commandment?

In her book, Be Fruitful and Multiply, Nancy Campbell shares her interpretation of what the Bible says about procreation. The book focuses on the role that Christian spouses are to take upon themselves, namely, to be fruitful and multiply. After exploring how the vision of children has changed from biblical times to that of present day Christians, Nancy concludes with testimonials of members of large families, both parents and children.

I admire Nancy Campbell for challenging the contemporary view of children as burdensome. Financial concerns are one of the top excuses to avoid having children, and Nancy encourages Christians to trust in God for their sustenance (129). For those considering the use of contraception, she discusses the potentially abortifacient mechanisms of the Pill and the IUD (171-177) as well as explaining that contraception was universally abhorred in the Church until the early 20th century (157-158). It is refreshing to read a book that upholds a woman's distinctive roles as nurturer, caregiver, and child bearer. Unfortunately, the book focuses so narrowly on motherhood that it excludes other vocations a woman might have. An excessive preoccupation with having children is just as misguided as overemphasizing pleasure in the marital union.

The title of the book is based on Genesis 1:28, which Nancy describes as "the first commandment that God gave to mankind" (21). She expands on this thought: "This is a 'charge,' not just an option. This could be a good answer to those who are negative about having children. You can smile sweetly and say, 'I'm obeying the Genesis Charge!'" (25). However, this Bible passage comes at the conclusion of creation. God is the author of life, and just as God endowed the fish and birds with the ability to reproduce in verse 22, so also God blesses mankind by using the same imperative in verse 28. Thus Genesis 1:28 is not the first commandment but the first blessing.

Here are some other Bible passages, twisted to fit the theme of the book:

• Matthew 18:5 - "To welcome a baby is to welcome Jesus! Should we receive Jesus with a half-hearted attitude?" (66)
• John 13:20 - "This Scripture plainly tells us when we refuse the children whom God would send, we are actually refusing Jesus Himself." (66)
• John 15:16 - "This is God’s desire for the natural and the spiritual." (48)
• 1 Corinthians 15:46 - "The natural comes first and then the spiritual." (48)

More troubling than these abuses of Scripture is the Reformed viewpoint woven throughout the book. The author delineates a set of rules that we should (and even can) follow. As one frequently recurring example, she says we can "train and sharpen [children] to be 'arrows' for God's army" (80). The book is overflowing with other ways we can please God, all through having more children. The trouble is that even those things we think are righteous acts are sinful in God's sight (Isaiah 64:6).

Nancy Campbell made some excellent points in this book. Though I agree that children are an integral part of God's design for marriage, I think that Nancy takes this concept too far. The kind of thinking presented in this book is nothing else than a theology of glory, encouraging us that we can and should improve ourselves once we're Christians. This is a dangerous teaching because it directs our attention inward, away from Jesus and the cross. For this reason, I cannot recommend this book except for spiritually discerning readers.