Countercultural Motherhood: Say Yes to Children -A Godly Heritage

As some of you may know, we live in Amish country around here, and I would say that I interact with the Amish on a relatively frequent basis. It’s not unusual to find me loading up all the children and heading to the Amish bulk store for sugar and chocolate chips, or over to the variety store to grab another pack of canning jars, or the herb store to restock on some of my favorite supplements.

One thing that always strikes me as so special is how much the Amish love children. And I’m not just talking about it in the surface-level sense you might expect. Yes, the Amish are known for having large families—it’s not uncommon to find the average family size here anywhere from 12 to 15 children. I’ll never forget my Amish friend Barbara telling me that her mom “only” had six kids. It made me laugh, but it also made me think.

a painting of children playing with a kitten

The Heart Behind Their Families

While their large families may, in part, be due to cultural tradition, there’s something deeper going on: the Amish genuinely love children. I can’t count the number of times I’ve visited an Amish home, taken care of what I needed, and as I was heading back to the van, the person I was dealing with asked, “Can I see your children?” They love babies. They love toddlers. They love little kids—all of it! It’s genuine and refreshing.

They live out what Psalm 127:3 says: “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward”(ESV). This belief forms the heart of their family culture. They see children as wealth—not in a financial sense, but in the richness of life and legacy. And it always stands out to me how countercultural that is compared to the rest of society—even, sadly, within much of the Christian community today.

A Cultural Shift in the Church Towards Children

Of course, the Amish have their fair share of troubles—don’t get me wrong. But this one thing—their high view of children—is something I deeply admire. It’s sad how rare that perspective has become even among Christians. We all know that secular ideology treats children as a burden. That’s why we see the heartbreaking abortion statistics in our country. Children are no longer viewed as a blessing, and it shows.

What’s even more concerning is how much this mindset has bled into the Church. In today’s culture, it’s not uncommon for one of the first things a newly married Christian couple to research is how to prevent pregnancy—as though pregnancy is something to be avoided at all costs. Why? Because it might hinder their goals, delay their careers, or simply be inconvenient.

a painting of a mother with all her children

The Normalization of Birth Control

Women are signing up in droves to take medications that disrupt their bodies’ natural rhythm—the way God intentionally designed us to function. These medications not only interfere with hormones, but some may even prevent a newly conceived life from implanting in the womb. And we aren’t just talking about secular women. Many Christian women are opting for these same choices without a second thought.

Even more concerning is the growing number of Christians pursuing sterilization. And so we have to ask: how did we let this mindset take root in the Church?

Children Have Always Been Treasured

If you look back through history—even outside of Christian culture—you’ll see that people have always valued fertility and children. Pagans would even sacrifice their children to false gods for the sake of fertility. That’s how much they saw the value of reproduction and legacy.

In Scripture, we clearly see the blessing of children. Psalm 127 continues in verses 4–5: “Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them!” (ESV). Throughout the Bible, barrenness was associated with deep sorrow—just think of Hannah (1 Samuel 1), Elizabeth (Luke 1), and Rebekah (Genesis 25:21). Children were longed for, prayed for, and celebrated.

So why do we now pursue the opposite? Why have we let ourselves believe the lie that children are a hindrance instead of a blessing?

a family with small children sitting at a table enjoying dinner

From Large Families to Sterility

Historically, it wasn’t uncommon to have a family with eight or nine children. Then came the sexual revolution of the 1970s, the introduction of modern birth control. Then, in the late 1990s and early 2000s, we saw the rise of the quiverfull movement. If you grew up in conservative homeschool circles like I did, you likely encountered it.

While that movement attempted to correct the issue by encouraging openness to children, it often missed the mark. Some families had large numbers of children but failed to pour into them with the time, love, and discipleship they desperately needed. (That’s a topic for another day.)

A Generational Perspective On Children

So what am I really saying here? I’m calling for a perspective shift.

We need to view children not as burdens but as blessings—as a godly heritage. This isn’t about merely having children for the sake of it. It’s about raising up the next generation of Christ-followers, Gospel-proclaimers, and Kingdom-builders. When you receive children with open hands, you are sowing into a generational mindset—one that looks far beyond your own life and into the legacy you’re building for the glory of God.

1 Thessalonians 4:11 encourages us: “…aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you.” This quiet, faithful obedience includes family life. It includes raising children in a way that honors God and multiplies His name in future generations.

a Mother praying with her small children

Use Wisdom, But Don’t Refuse the Gift

Now, let me be clear: I am advocating for having lots of children. Not out of pressure or performance, but from a place of joyful surrender and open-handedness to God’s will. Of course, use wisdom. There are times and seasons when it may be wise to take a break—and praise the Lord, He has given us natural, life-honoring ways to do that.

But don’t shut the door entirely. Don’t refuse the blessings God wants to give you. Don’t buy into the cultural lie that children are a hindrance. You are not your own. You belong to Christ. You are called to be a peculiar people—in the world but not of it.

We are to live, plant, build houses, and raise children to glorify God (Jeremiah 29:5–6). So don’t be afraid to fill your quiver. Don’t waste the gifts God gives. Pray for His wisdom, His patience, and His help in raising each child to love and honor Him.

He will not leave you helpless.

Children are a blessing from the Lord. Let’s live like we believe it.