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Is Depopulation a Threat to the Church’s Future?
- James Spencer President of The D. L. Moody Center
- Published Dec 18, 2024
At first glance, the forthcoming “depopulation” problem may not seem to be a theological problem. Yet, as we consider some of the factors that may be driving depopulation, it is difficult not to recognize the un-theological thinking influencing some (and presumably some Christians) to delay starting a family or to opt out of starting a family altogether. It is important to recognize that starting a family isn’t a biblical mandate. Paul makes clear, through both his life and his teachings, that remaining single is an appropriate way of life for those in Christ (1 Cor 7:8).
So, if singleness isn’t an issue, what’s the problem? It isn’t the choice itself but the reasons behind the choice that are, at least, potentially problematic. While there is no requirement for Christians to start a family, one should come to that decision because of a desire to glorify God. There is, in other words, a difference between adopting a lifestyle deemed appropriate in Scripture and adopting that lifestyle as an expression of one’s commitment to living under the authority of Christ.
What Is Depopulation? Why Is it Happening?
Depopulation refers to the overall decline in the human population. It can be simply described in terms of death and replacement rates. Depopulation occurs when the projected number of individual deaths outpaces the projected number of births within certain generational timeframes. This latter aspect of generational timeframes is important. While we can think in terms of raw numbers, we also need to recognize the challenge of replacing a productive adult whose various efforts bring value to society with a baby. The two are far from interchangeable. As such, the generational timing of any replacement needs to be considered.
So, why is depopulation happening? The basic problem is that people are having fewer children and/or waiting until later in life to start a family. While it seems likely that these trends are influenced by a number of different factors, there is no conclusive evidence of any particular cause. Commenting on declining fertility rates, Melissa S. Kearney and Phillip Levine acknowledge that recessions have resulted in lower birth rates. At the same time, they “speculate that the key explanation for the post-2007 sustained decline in US birth rates is not about some changing policy or cost factor in recent years, but rather a shifting priorities across cohorts of young adults.” They go on to suggest that young adults may see a conflict between parenting and career aspirations or lifestyle choices more generally.
The 2018 research on American fertility reported by the New York Times appears to support the speculations of Kearney and Levine. The survey found that respondents “who said they had or expected to have fewer children than they considered ideal” were influenced by concerns related to economics and time. Note the following examples taken from the survey:
Economics
- 64% noted that “childcare is too expensive.”
- 49% were “worried about the economy”
- 44% said they “can’t afford more children.”
Time
- 54% said they “want more time for the children I have.”
- 42% noted that they “want more leisure time.”
- 36% said they “struggle with work-life balance.”
The results were slightly different for young adults “who said they didn’t want children or weren’t sure.” The top responses for this group involved a desire for more leisure time (36%), lack of a partner (34%), inability to afford childcare (31%), and a lack of interest in having children (30%).
While we need to be cautious in making assumptions about just what is happening, it would seem plausible that people are opting not to have children, in part because we have created a culture in which doing so is (increasingly?) being viewed as detrimental. In the eyes of many people, having children has become an obstacle to the “good life” or a luxury one can only afford after achieving the “good life.”
Again, within a diverse society, we shouldn’t assume that every person we meet is less than interested in having children. We probably all know people who have large families. The concerns expressed above don’t keep everyone from having more children, but they do keep enough people from having children, and the decline in fertility is noticeable at the population level. It isn’t everyone, but it isn’t trivial, either.
Children and Families in Biblical Perspective
We need to recognize that the Bible isn’t addressing declining populations directly. Yes, the original mandate to humankind was to “be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it…” (Gen 1:28). This mandate to be fruitful and multiply was not only given to humankind. We see similar language applied to fish and birds (Gen 1:22) and to other animals (Gen 8:17). This original human mandate is repeated or alluded to at various other points in Bible as well (Gen 9:1, 7; 17:6, 20; 26:22; 28:3; 35:11; 41:52; 47:27; 48:4; Exod 1:7). In general, being fruitful and multiplying was a sign of God’s blessing.
While the blessing to be fruitful and multiply cannot be detached from what we refer to as demography, the multiplication had a theological slant. It wasn’t just about the numbers. It was about an intergenerational witness to the glory of God such that all of Adam and Eve’s progeny (and all those who came after them) would “image” God’s glory across the whole earth. The expansion was both theological and numeric.
Throughout the Old Testament, Israel is, to some large extent, dependent on biological growth rooted within the covenant community. As such, we see the importance of teaching children the laws and commands of the Lord (Deut 6:4-9). Remaining connected to the covenant as the generations passed was crucial because numerical growth was not sufficient. It had to be supplemented by an ongoing (re)commitment to the covenant with the Lord (Josh 24:1-28). Even so, Israel’s population couldn’t go to zero. To have a faithful people, there must still be some people.
In the New Testament, the emphasis is not on biological growth. Instead, there is a shift toward making disciples. The community could grow through the birth of children raised in the faith and ultimately coming to saving faith in Jesus Christ (just as in the Old Testament Gentiles could join with Israel; cf. Lev 19:10; 25:44-46; Deut 23:15; Isa 56:6-7). However, the New Testament emphasis tends to shift toward disciple-making rather than the growth of the community via biological reproduction.
Consider, for instance, the comments Jesus made regarding the family. He notes, “But he replied to the man who told him, ‘Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?’ And stretching out his hand toward the disciples, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother” (Matt 12:48-50). Jesus is not condemning family in this text, but points to new criteria for understanding family that are rooted in one’s loyalty to the Father.
We also see Paul advocating for singleness, noting, “To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single, as I am” (1 Cor 7:8). Later on, Paul explains, “The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife and his interests are divided” (1 Cor 7:32-34). Paul is not condemning marriage. In fact, he is well aware that other apostles are married (1 Cor 9:5). However, the very fact that Paul can recommend singleness suggests that the community of faith doesn’t depend on biological growth to expand its reach but on making disciples.
Family is an important social arrangement in scripture. Whether in the Old or New Testaments, we see that children are to honor their parents (Exod 2012; Deut 5:16; Matt 15:4; Eph 6:2). Similarly, parents are to raise godly children (Prov 20:7; 22:6; 29:15; Eph 6:4). The emphasis does seem to shift from the Old Testament to the New Testament. In the Old Testament, being fruitful and multiplying normally implied biological children, whereas in the New Testament, it doesn’t. In both instances, however, training people to live under God’s authority was a priority, as we see in the Great Commission (Matt 28:16-20).
How Might Christians Think about Depopulation?
With the brief overview of biblical teachings on family and children in mind, we may consider how Christians might respond to the depopulation challenge. First, as Trevin Wax recognizes in his post on the coming demographic shift, Christians will likely need to begin thinking about how best to minister to singles. He notes, “In a world with more single-person households and fewer people with extended family ties, the church will need to step in as the family of God by providing friendship in a world of isolation and new support systems for people strained by economic and social pressures.” The world can be a daunting place when you are alone. Christians need to consider how the growth of singleness may require different ministry activities and commitments to caring for a new and potentially more vulnerable population.
Second, we need to recognize that our motivations matter. When Paul talks about remaining single, he does so from a theological standpoint. He is not mandating singleness so much as he is highlighting it as a state that, for some, allows them to focus more intently and single-mindedly on the Lord. Singleness is not a state we opt into because we want to pursue our own interests or ambitions, but one that we use to serve the Lord. As such, choosing to remain single or not to have children for financial or other reasons may be practical concerns, but they need to be nested within a broader commitment to glorifying God.
Choosing to be single to serve the Lord is, as Paul makes clear, a viable option for Christians. We should not respond to depopulation with a knee-jerk response that causes us to look down on singleness or to shame those who have fewer children than we do. At the same time, we need to ensure that those who are opting to remain single or to have fewer (or no) children are doing so for God-honoring reasons rather than being swept along by the culture that seems to be emerging.
Finally, Christians can demonstrate the sort of peace and joy that comes through faith in Christ. As various worries and desires keep people from having children or make children seem like an obstacle, Christians can recognize children for what they are—a gift from God. Are they expensive? Yes. Do they require parents to make lifestyle changes? Of course. As people who trust God for daily provision and surrender us and our desires to pursue conformity with Christ, we can offer a different perspective on children to remind the world that they are not a burden but a blessing.
Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/ Andrew Seaman
