How can I justify bringing children into the world in its present state?

on Dec 9, 2025

From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham

Q: I’ve been reading a lot about Charlie Kirk encouraging marriage and starting families. Elon Musk challenges Americans to have more children because our population is declining. This will sound terrible, but I can’t justify bringing children into the world in the present state it is in – evil rules the day. I would stay in perpetual trauma if I were trying to raise children in today’s society. – S.D.

A: A study of world history reveals that there isn’t a single time when conditions were ideal. Even when social and political circumstances have been reasonably good, the world has been ravaged by natural disasters, plagues and war. While modern medicine has removed many of the things that threatened life only a generation or two ago, modern technology has developed weapons of mass destruction that can wipe out entire civilizations. But thankfully, God is in control of the future.

The Bible gives many examples of harsh times. The Jewish people were carried away into captivity and faced a dismal future. Many of them must have asked the same question, but Jeremiah told them, “Marry and have sons and daughters … .” “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to … give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:6, 11, NIV). God is Lord over the future, as well as the past and present.

This does not mean everything will be easy in life. But our responsibility is clear: If God gives children to us, we should do whatever we can to strengthen them spiritually so that they, too, can face the future with a confident hope in God and be an example to others. Children, indeed, are a blessing from the Lord, and parents should raise them up to love Him, obey Him, and become witnesses for the Lord who brings peace and joy to families.

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(This column is based on the words and writings of the late Rev. Billy Graham.)