Lie #10: The Duggars and Overpopulation

In a recent blog post, Cindy Dyer did a stellar job debunking 9 lies that fuel D.D.S. (Duggar Deranged Syndrome) Each lie was carefully examined, then tossed out the proverbial window, culminating in the biggest lie of all; hatred for Christ that results in hatred for those who love Him.

But, as wonderful as her post was, she forgot one of the biggest issues that surround Duggar hatred. So, I give you...

Lie # 10: Overpopulation! Despite the fact that the entire world populace could live inside the State of Virginia, we are constantly being fed the lie that we must avoid overpopulation at all cost. Vivid images of Hong Kong during rush hour will strike fear into the hearts of the gullible; but the information is intentionally misleading. There is much of rural China that could host an overflow of city folk, if they had the desire and/or freedom to leave.


But at the heart of this lie is a battle that we face everyday for the sanctity of human life. Whose job is it choose who should live, or who should die? When his beloved Rachel demanded children of the Patriarch Jacob, his anger was kindled against her as he replied, "Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?" (Genesis 30:1-3)

Throughout Scripture, we are plainly taught that God opens the womb; God closes the womb; and one of God's greatest blessings is the gift of children.

So, I ask: Of the 19 gifts under the Duggar tree; which ones are not fit to live? Which ones should they send back? Line up the whole tribe and tell them which ones they should not have! Could you do it? Are you God?

"But," you protest, "there are millions of orphans in the world. Why don't the Duggars just adopt, if they love kids so much?"

As noble as this question sounds, and as much as I love families who adopt, at the heart of this objection is a denial of the sanctity of human life. As Cindy pointed out so well in the comment section of her post, "You are saying that the existence of millions of orphans denies my children the right to life!" That mindset is completely wrong! Who draws the line at how many children we can "rightfully" have? You? The government? Or God?

If your answer was "You," then leave the Duggars alone and let them decide for themselves! If your answer was "The Government," then leave the Duggars alone, because you've got BIGGER problems looming! If your answer was "God," then I'm preaching to the choir and you already love the Duggars to death for their commitment to Him.
 
Define Irony:

“The Bible calls debt a curse and children a blessing. But our culture applies for curses and rejects blessings.” ~Doug Phillips

Related Posts:
"Why the World Hates the Duggars" at Get Along Home
"It Takes a Family" (December 09, 2011)
"The Fruit of the Womb is His Reward" (February 4, 2010)

It Takes a... FAMILY

In our town, not far from where we worship, there is a church which proudly displays the quote best known as the title of Hillary Clinton's book, "It Takes a Village to raise a child."

As noble as this quote sounds; taking each of us back in time to the days when life was simpler, work was harder, and families were more intimately connected to each other-- the modern use of this slogan has nothing to do with "the good old days."

I've been contemplating this quote for several weeks, so I was pleasantly surprised when Cindy Dyer used it as Lie #2 in her recent blog post, "Why the World hates the Duggars."

Lie 2: It takes a village. We have been trained by our own experiences with socialized education to believe that children are impossible to handle without the help of professionals. No one family can do it all or pay for it all. In fact, having children in the care of their own parents twenty-four hours a day is the weirdest thing imaginable in our brave new world. And yet, here are the Duggars daring to leave that system we’ve so carefully arranged “for the children” to fend for themselves. Worse, it’s working!

 Whoa! Pause; Stop; And Rewind! Is that what it means to be a village? Removing kids from parental responsibility and handing them over for "professionals" to raise? Enabling parents to live their own lives while their children fend for themselves? Somehow, that doesn't fit the cozy scenario of village life that I always got from watching "Little House on the Prairie." So I had to consult dictionary.com

vil*lage (noun)

a small community or group of houses in a rural area, larger than a hamlet and usually smaller than a town

So that makes me wonder: what did Senator Clinton mean when she used this quote as her title? 

"I chose that old African proverb to title my book because it offers a timeless reminder that children will thrive only if their families thrive and if the whole of society cares enough to provide for them..." (Clinton's Speech; DNC, 1996)

Anyone else confused? Well, I'll explain. The word village now means the "whole of society." Right. And the word miniscule must mean monstrous; and tiny means enormous! *sarcastic tone* Who needs that stuffy village anyway? We have big brother government!

As noble as her title sounds, it is completely misleading. She is not referring to an intimate group of people that actually care about a child's well-being. Rather, her village is extensive, and cold, and callous. It doesn't care about individuals-- but the mass collective. Does that sound like a village to you?

But this is what confuses me most: people bash the Duggar family all the time, with unbelievable venom, accusing them of not being able to give enough one-on-one attention to each child. But many of the same people have no qualms about dropping their defenseless child off at a daycare where they are placed in a room with 35 other kids the same age. Does that sound like one-on-one attention? Ah, but the teachers are "professionals" so they don't bat an eye! (Maybe someone should inform Mrs. Clinton that in a few years the Duggars may be able to qualify for their very own village! Will that stop the hate-speech? I doubt it.)

From the beginning of time, God has ordained that parents be responsible for their own children.

It does not take a village to raise a child... It takes a family.

"And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up." Deu 6:6-7

Related posts:

"Why the World Hates the Duggars" at Get Along Home.
The Fruit of the Womb is His Reward  (Feb 2012)

In a few years, the Duggars could have their own village!