It sounds like one of those stories you can safely ignore: The U.S. birth rate has hit a record low, led by a big drop in the portion of immigrant women having babies.
But it does matter, and if the trend persists, it could mean lower living standards for most Americans in the future.
One of the great strengths of the U.S. economy, especially compared to Europe and Japan, is a relatively high birth rate, which keep the population young, on average, and population growth robust. "Everybody comes into world with one mouth and two hands," says economist Donald Boudreaux of George Mason University. "It's generally true that most people produce more than they consume."...
Psalm 127:3-5 are very interesting verses. How can a country field a large army without many young men?
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary wrote: Psalms 127:3:
3-5. Posterity is often represented as a blessing from God (Ge 30:2,18,1Sa 1:19,20). Children are represented as the defenders (arrows) of their parents in war, and in litigation.
Furth wrote: Psalm 127:3 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. Why should the Lord reward the nations?
I was in my late 20s when I first heard this psalm quoted by a preacher I happened to be listening to on the radio one day. It blew me away because I was raised in a Christian Bible church (moderate-to-liberal American Baptist denomination) my whole life and was never once taught this. Maybe they thought the whole "be fruitful and multiply" aspect of God's plan was old-hat (Old Testament). That and, being the 1970s, they didn't want to "offend" so many people who at the time likely favored and were using the birth control pill. People back then were scared of the (mostly perceived) "population explosion" as well as the (again, mostly perceived) wealth-consuming nature of having to care for "so many kids". More mouths to feed supposedly meant more "strain" on planet earth and its resources when it more likely meant less wealth for parents of the time and what few kids they decided to have to lavish upon themselves.
mixed sand wrote: 'Tis a pity they don't preach this anymore. But, how can you have Your Best Life Now while chasing a kid around your flat?
For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous Prov 3:32.
15 The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. 16 The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. 17 The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. 18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. 19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all. Psalm 34.
Wang Ling wrote: Many demographers, both inside and outside of China, agree: getting the TFR [Total Fertility Rate] wrong will result in misjudgements about ageing and labour supply and, ultimately, a family planning policy that is out of step with reality and storing up problems for the future. A report in British magazine The Economist asserts that China will face major population challenges in the future, while India and the Middle East will reap the benefits of their moderate birth rates
Dr. Joel Beeke | 1/4/2009
COMMENTS | 
stever: "
therighthandoffellowship
'the secret handshake crowd' :confused:
..."
