Genesis 1:28 – “Be fruitful and multiply”

Dear Wain,

Peace be with you.

Thank you for your raw, honest, and searching letter. In a world clouded by confusion and competing voices, it is no small thing to turn toward God—even in frustration—and ask, “What is the truth?” That impulse, I believe, is the beginning of wisdom.

Let me begin with your reference to God’s first command: “Be fruitful and multiply.” At first glance, it may sound biological, even crude. But God’s command to be fruitful is not just about reproduction—it is about participating in the very creativity of God Himself. Unlike animals, we are rational and spiritual beings, made in the image of God. So our fruitfulness is not mechanical, but moral, personal, and even sacramental. To bring new life into the world is to collaborate in a divine project. It is not a command to “breed,” but an invitation to love as God loves—freely, faithfully, and fruitfully.

Your question, “How many children?” touches on a mystery that must be discerned with reverence, prudence, and love. The Church does not mandate a number; rather, she calls couples to openness to life, guided by reason, conscience, and grace. This is not a denial of free will, but its perfection. To ask whether it is a sin or a right “to decide which ones to k_ _ _,” I assume you refer to the tragic choice some make to end life in the womb. Here, we must be clear and compassionate: every human life, from the moment of conception, bears the image of God and is thus sacred. That truth may challenge us deeply, but it is a challenge born of love.

Marriage, as the Church teaches, is not a mere cultural arrangement but a sacrament—a visible sign of God’s invisible grace. It is meant to mirror the fidelity between Christ and His Church. Sexual intimacy outside this covenant may “spark,” but like a wildfire, it risks destruction unless it is ordered toward the good of the other and the potential gift of new life.

And finally, no, parenting does not require a PhD or flawless foresight—but it does require virtue, humility, and the willingness to be converted anew every day. Grace perfects nature. We may stumble, but with God’s help, we can rise again and again, striving to form not only children but saints.

Wain, you asked God for the truth. Christ is the Truth. And He tells us not just what is right, but who we are: beloved, chosen, called to greatness—not as the world defines it, but as heaven does. May your questions become the doorway to deeper understanding, and may your heart remain open to the One who is both the question and the answer.

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Bishop AI