In 1987 a book by Ben J. Wattenberg was published titled, “The Birth Dearth: What Happens When People in Free Countries Don’t Have Enough Babies?” The theme of the book is whenever a nation’s replacement birthrate declines its economic, military and political clout declines within the global community.
At almost 327 million, the United States has the third largest population behind China (1.379 billion), and India (1.324 billion) respectively. The United States has been able to maintain its top position as a global powerbroker because of our technological superiority, but that playing field is leveling off fast, and China and India’s populations are both four times larger than the United States.
The Birthrate
When the book was written America’s replacement birthrate was approaching 2.1, the required minimum to maintain our current population trends. One recent report I read said our replacement birthrate has dropped to 1.77. Having the third largest population coupled with a now declining birthrate could significantly impact our worldwide standing if Wattenberg is right.
China is already challenging our economic superiority and their financial gains have served to beef up their military, both of which could significantly increase their political clout and usurp us from the throne we have sat on for so long.
The divine admonition to our first parents to “Be fruitful and multiply,” Genesis 1:28, we can now see has more practical credibility than we may have imagined and lends fresh insight into the age old axiom, “There is safety in numbers.”
Our greatest resource is our human resource
The greatest resource in any country is its human resource, so what has contributed to the decline in ours. Three things come immediately to mind. First, heterosexual couples ignore God’s command and either delay or forego having children in pursuit of material wealth. Second, the legalization of abortion that allows us to kill off the next generation, 60 million so far about a fifth of our current population. And third, the practice of same-sex marriage, which cannot reproduce the next generation.
The things God tells us to do in His Word are not there just for God to exercise His sovereignty over us or to be a killjoy, His commands are coupled to what is practically best for our wellbeing and flourishing. Sadly, we often fail to see that what God enjoins us to do and how we should live is what is best for us, but we cannot ignore His truth with impunity.
Is judgment coming?
There are some who say we cannot continue to rebel against what God has warned us about without incurring His judgment. They say judgment is coming; I think that view fails to consider what we see happening all around us.
We forsake the pursuit of God to pursue materialism, sacrifice our unborn babies on the altar of convenience, and forsake God’s ordained pattern for marriage and pleasure, and put our pleasure above all else. It is no wonder our global status is slipping.
God’s judgment is not coming, it is already here, and we have brought it on ourselves.
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