In an online discussion with someone about contraception I have been reading back through my many, many, many, many sources. (Did I say many enough times?) I was led back to one of the talks on ecumenism. This weird word is about reunification, specifically about unifying Christians. The talk is here if you would like to listen. Dr. Kreeft is a professor and convert to the Catholic Church. His work is heavy in academics, but he still has a very personal, humorous style.
The point that really stood out to me this time listening through was the reality of the Church as the body of Christ. This was one of Dr. Kreeft's points for how other Christians can be reunited with the Catholic Church. Not to see the Church as an obstacle, but as the actual body of Christ. Christ is the Head and the Church is His body. This is not new information to me. But this time, I really listened and heard the word about the body. Since I was going back to it because of contraception, I was really tuned to that word. The Body.
The writings on the Theology of the Body by Pope John Paul II weren't intended as the be all, end all. His intention was a study of a theology; a theology of the body. We are, as students of the theology, to look for it everywhere. So that word stood out to me again. The body of Christ.
On the flip side of the body of Christ, is the body of contraception. I have heard talks on it before, but this time something really stood out. The body of contraception is a body of withholding. The body of contraception is a body of dis-unity. I truly see all of Christianity being against contraception as one of the last big structures to fall in recent times. Before 1930, if you were a Christian you were against contraception. We were still united on it. Now we aren't.
What changed? I don't have an answer. I have theories, few of which I am willing to delve too deeply. I wasn't there. What I do see are the results. Eighty years later, we are more divided as a body. Withholding of ourselves is not new. Contraception is not a new concept. What it is, is a newly accepted concept within Christianity. If two really do become one (Gen 2:24) then contraception is not only not necessary, but it is an assault instead. It is a division of ONE body.
A contracepting body withholds part of itself. What is the body of Christ? He is one body, with one head, and one Bride. What is a body of contraception? It is two bodies who do not become one. If we are not one body in Christ within our own marriages, how do we present ONE body of Christ to the world?
