Based on my memory of how people thought while growing up in the church, I don’t think increasing the number of saveable souls is something that makes sense for a Christian—or even any sort of long termist utilitarian framework at all.
Ultimately god is in control of everything. Your actions are fundamentally about your own soul, and your own eternal future, and not about other people. Their fate is between them and God, and he who knows when each sparrow falls will not forget them.
I remember my father explicitly saying that he regretted not having more children because he’s since learned that God wants us to create more souls for him. Didn’t make sense to me even as a Christian at the time, but the idea is out there.
There are fringe movements (ex: Quiverfull) that focus on procreation as a way of living out God’s will, but very few. What resonates with Christians is a “stewardship” mindset—using our God-given abilities and opportunities wisely. The Bible is full of stories of an otherwise-unspecial person being at the right time and place to make a historically impactful decision.
Based on my memory of how people thought while growing up in the church, I don’t think increasing the number of saveable souls is something that makes sense for a Christian—or even any sort of long termist utilitarian framework at all.
Ultimately god is in control of everything. Your actions are fundamentally about your own soul, and your own eternal future, and not about other people. Their fate is between them and God, and he who knows when each sparrow falls will not forget them.
I remember my father explicitly saying that he regretted not having more children because he’s since learned that God wants us to create more souls for him. Didn’t make sense to me even as a Christian at the time, but the idea is out there.
There are fringe movements (ex: Quiverfull) that focus on procreation as a way of living out God’s will, but very few. What resonates with Christians is a “stewardship” mindset—using our God-given abilities and opportunities wisely. The Bible is full of stories of an otherwise-unspecial person being at the right time and place to make a historically impactful decision.