birth control is 'murder' sermon

The 6th commandment "thou shall not kill" (Exodus 20:13; Deuteronomy 5:17), is better understood to mean "you shall not murder
MURDER
1: the crime of unlawfully killing a person especially with malice aforethought2 a: something very difficult or dangerous b: something outrageous or blameworthy
MALICE
1 : desire to cause pain, injury, or distress to another 2 : intent to commit an unlawful act or cause harm without legal justification or excuse
KILL
1 a: to deprive of life : cause the death of b (1): to slaughter (as a hog) for food (2): to convert a food animal into (a kind of meat) by slaughtering2 a: to put an end to b: defeat , veto c: to mark for omission ; also : delete d: annihilate , destroy 3 a: to destroy the vital or essential quality of b: to cause to stop c: to check the flow of current through4: to make a markedly favorable impression on 5: to get through uneventfully ; also : to get through (the time of a penalty) without being scored on 6 a: to cause extreme pain to b: to tire almost to the point of collapse7: to hit (a shot) so hard in various games that a return is impossible8: to consume (as a drink) totallyintransitive verb1: to deprive one of life2: to make a markedly favorable impression

FORT WORTH - The Southern Baptist Convention is reacting after News 8 showed a message from a Southern Baptist preacher teaching Fort Worth seminary students that the birth control pill equals murder.

In a controversial sermon to students at the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Dr. Thomas White, acting as the student services vice president this month, preached that birth control is murder and called attempts at family planning selfish.

"Some of you are involved in that exact same sin," he said.

Brett Younger, a Mercer University theology professor and former senior pastor at Broadway Baptist, said he believes it's absurd to think Christian couples should hope for 10 children and they have a responsibility to "thoughtfully, prayerfully consider what's best for their family, and the world."

The Ethics & Religious Commission president for the Southern Baptist Convention reacted Wednesday to Dr. White's preaching.

"I don't believe prudent planning is rebellion against God's will as long as couples accept God may cause them to have unplanned pregnancies anyway," said Richard Land.

But, Land said he ultimately agrees with Dr. White on the subject of the birth control pill.

"It stops ovulation, meaning it stops the eggs from being released," said Kathryn Allen, a spokeswoman for Planned Parenthood, while explaining how the pill works.

The controversial part comes into play if an egg is somehow released, which is when the pill "can" prevent a fertilized egg from implanting.

The view that when this happens it constitutes murder is what Allen said worries her as it gains increasing attention. However, she has estimated there is still little support.

Meanwhile, Land has issued a statement on his thoughts on the subject.

"The Southern Baptist Convention is not opposed to the use of birth control within marriage as long as the methods used do not cause the fertilized egg to abort and as long as the methods used do not bar having children all together unless there's a medical reason the couple should not have children," he said.