posted by amanda on Apr 24
A few months ago, a friend of mine loaned me a few of her books, including Open Embrace by Sam and Bethany Torode. She told me that it was a really interesting book on Christians and birth control. We’ve been using FAM for the past year or so, so I was happy to borrow the book and see what it said.
As I started reading the book, I was a little put off because the authors seemed a little, well, starry-eyed. They wrote this book as newleyweds, and very young ones at that, and it reads like a book written by young newleyweds. 
I can say that in pure love, because I too was a young newleywed 5 years ago (when they wrote this book) and I can relate my feelings at the time to their feelings at the time.
So, all-in-all, I liked what they had to say, but wasn’t sure that it was completely applicable.
Today I was speaking to the friend who loaned me the book, and she let me know that Bethany and Sam Torode had published an open letter about the book and their new position. I’ve now seen their letter discussed several places on the internet, and I must say that I am pleased to see Christians out there growing, sharing, and willing to discuss where God is leading them. I know that my views on many important issues of faith have evolved, and I am sure that it is difficult to admit that your views have changed when you’ve published a book that holds a position so strongly.
It sounds as though they have now experienced some of the difficulties that come through NFP and have adjusted their stance as their life has changed. I think this is not only understandable, but shows their willingness to learn and evaluate their beliefs. I hope that they are well-supported and that this renewed discussion of NFP/FAM will lead more Christian men and women to investigate, research, and pray about their decisions to use (or not use) birth control. Their letter has not made me doubt their message in Open Embrace, but has instead given me more confidence in them