Assisted Reproductive Technology

[missholly]

Pastor Mike,

What do you feel is a biblical perspective on assisted reproductive technology (A.R.T.), and specifically in vitro fertilization?
This is an issue that is very personal for me, and one about which many Christians seems to have a rather knee-jerk reaction. Would love to hear your thoughts on this ethical question.

[gene]

The knowledge and abilities doctor have is a "gift" from God, he gives us the ability to learn and to find solutions to illnesses and infirmities. One may rightly call it the gift of healing, one of the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit, but the physician must use this gift to the glory of God. If it glorifies God that the barren may reproduce and have children the fact that it comes from a newly learned technology it is not wrong. If one uses this knowledge and the gift is abused for the sake of making the doctor place himself above God he has committed sin. If the paired couple is chosen by God not to produce children of their own bodies, no matter how the conception takes place God will not permit it. Some are chosen not to reproduce of their own bodies, but to take in and love children that for whatever reason have no one else to do this may be God's plan for that couple.

The science of advanced modern medicine is a good thing and a gift given to the few chosen so that they might do God's work. If this science is used in an evil way it is the physician's choice to do evil and an abuse of God's great gift. In this we once again return to man being a free moral agent and having the choice to do good or evil.

May the Lord bless those he has given His great gift to that they use their gift to His glory alone and NOT to their own glory. We often hear the news media glorify the doctor who finds a new break through in health care, but when given the chance to speak the doctor will often give the glory to God and refuse to be glorified himself. Recall what Senator Gifford's doctor said; I have done what I know how to do, now it is in God's hands, to the glory of God she is recovering from her wounds and will be able to live her life.

God is the one that is great, the physician only his tool to work healing miracles based upon his God given gifts.

Peace,
Gene

[Mike Miller]

missholly, I'm sorry for the delay. With VBS and my trip to Arizona, I'm just now getting on top of things.

My answer is that the Bible never speaks directly to this issue, so we must apply biblical principles. What are they? That's a tough question. God has given us physicians to help us with our physical infirmities. I also believe that help with reproductive issues is a good thing. Why? Because I don't see anything in the Bible that would say otherwise.

The only biblical principles I see mitigating against certain forms of reproductive assistance are those related to sexual immorality and the value of human life. What I mean is that regarding sexual immorality, any kind of "therapy" that involves a person having intercourse with anyone other than his/her spouse is sinful. I think that's probably not what you're talking about.

With regard to human life, however, several issues can arise. Anything that involves the destruction of embryos is murder. The sale and trafficking of babies or embryos is a kind human trafficking and exploitation. Women getting paid to have other people's babies is a form of human trafficking as well. All of these devalue human life. Moreover, the selling of sperm (sperm banks) has huge ethical implications in that men are essentially peddling their fatherhood and abandoning their children for money.

While so many of these issues are not black and white, those that kill babies, sell babies, or rent organs are pretty clear. All other issues are, in my opinion, up to the consciences of the individuals involved. Christians must search Scripture, pray, and make the best decisions they can.

[missholly]

Thank you! I am grateful to hear your thoughts on this.

One of the things I appreciate about the State of Louisiana is their conservative approach to reproductive issues. (Perhaps because of the large Catholic influence.) In Louisiana, unlike in many states, it is actually illegal for a clinic to destroy frozen embryos. Any "unused" embryos are saved for the couple's future use when they are ready to have another child, or else can be "adopted" (gifted at no charge) to a couple who are incapable of producing their own.

I know that God loves children, and that he delights in seeing his people raise a godly generation. It's sometimes hard to understand why he delays in granting children to those who want them so badly. But we cling to the knowlege that he is sovereign and has a reason for everything he does.

[Guest]

Do baptist Christians view birth control as homicide?

[Mike Miller]

It depends on what you mean by "birth control." If you are talking about abortion--either surgical or chemical (the so-called morning after pill)--then yes, we consider that to be homicide. Anything that ends the life of an innocent human being is murder, and we believe that life begins at conception.

When it comes to preventive birth control, however, Southern Baptists have no official position. Most of us do not take issue with prevention, but some do. Nevertheless, I know of no one who views preventive measures as homicide since a human life is not terminated.

[carla]

I would suggest one look into the birth control methods. A barrier method like a condom does not kill a fertilized egg. It kills only sperm. There are condoms without spermicide that doesn't kill anything and only makes the barrier. With chemical birth control or IUD birth control, an egg CAN become fertilized and prevented from implanting into the uterine lining. the method in which it works isn't to prevent the fertilization of an egg, but rather keeping the uterus an inhospitable place that the fertilized egg can't bury in and grow. Personally, I've chosen to not use such birth control methods and rely on either condoms or natural family planning. NFP is basically timing sex to ovulation. It's worht looking into