Wisdom Wednesday

So God created mankind in his own image,
    in the image of God he created them;
    male and female he created them.

God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

Genesis 1:27-28

We are talking ethics and morality in the modern world on Wednesdays. And today I want to speak of something that affects some people deeply and others hardly at all - and that is reproductive technology.

Genesis reminds us of God’s command to Adam & Eve, to fill the whole earth with God’s people who image Him - reflecting His goodness and glory. That is, to have children.

Now, I do think something has changed with the New Covenant. It’s interesting that Jesus doesn’t give the command to the disciples to fill the earth by making children but instead through making disciples (baby Christians) by proclaiming the gospel. 

However, having said this, it’s also clear that Christians continuing to have children is a part of the plan (Acts 2:39) and a great way to fill the world with disciples as godly parents disciple their children. I think there is also something to be said for the love shared between parents and children that helps us understand the love of God. 

But how far should Christians (or anyone) go in seeking to have children? Historically, this hasn’t been a question worth asking. But technology has changed… well everything. From IVF to freezing eggs and surrogacy, infertility, the inability to have children is rapidly becoming less and less of an obstacle. 

But is it right? The Roman Catholics would say any intervention in the natural order of things is a violation of God’s natural law. I wouldn’t go so far. It seems to me that unless we claim something about sexual intercourse being sacred in and of itself or that any medical intervention in any genetic/health problem is to violate God’s sovereignty then we must be willing for Science to help with fertility also.

But when it comes to some forms of treatment. For instance, fertilising multiple eggs for the sake of greater chance of successful birth or forms of surrogacy and sperm donations (e.g. freezing multiple fertilised eggs). Here we must have some serious concerns. 

Because the Bible gives us strong suggestions that we should assume life begins at conception rather than birth - therefore to fertilise an egg is to create a life. Unless we are willing to give birth to and raise all fertilised eggs, we shouldn’t fertilise them.

But the most important thing we need to do. Is to wrestle with our hearts. Technology provides many opportunities. Lots of them are good. But not every opportunity should be taken. When it comes to technology we must also ask why. I understand that for some, this could be incredibly painful. 

But ask the hard question. Why am I willing to go so far to have children? It could be for very good reasons. I encourage you to reflect on that. My ultimate hope is that you would continue to turn to God in prayer and set your hope in Him now, and in the new creation.

For Today:

• Is this a painful/hard topic for you?
• Have you considered fertility/childbirth treatments?
• Have you wrestled with the ethics of these technologies?

Pray:

• Praise the Father that He is the giver of life and our Heavenly Father. 
• Give thanks for Jesus Christ who never had children and yet resulted in all God’s people becoming children of God. 
• Ask God for His Holy Spirit to help you and others consider the ethics of technology and childbirth.