I'm going to kind of shoot from the hip tonight. It is not that I haven't given this topic much thought, I'm just not going to prepare such a formal post as usual. I'm just going to share something that's on my mind, and I hope you will let me know what you think.
I find it odd, and an oversight, that so many people who are against abortion and embryonic stem cell research, based on the conviction that life begins at conception (a conviction I share), are OK with, and even quite supportive of in vitro fertilization. The procedure creates more fertilized eggs than are implanted, it creates more people than are given a chance at life. Thus it basically insures the death of many individuals.
It seems to me that most people who resort to fertility clinics are those who have put careers and other personal interests, other worldly pursuits before family, until they are beyond normal child-bearing years. They then expend huge resources trying to get pregnant while there are children in need of adoption, and putting at risk their health and the health of the child they are trying to conceive at their old age. This too seems to be the result of a selfish and worldly desire to want what they want, a child biologically their own.
I'm making generalizations that certainly do not describe everyone seeking the help of fertility clinics, nor every situation in which one would seek their help. I do think, however, that it describes much of what goes on and is worth thinking about. I realize that this issue will hit close to home for some, and my intent is not to cause harm or offense, but to get us all thinking consistently and Biblically about all of life and about all of our decisions. If there is a valid point here I do not seek to condemn anyone with it, but to encourage right living from here on out.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
7 comments:
I think you have given us something to think about as you intended. I do have some thoughts and will keep working on them throughout the day to get them to writen words. I do feel we are much on the same page but as I believe you said this may not apply to all cases ( or maybe it does??? ) As I said I will give it more thought and when I see you we can talk more.
Thanks
Justin
I must admit that I have never given this subject consideration as it relates to right living according to God. I also find it interesting that I haven't heard a Christian speak on the subject until now. Before we can be obedient we must know the truth so thank you for the thought provoking comments.
This brings up a thought that I have considered before: I believe that God implants a human spirit into a fertilized egg, in the womb. Do I believe God implants spirits into all the fertilized eggs in the pe-tree dish? Hummm, I may have to consult the Jedi counsel on this one... But seriously, that's my main thought, and question at this point. My second, and older thought is more in the realm of cloning. So, we cook up a sheep in a laboratory, and .....God?..... breathes the breath of life into the animal? Hummmm..... Or we cook up a Human being in the laboratory, and ......God?..... implants a human spirit into the living person/clone? These are just some of my thoughts and or questions.
From a women's point of view, I do understand wanting a child of my own. Our "material" society teaches that we can/should have what we want. We don't mind working hard or spending money to get what we want.
Also, going to a fertility clinic seems to be an easier process than adoption. There are many stories of people who go to foreign countries to adopt.
I really think the moral question is ignored.
It all comes down to playing God. I think that sometimes it's hard to know where to draw the line with regards to medical technology. Someone has a bad heart and can get a heart transplant - great! Someone can't have children but could with the help of in vitro fertilization...but at the cost of lives lost. Just because we can do something, doesn't always mean we should, especially in this case where embryos are discarded, much as they would be in an early abortion or through stem cell research. Different reasons for doing much the same thing. As with all unborn life, it comes down to desire. A fetus' life is only valued when it is wanted, otherwise it's no more than trash to our society. And I also understand the emotional pull of wanting your own child but at what cost?
I've been surprised that this issue isn’t brought up more often. Not only are you correct that “The procedure creates more fertilized eggs than are implanted” but even when they do implant fertilized eggs, it’s usually several with the understanding that most will not survive. Now, let me change the subject a bit and ask you a tangential question. The pill; Is it possible that it could be abortifacient? I heard a very conservative scholar, who has degrees in medicine and theology, lecture at my church, who has written books on these issues, say, “since there isn’t conclusive evidence that the Pill is abortifacient then it would be ok to continue taking it.” I was shocked. I figure we ought to err on the side of life than to justify our actions on ignorance. This is the reason that option was off the table for us. It also might help explain why my wife keeps having babies.
PS. If you haven’t heard # 4 is due in Sept.
Very good point. Thanks Keith. We talked with our doctor about this issue. I can't remember all the details, and there are different types of pills, but generally I believe they keep the woman from releasing an egg at all, so an egg cannot be fertilized. That is my understanding of the pill we use. IUD's on the other hand do nothing to stop the fertilization of eggs, they just prevent implantation. So IUD's cause abortions.
Now I am surprised that no one has yet brought up the fact that often fertilized eggs fail to implant even when birth control is not used. But this is not our doing, and the baby is given every chance. With in vitro fertilization and certain birth control, the baby is not given that chance and is aborted on purpose. So just because failures to implant can happen anyway does not justify medical practice that causes them on purpose.
Post a Comment