Any couple that has endured the piercing sorrow of infertility knows all too well the feelings of desperation and despair. The pain is real. We as Christ’s body must be full of grace toward anyone struggling with the inability to conceive a child.
Just to get us all on the same page, in vitro fertilization – more commonly abbreviated by the media as IVF – is the medical procedure by which a man’s sperm is united with a woman’s egg. Instead of happening via sexual intercourse, this union happens in a laboratory, and in a petri dish. The result is a living embryo, which is then implanted inside the woman’s womb to develop as if a natural conception had occurred.
For an infertile couple, this may sound absolutely wonderful – like a dream come true. Problem solved, perhaps. Truth be told, we’d be hard-pressed to find a clear Scriptural objection to the process itself, and we could in fact make a robust argument that IVF simply helps a needy couple experience the long-awaited blessing of their own baby. We could look at IVF as no different from the many other ways in which we avail ourselves of medical science to overcome our various and sundry medical conditions.
But it’s not that easy.
I’m no expert on the subject, but I’d like to share with you four principles for thinking soundly through the realities and implications of IVF from a Christ-centered perspective. My hope is that these principles may be of value to you or to someone you love …
1. The fertility clinic and the parents may not share the same values. Discrepancies should be explored in a straightforward manner. It’s been my experience that many couples don’t ask the hard questions at the onset of their pursuit of treatment, and then feel trapped. In many cases, clinics administer IVF without a commitment to the sanctity of all human life. So it’s prudent for you to understand the latest technology, and to give clear voice to your personal moral standards and concerns. If the chief aim of the doctors is to produce as many embryos as possible, without regard to what happens next, Christian couples need to pause and reconsider.
2. Couples may not recognize that, in the eyes of most clinicians, the process of “creating” human life carries with it an obligation to grade embryos based on their expected viability. Said differently, some person must make a determination regarding the potential “quality” of life. So, it stands to reason that the process of IVF itself will make preimplantation genetic diagnosis an important piece of the puzzle – especially as it becomes cheaper. As IVF is aimed at overcoming infertility, the use of such screening is likely to keep expanding. So couples need to think through whether or not they’re comfortable with such decisions being made.
3. The treatment of leftover embryos – those not implanted into the mother – raises serious moral, ethical, and practical concerns. All human life bears the image of Almighty God (Genesis 1:26-28). So life has immeasurable value in all its forms, and should be protected from the moment of fertilization. Embryos should never be treated carelessly or destroyed. Sadly, some IVF practices result in many embryos that are likely to die or be frozen for an indefinite period of time. Each embryo is, scientifically speaking, a unique person comprised with a distinct DNA code – right down to gender and eye color – just like a baby conceived in its mother’s womb.
4. At all times and in all circumstances, we must be driven by the larger vision of Christ’s kingdom and Christ’s righteousness. As followers of Jesus, you and I must acknowledge that we live in a culture that constantly bombards us with new and morphing demands regarding how human beings are to be treated – or mistreated. We would be foolish to assume that the fertility industry is immune to the temptation to view children as mere commodities for financial gain. Many will not use IVF morally or responsibly, and will carelessly advocate for the destruction of children on a widespread scale. So we must be cautious, wise, prayerful, and humble for such a time as this.
I’m happy to report that there are many physicians and other healthcare providers who share our value of life. They’re willing to talk through these issues, and to help those facing infertility to make right choices. They advocate tirelessly for the very best practices in the practice of medicine, and for responsible regulation and oversight. These friends need our prayers and encouragement.
As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts on this important and timely subject.
Pastor Charles
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