Christian Authority and Designer Babies
I don't know if you've read the recent discussion about the ethical implications of "Designer Babies" ( cbs story here ). If you haven't it is really interesting and for me it is eye-opening to see how far we are getting with technology. This technology does beg the question on whether it would be ethical for the Christian. Is there anything in scripture that prohibits the use of this technology?
On what authority does man exercise control over his natural environment? God has given man dominion over the world since the beginning (Gen. 1:28 - 30). This is especially asserted in Psalm 8:6:
So it is with authority that man can change the physical world. It is with the authority that man does research into genetics, even if it involves embryo research. The stronger religious objection results from the idea that a person is a person at the moment of conception. That life begins at the moment of conception is inferred from Psalm 51:5 and Jeremiah 1:5.
The problem here is that scripture does not assert that every embryo is human. If you read Jeremiah then it is clear that God knew us before we were formed in the womb. According to scripture, human life is identified as something other than this human body and our existence in time is eternal but our state in time is changing and subjective. As a Christian I know that even if I die and my body deteriorates I will still be human and I will still be alive.
I do not believe that equating human life with an embryo is sound hermeneutics nor sound reasoning. While it is true to say that all humans were once embryo's I do not see any evidence to support the assertion that all embryos are or will become human. On the contrary, it is not the human form that makes us human and gives us life but it is the breath of God (Gen. 2:5, Eze 37:5, Acts 17:25). Consider especially that we will soon have the knowledge and ability to grow our own embryo’s from non-embryonic stem cells. We will soon have the technology to create a full human body. Will we consider our creation human?
So we see what Scripture does not positively assert. Let us look in the other direction. Scripture positively asserts that God is Omnipotent and Omniscient. It also asserts that he is unchanging and completely good.
Is it evil to create a human only to allow it to be destroyed in the embryonic stage? Are miscarriages evil? Are abortions evil? If you accept that in each of these instances the victim is human then yes. But this position forces us to call into question God's culpability. He allowed a human into that situation. He knew that innocent baby, not even fully formed was going to be destroyed. Even if you do not allow for human intention (an unintentional miscarriage) this idea still seems to offend my conscience.
Indeed, even David was held accountable for murder when he allowed his soldier to be in a situation where his death was inevitable. Shall we charge God with Murder? This whole perplexity is side-stepped if you take the simpler position that scripture does and assert that human life is something other than an embryo. If you take the other position, that human life begins with every embryo, then you have a lot to work out.
So, with the belief that a human being cannot be defined as any part of the human body, embryo or otherwise and that man has a divine-given authority to exercise dominion over creation I do not see how this could be declared unethical for a Christian. It may offend our western familial senses but I do not think that it is immoral.
On what authority does man exercise control over his natural environment? God has given man dominion over the world since the beginning (Gen. 1:28 - 30). This is especially asserted in Psalm 8:6:
You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet
So it is with authority that man can change the physical world. It is with the authority that man does research into genetics, even if it involves embryo research. The stronger religious objection results from the idea that a person is a person at the moment of conception. That life begins at the moment of conception is inferred from Psalm 51:5 and Jeremiah 1:5.
Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
...
Before I formed you in the womb I knew you.
The problem here is that scripture does not assert that every embryo is human. If you read Jeremiah then it is clear that God knew us before we were formed in the womb. According to scripture, human life is identified as something other than this human body and our existence in time is eternal but our state in time is changing and subjective. As a Christian I know that even if I die and my body deteriorates I will still be human and I will still be alive.
I do not believe that equating human life with an embryo is sound hermeneutics nor sound reasoning. While it is true to say that all humans were once embryo's I do not see any evidence to support the assertion that all embryos are or will become human. On the contrary, it is not the human form that makes us human and gives us life but it is the breath of God (Gen. 2:5, Eze 37:5, Acts 17:25). Consider especially that we will soon have the knowledge and ability to grow our own embryo’s from non-embryonic stem cells. We will soon have the technology to create a full human body. Will we consider our creation human?
So we see what Scripture does not positively assert. Let us look in the other direction. Scripture positively asserts that God is Omnipotent and Omniscient. It also asserts that he is unchanging and completely good.
Is it evil to create a human only to allow it to be destroyed in the embryonic stage? Are miscarriages evil? Are abortions evil? If you accept that in each of these instances the victim is human then yes. But this position forces us to call into question God's culpability. He allowed a human into that situation. He knew that innocent baby, not even fully formed was going to be destroyed. Even if you do not allow for human intention (an unintentional miscarriage) this idea still seems to offend my conscience.
Indeed, even David was held accountable for murder when he allowed his soldier to be in a situation where his death was inevitable. Shall we charge God with Murder? This whole perplexity is side-stepped if you take the simpler position that scripture does and assert that human life is something other than an embryo. If you take the other position, that human life begins with every embryo, then you have a lot to work out.
So, with the belief that a human being cannot be defined as any part of the human body, embryo or otherwise and that man has a divine-given authority to exercise dominion over creation I do not see how this could be declared unethical for a Christian. It may offend our western familial senses but I do not think that it is immoral.
Comments
one other thing occurred to me just now. I was inaccurate when I said it is true all men were embryos. Some men weren't even born (Adam and Eve) and some didn't even die (Enoch and Elijah) and yet they are still completely human. Humanity trancends the human form.