Background:

A knowledgable Southern Baptist pastor in California wrote about a gray area of ethics brought about by modern medical science asking:

I am working on an answer for a couple in my church. This couple (in their 30s) recently married. This is the man's second marriage (his first wife died). He had a vasectomy during the first marriage, as they had three children. He wants to have children with his new wife, so he had a reversal done. The bad news was that his sperm count was low. He is looking into artificial insemination, and received funding for that procedure. After hearing the procedure, he is unsure of the ramifications.

In case you're not aware of the process, it entails removing 10 eggs from the woman and fertilizing each egg with the man's sperm outside of the womb. Two of the fertiliized ova are then placed in the womb. If those two do not attach to the womb, then two more are placed in the womb until success is achieved.

The problem lies in the case of early success. What about the other eggs? They are fertilized, yet frozen. That prompts the question of whether or not that constitutes a living being. That's the question I'm wrestling with. I'm searching Scripture, and I need some additional input.

Citizens and legislators cannot adequately discuss these questions without a common knowledge base, even if we disagree on the applicability of ethics and science to California laws. This paper examines this gray area from several viewpoints and provides five important alternatives such couples should consider.

Abortion And Fertlized Eggs - By Harry Briley 01/2000

We do not have an official opinion since there is not a pending bill in 2000 attracting our attention. However, I'll throw in my resource material and you can do with it as you will. You are well aware that this topic wanders into a minefield. This very topic has made the Christian press.

PERSPECTIVES

From the physical sense, the moment of fertilization is a miracle as it begins a cell division process that is spectacular. Even Hollywood (yes, Hollywood) hyped this aspect in the opening scenes of the comedy movie "Look Who's Talking".

From the medical sense, the cells cannot live outside of the body and will die promptly unless kept alive artificially (chilled). A viable fetus is recognizable at about 6 weeks when the heart starts beating. For other medical/ethical aspects from a Christian perspective, check out: "Christian Medical & Dental Society" on their Ethics web pages.

From the political sense, the pro-life movement would be grateful if we could stop abortions after 6 weeks much less after the second tri-mester. Our rhetoric unfortunately is still all or nothing (See the January 10, 2000 issue of 'Christianity Today' about the abolitionists of the mid-1800's)

From the Biblical sense, there is strong support from King David and John the Baptist that a soul is active in the womb from some early point (conception?) onward, especially with detected movement. The phrase "I was conceived in sin" is most telling, not so much about sin but about life starting at or near conception.

For the pro-life movement aspect, scan their material (see: "California Pro-Life Council"). You might also review the Catholic Church material. They have scholarly articles on new medical technologies. You might find "Pope John Paul II EVANGELIUM VITAE (The Gospel of Life 3/25/1995)" to be most helpful. It was a wonderful surprise that I found in December 2000 with well developed and reasoned arguments.

So if he decides to plow ahead and be like Abraham (I presume they have made this a matter of prayer and not just rationalizations), I understand from your memo that the couple desires to create life instead of destroy life. They are not cloning nor altering DNA. In my FALLIABLE opinion (and I'll likely take heat for this), there is no spirit-breathed life until the egg 'takes' in the womb.

FIVE ALTERNATIVES

1. A reality-check alternative is to ask if he really wants an obnoxious rebellious teenager about 15 years from now ... in his mid 60's. That sure spashes cold water on a dream.

2. A medical alternative adds to the expense but will eliminate most ethical issues. Have the man's sperm frozen and linked to the two ovums only when implantated. There is no medical reason to prepare 10 at once except for the high mortality rate. The doctors will say it is cheaper to do 10 at once as it is to do 2. Don't go against your conscience.

3. Another alternative is to adopt infants ready-made. This is not an easy road but certainly brings home all the scriptures about God adopting us. For infants, the most expensive, the couple needs to use private agencies. Preference is always given to couples without children and so your local couple may find that road blocked.

4. They have a better chance, and financially aided by some county adoption agencies, if they adopt children as a mixed-race, older, and/or siblings ... but at a cost of dealing with kids who have been abandoned or abused. This is the route my wife and I took. The teen years were rocky to put it mildly. Our son (in 2000) is 18 and in jail. Our daughter is 20 with a baby out of wedlock. And yet, these kids may turn out OK after all. I only wished for calmer waters as a parent. Don't let this discourage if God called this couple to give a loving home to at-risk children.

5. And finally, consider foster care. If they have a heart for children and willing to minister to hurting kids, point them to the Roy Rogers and Dale Evans story. They had over 20 foster kids run through their lives and their love touched each one. As older parents, Roy and Dale found foster care a fulfilling calling. Hosanna Homes, in California, are always looking for Christian foster parents.

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