Bioethics from the Heart of a Christian 

About a year ago I was asked what is our Christian identity in the world in the association and attitude toward bioethics.   Not only was I asked this question but asked to speak on it for two days as a Christian and one time practicing Nurse. I at first thought, God surely did not tell you to phone me.  I was told to pray about it; they were serious.  I began to pray and God began to tug on my heart and mind.  After prayer I returned the phone call and said Yes. 

You first might ask as I did “what does Bioethics have to do with me and with the Christian attitude?  As I began researching I found myself becoming upset, which spurred me on to keep going.  The first article I came across was an article about a college posting on college campuses giving large sums of money for “research.”  The research was to use these unsuspecting women as harvest banks for their eggs.  What they did not realize is that they would be given fertility drugs to stimulate the production of many eggs.  As you know women usually have one egg a month.  Of course nothing was mentioned as to what they were going to use these eggs for.  Were they going to be used probably for embryonic stem cell research or even more sophisticated research as cloning?  Sold to the highest bidder! 

I had to ask myself what does this mean to me as a Christian and what is my part in all this?  What came to mind was my college nursing days classes.  I remembered that within about 24 hours after a sperm and egg meet the once 23 chromosomes are now 46 chromosomes. At this time neither the egg or sperm can be recognized. We call this a Zygote, a new genetically unique being in existence.  This Zygote is now ready with 46 chromosomes and possesses DNA (Genetic Identity) capable of developing into a full grown human being and having independent life.  These little Zygotes (Embryos) are what the scientific world wants and uses for research.  These little Human Embryos must be destroyed and then recovered to use them in research. 

What is our Biblical, theological view?  I am reminded of Psalms 139:13-16:

For you created my inmost being

You knit me together in my mother’s womb

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made

Your works are wonderful

I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you

When I was made in the secret place

When I was woven together in the depths of the earth

Your eyes saw my unformed body

All the day ordained for me were written in your book

Before one of them came to be.

The Bible tell us in Genesis 1:26-28, that we are created by Him, “Image Bearers of God.”  Are our little Embryos’ Image bearers?  I believe they are, though, very little and very venerable and fragile.  Then we must ask ourselves are we “Image Bearers”?  If we are made in God’s image, are we to care for the frailest of God’s Image Bearers?”

The first thing is to sound the alarm in educating and informing the people of God.  As Image Bearers we are to “Fill the earth and govern it.”

There is much, much more on bioethics besides the Human Embryo, but this is one dear to my heart. As Christians living in this world we must learn and understand terms as IVF, AIF, and their moral implications behind them.  Many of my clients when confronted with these issues did not understand the moral implications nor the pain and sorrows that can accompany them.   So much of what is happening seems good but we must not be taken in by the rudiments of this world.  We must go into these situations informed and prayed up.

If you get something from this blog, I will continue to blog on Bioethics, looking at issues such as Cloning and Stem cell research.  These are Beginning of Life issues and we cannot stop here but go on to End of Life issues such as death and dying, organ donation, defining the moment of death and accepting and forgoing treatment.  As our new health care systems go into place, these issue for discussion are a must and we as Christians must be wise as serpents but gentle as doves.  Any subjects discussed will be looked at and backed Theologically and Biblically.

If you want more you must give me feed back.  You are my deciding factors as what to discuss and in what order.