However, since we live under the curse of sin, our fallen bodies are not always fruitful as they were created to be. What are married couples to do when the gift of children is not being given? Christians call upon God in prayer, and one of the answers to prayer can be medicines and therapies which work to bring healing to the body’s functioning – promoting ovulation or increasing sperm counts and motility, etc. Since these sorts of treatments and procedures work within the boundaries of the natural, one-flesh union God created to conceive life, there are very few potential ethical concerns with them.
But what is to be done when that doesn’t
work? It is at this point that many
couples consider in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Because of the way IVF is done, it raises several significant ethical
issues. Here’s how IVF works (from “In
Vitro Fertilization—Ark or Tower?” by James Lamb):
Fertilization in Glass
The basic procedure of IVF begins when the woman is treated to produce many viable eggs per cycle. The eggs are retrieved through a hollow needle inserted through the abdominal wall. They are placed in a petri dish and mixed with sperm. Fertilization occurs and development begins “in glass,” Latin, “in vitro.”
The basic procedure of IVF begins when the woman is treated to produce many viable eggs per cycle. The eggs are retrieved through a hollow needle inserted through the abdominal wall. They are placed in a petri dish and mixed with sperm. Fertilization occurs and development begins “in glass,” Latin, “in vitro.”
Embryo Grading
A laboratory technician then assigns a grade to each embryo based on his visual microscopic assessment of how “good” each embryo appears. This is completely subjective—and is admitted as such on fertility clinic websites. Generally, embryos with “poor grades” are discarded. Many couples are unaware that this happens.
A laboratory technician then assigns a grade to each embryo based on his visual microscopic assessment of how “good” each embryo appears. This is completely subjective—and is admitted as such on fertility clinic websites. Generally, embryos with “poor grades” are discarded. Many couples are unaware that this happens.
Pre-implantation Genetic
Diagnosis
At this point, pre-implantation genetic diagnosis may take place. A nucleus from one of the embryonic cells can be removed and analyzed. If a genetic disease exists, the embryo may be destroyed. Since gender is determined at the moment of conception, this technique can be used to select boy or girl embryos, and the clinic will only implant the babies of the gender the client chooses.
At this point, pre-implantation genetic diagnosis may take place. A nucleus from one of the embryonic cells can be removed and analyzed. If a genetic disease exists, the embryo may be destroyed. Since gender is determined at the moment of conception, this technique can be used to select boy or girl embryos, and the clinic will only implant the babies of the gender the client chooses.
Insertion
The “good” embryos are placed into the uterus. The procedure generally calls for three or four embryos to be inserted because not all may implant in the uterine wall. The success rate is about 40 percent. When multiple embryos do begin to develop, doctors often recommend “selective reduction” so only one or two remain. Selective reduction = abortion.
The “good” embryos are placed into the uterus. The procedure generally calls for three or four embryos to be inserted because not all may implant in the uterine wall. The success rate is about 40 percent. When multiple embryos do begin to develop, doctors often recommend “selective reduction” so only one or two remain. Selective reduction = abortion.
Embryo Freezing
Embryos not inserted may be frozen in liquid nitrogen. Although freezing techniques have improved, embryos may be harmed in this process, and harm may occur when they are thawed. Couples with frozen embryos generally have four options:
Embryos not inserted may be frozen in liquid nitrogen. Although freezing techniques have improved, embryos may be harmed in this process, and harm may occur when they are thawed. Couples with frozen embryos generally have four options:
1.
Have more inserted at a later date
2.
Donate them for research
3.
Seek to have them adopted by another couple
4.
Allow them to die
Based on the above information, there are
several of God’s commandments that come into play which Christians will want to
give serious consideration to. First,
and most clearly, is the 5th Commandment. In the meaning to this commandment against
murder, the Small Catechism states, “We should fear and love God so that we do
not hurt or harm our neighbor in his body. . .”
However, IVF clearly and almost inevitably involves harming or
destroying embryos. This is virtually
unavoidable in the IVF process. Multiple
embryos are created with the goal of merely one, or perhaps two, actually
implanting and being brought to term.
Every one of these embryos is a child, a human being with a soul, a boy or girl with their own unique DNA. And yet it is
routine and accepted that many of these young lives will simply need to be
sacrificed in order to achieve the goal of pregnancy. If the unused embryos are discarded and left
for dead, or donated for research where they will be experimented upon and
eventually destroyed, the 5th Commandment is directly being
violated. And even if the embryos are
frozen, there is great potential for harm to come to these young human lives in
the process. And the entire method of
freezing embryos raises the more basic question, “Where and when were we given
the right to create and manipulate human life like that?” The entire
notion is contrary to God’s order for bringing new life into the world. And we haven’t even begun to address the
reality of a 60% failure rate for implantation of these embryos. This means that from the outset, parents and
doctors are willing to accept a 60% death rate of the children they create
outside the womb in hopes that one will come to term within the womb. In the name of creating human life, IVF
destroys human life.
There are also other deeper issues at work. For instance, IVF takes the creation of life outside of the one flesh union God instituted and brings 3rd parties into the actual reproductive process itself. This brings issues of the 6th Commandment into play. In some cases, donor eggs or sperm are used, which even more radically brings a 3rd party into the marriage, contrary to God’s will.
Our Lord Jesus shared fully in our
humanity. The Son of God was willing to become a
holy embryo Himself in the womb of the blessed Virgin Mary. He sanctified the wombs of all women, those who
bear children, and those who don’t. He
made our entire lives holy, from conception to the grave, and redeemed us as
His own by His precious blood. Through
faith in Him who is now risen from the dead, new and eternal life is conceived
in us, and we begin to bear the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Having this life in the risen Jesus is what
we set our hearts on above all; it is what gives us purpose as we love and
serve our neighbor. That purpose may
involve fostering or adoption or any number of other paths of service that God
might set before us. But in all things,
we seek to live according to His will, trusting in Him, giving thanks to the Lord
in the confidence that “He is good, and His mercy endures forever” (Psalm
136:1).
-Pastor Koch
P.S.—An excellent resource on the general topic
of infertility and barrenness can be found here,
“He
Remembers the Barren” by Katie Schuermann. And on the general topic of life issues, be
sure to visit LutheransForLife.org.
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