why it's wrong - the embryonic debate

Since this is such a big deal, especially in Missouri of late, I figured I'd address it too. I've heard people, even those who claim to know Christ, say that things like embryonic stem cell research and abortion are not wrong for reasons such as "it's just political" or "the Bible doesn't talk about it" or "it will help people." Trust me, if I thought this was merely political, I wouldn't care much. Of course I vote and know the issues, but politics is just not fun, and I try not to waste my time on silly debates.

But to say the Bible doesn't talk about it, well that's a bit of overlooking on their part. The Bible doesn't include the words "embryonic stem cell" or "abortion" because they didn't use language like that at the time. But does it say anything about hurting babies, and even the unborn? Definitely yes.

Now as a basic, most people know the command, "Do not murder." This is repeated over and over again throughout. That should speak for itself, but somehow we are in a society so twisted that it actually takes time to redefine things like "murder" and "person" and so on.

If you still have questions, there are many times that murdering children is spoken against. And this gets a bit graphic.

In Leviticus 18:21 for instance, God says, "'Do not give any of your children to be sacrificed to Molech, for you must not profane the name of your God. I am the Lord." Molech was a man-made god of the Ammonites. They had fashioned a horrific metal statue with cupped hands which was heated by fire. They would then throw live babies into the hands of this "god" and sacrifice them in hopes of receiving some "blessing" or another.

The LORD said, "NO." And more than once. He threatened to withdraw from the people who were doing this on more than one occassion, as His people were being sucked into the culture around them.

Still not convinced?

God never takes kindly to oppression of the helpless, no matter how young or old. He states this repeatedly in the book of Amos. In chapter 1:13, God says, "Thus says the Lord: 'For three transgressions of the people of Ammon, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment, Because they ripped open the women with child in Gilead, That they might enlarge their territory.'"

Did you catch that? Read it again. I'm not going to repeat it.

There's plenty more you can research on your own. And if you are not one to be convinced by Scripture, that's fine. There's nothing I can do about that. But I will say this... I agree 100% that we should continue to do research and search for cures, and use of adult stem cells is fine—not to mention that only adult stem cells have proven truly effective for cures. Most of my family is diabetic. I had a great college prof. who died rather quickly of a muscular disorder. I have lots of friends with lots of physical problems, myself included. However, there is never a reason to improve a life by taking a life. People are created in the image of God (Genesis 9:6), and we do no justice in "helping" one image by destroying another, nor does the Creator allow such a thing. (And before you suggest God was never like an embryo, remember Jesus Himself came to us as a baby.)

This may come as a shock to some, but I'm also not saying that I agree that those embryos should have been created and abandoned in the first place, and I realize there are much deeper roots to this issue that no one wants to address. But clearly with everyone trying to "play god" all these many year, we have now come to this. Just because we can do something doesn't mean we should.

The Gospel tells us Jesus died to save, profoundly and in the deepest sense, those who trust in Him. He will eventually return to fix the physical too, eliminating the pain and suffering in this world, but we all will experience suffering just as He did until He makes things new. I pray we will stop trying to control this on our own, attempting to "fix" problems while leaving a wake of suffering and death for others in the process. I pray we will trust Jesus, the One who will make all this right again.