Last week in a White House ceremony, President Obama signed an executive order that reverses the Bush administration's restrictions on federal funding for research that involves the destruction of human embryos. The President stated that we "have come to a consensus that we should pursue this research; that the potential it offers is great, and with proper guidelines and strict oversight the perils can be avoided."
I'm thinking to myself, "Perils? Would it be fair to say the life of the embryo is imperiled? Wouldn't the destruction of that life be a definite peril?"
This executive order means that research will now involve the intentional destruction of human embryos.
Doesn't it seem a bit twisted to say it is okay to create life and then to destroy that same life in order to provide benefit (possibly, maybe, maybe not) to another human being?
And if that seems okay, then why wouldn't it be okay to destroy life at another set point (10 years? 20 years? 65 years?) if by so doing one could benefit many other lives?
That sounds outlandish, you say? Then let me pose it this way! What if science could by killing a single human being, say about 10 years old, thereby provide the cure for cancer for millions of individuals? Would that be ethical?
Of course not. So the discussion here is not really about whether it is ethical to kill one life in order to save others pain and suffering. The discussion is REALLY about whether or not an embryo is LIFE.
However you look at it, here is the honest truth. Every one of us, every last living human being on earth, was younger yesterday than we are today. And the week before, we were younger yet. Three years ago my great-grandson was at his very youngest -- an embryo. And some numerous decades ago I was an embryo. And at the earliest point of your life you were an embryo. We were all embryos that in time grow to birth, childhood, adulthood, old age. That's simple biology.
Life begins as an embryo. At the moment of conception all the components for that individual's humanity has come together. We lie to ourselves if we forget that. And we lie to ourselves if we think that a few embryos here or there really don't matter. Our own morality is in question if we think so.
Psalm 139:13-16 says “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there were none of them.”
3 comments:
A thoughtful article. Unfortunately, those in leadership don't see things that way. They have "no harm, no foul" mindset. Because these embryos are still at the cellular level, and cannot speak, or resist, or experience the conscious pain we more developed folk can, they feel it doesn't matter what becomes of them. It's a terrible moral tragedy. It grieves me for all the reasons you've expressed. Sin is a slippery slope. In truth each embryo is a human life created in the image of God - and it is God's image we desecrate when we murder it. These scientists because of their disregard for God like to think that they are the ones who give life to these beings, and therefore have a right to them. But it is God who has made them alive, and we do not have the right to take that life away.
From a different perspective, it is also a form of slavery, this trafficking in human souls. They are bought and sold and transported here and there to be used for any number of purposes. Unfortunately, this legislation will likely ultimately lead to an embryo market which goes beyond the already tragic current situation of using "surplus" embryos to creating embryos with the specific intent of sacrificing them "for the common good".
What these folks fail to recognize is that God will hold them accountable for the lives they've destroyed. The most terrible peril is that of the souls of those who are willing produce defenseless human live's in order to destroy them. The only hope for them, as for us, is the gospel of Christ.
Very interesting post!! I assume that the folks who feel destroying a fetus at three months of age,or those who feel oksay about late term abortion or partial birth abortion...babies destroyed only for the convenience of the "mother's" lifestyle, would think nothing of destroying an embryo. We have slid down the slippery slope of morals as our nation has turned from God and I have no doubt that we will pay the price!
It is hard work to ignore God's word. Legislation, elections, millions of dollars are spent to ignore it, and to make us Christians seem like we have no brains. I have a feeling it will get much worse-you're right-this is only the beginning-this will surely lead to age related 'mercy' killing. Hey, just think of the money we could save, by 'getting rid' of unproductive citizens! UGGGHHH!!! Just makes me want to hide under His wings and cry...
Debra
PS I'm praying for you. Love ya.
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