Christians and Fertility Treatment Flashcards
The joy of having children/family. Christian marriage
Christians are taught that family life is important
to many couples it is a vocation (all from God)
“Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was childless. The Lord answered his prayers, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant.” (Genesis 25:21)
Genesis 1:28
“Be fruitful and increase in number.” / “be fruitful and multiply”
Infertility is an illness. Jesus healed; so should we. The Golden Rule
Jesus healed people and this continues his work on earth
loving thy neighbour
Jesus healed — lepers, the blind, the dead, he even raised Jairus’ daughters
“treat others as you would like to be treated”
God has given us the gift of knowledge
God has given us knowledge for a reason — to use it
if God didn’t want the couple to have children then IVF wouldn’t work — this is a way of helping God’s plan
God has a Plan. There are alternative options open to Christian couples who want children
“Hannah had [no children because] the Lord has closed her womb.” (1 Samuel 1:26)
no-one has the right to children — God chooses
can adopt
Roman Catholic Church. Fertility Treatments involve masturbation
Genesis 38 — the Seed of Onan
he masturbated and “what he did was wicked in the Lord’s sight; so the Lord put him to death also.’
all treatments where fertilisation takes place outside the women’s body involves male masturbation
Roman Catholic Church and Others. Some fertility treatments involve other parties. Adultery
the child is not the product of the couple’s marriage
“Do not commit adultery” (Exodus 20)
Roman Catholic Church and Others. IVF involves the destruction of unused embryos
Sanctity of Life
life starts at conception
treat fertilised eggs as if they were alive
“Thou shall not murder.” (Exodus 20)
