“God is full of mercy for everyone, as He has been towards you. He is a father before He is a judge.”
-Alexandre Dumas
Blessed are the merciful
Some people struggle to understand if embryo adoption is something Christians can support. They often argue people like us who desperately love and desire children are particularly at risk of deception and manipulation. They suggest we would do anything to have a child, pushing the moral boundaries, blinded by desire.
It makes me crazy to hear the argument that we’re “playing God.” Like, ya’ll don’t even know what you’re saying. Nothing lives or breathes without His consent. If life has begun, it is only by His hand.
Good intention, poor conclusion
But in their defense. What they actually mean to express is discomfort with the idea of taking steps toward having children if not by natural conception.
Which is fine, you’re entitled to your own opinion. However, you must also toss out every form of adoption if you are using such a broad argument as this. Also, don’t use prescription eyeglasses or take supplemental vitamins.
I would have to disagree with you, because that’s umbilical on every level.
The idea that children should only arrive in your family without medical or outside intervention has its roots. It clearly begins with a misconstrued idea of how sovereign God is over life. How marvelous and totally incomprehensible His ways are to us. If you discerned the only right way for God to give you or anyone else a child, how small do you estimate Him to be? Who do you think you are?
What is the fruit?
I love this. It was on a different subject entirely, but timely. Our pastor reminded us recently of a helpful tool we can use to discern good teaching from false teaching.
With so many opinions and interpretations of scripture available at our fingertips, we have to be on our guard.
He asked “What is the fruit?” What is the tree (idea or teaching) producing in our lives and in the lives of others around us? Good fruit, or rotten fruit?
“Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will [p]know them by their fruits. [q]Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they? 17 So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 So then, you will [r]know them by their fruits. Matthew 7:15-20
The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree
I have a literal thorn in my side. It’s a 4 ft row of marionberries planted alongside my raspberry patch. The satanic vines of this demonic cultivar are so heavily beset with needle-like thorns that no garden glove stands a chance. If this wasn’t enough, the snakey vines multiply excessively and root themselves to the ground wherever they touch. Imagine my delight each year as I manically rip at the tangled mat of horrors. Year after year I race to trellis the creature before it takes the entire garden hostage!
In keeping with the gross attributes of the vines as a whole, the fruit is equally atrocious. The unpleasant tartness of this disappointing berry ripens almost overnight into an offensively mushy rottenness.
What did I expect? Evil plants produce rotten fruit. It makes sense! 🤣
The fruit of embryo adoption
In some forms of conception, rotten fruit is produced. Death or murder of human embryos deemed less desirable is sometimes a fruit of the process of IVF. Reform and regulation is needed. Although this is tragic, it has nothing to do with embryo donation or adoption. These embryos are already in existence (sometimes for 20+ years), and adoption is the only beautiful life-affirming option.
When I look at my adopted children (and nieces, PTL) I can’t help but think– what beautiful fruit. What perfect, precious fruit God created. The miracle of their existence is undeniable when you see their faces.
Embryo adoption is beautiful for the biological family who desperately wanted these little ones to have the chance they deserve.
It’s beautiful for people like us who wanted children so much.
In keeping with the tree of its spiritual origin, the fruit of embryo adoption is full of mercy. It is full of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and self-control.
A bad tree
You’re barking up the wrong tree if you choose to argue that embryo adoption is unethical. “Playing God” is a moot point. Would you suggest not “playing God” by terminating their lives instead?
The fruit on that tree is rotten. Toss the whole thing on the burn pile!
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