Pre-Birth Issues
Lutherans for Life seeks to educate and equip Lutherans in Australia and NZ with resources that enable them to defend the dignity of every human life from conception until natural death; and foster community responsibility for the defence of God's gift of human life.
Why do pre-birth ethics matter?
All creation is wondrous. From the vast grandeur of galaxies and solar systems to the beauty of the Coral Reef or Uluru, creation speaks of the one who creates. The Psalmists often sing praises to God for his incredible workmanship in creation: 'The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands' (Psalm 19:1).
And then there is the miracle of life, including the human race. We often wonder when we consider God’s heavens how humans fit into the scheme of things (Psalm 8:3–4). Our lives can seem to pale into insignificance when compared to the expansive universe and can seem trivial when we are chomping on a packet of Twisties watching TV.
But God says we humans are made a little lower than the angels, are crowned with glory and majesty and are made to rule over all creation (Psalm 8:5).
Miracle of life
All creation is wondrous. From the vast grandeur of galaxies and solar systems to the beauty of the Coral Reef or Uluru, creation speaks of the one who creates. The Psalmists often sing praises to God for his incredible workmanship in creation: 'The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands' (Psalm 19:1).
And then there is the miracle of life, including the human race. We often wonder when we consider God’s heavens how humans fit into the scheme of things (Psalm 8:3–4). Our lives can seem to pale into insignificance when compared to the expansive universe and can seem trivial when we are chomping on a packet of Twisties watching TV.
But God says we humans are made a little lower than the angels, are crowned with glory and majesty and are made to rule over all creation (Psalm 8:5).
Miscarriage and stillbirth
The loss of a child is every parent’s worst nightmare. No matter how small, the child they lost was their child. Love doesn’t discriminate as to size.
We may search for explanations, but we can’t always understand why tragedy strikes. Why, Lord, why?
What we do know is that Jesus understands what it is to suffer. And he suffers with those who suffer. He, too, was a man of many sorrows. He shares their grief. He shares our grief.
In our despair, Jesus invites us to cling to him. Totally, desperately, with abandon. He says: 'Come to me all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest' (Matthew 11:28). He is our refuge and hiding place; only in him will we find peace for our souls.
Abortion
Human life is a gift from God. God is the creator and artist behind all creation, and humans, made in God’s image, have a special part in His created beauty (Psalm 8:3–4). Even at microscopic size, after conception, human life is considered valuable. The Bible gives us a glimpse at the miracle that God fashions. Hidden in the womb, each precious human is knitted together and, while still in secret, is known fully by God (Psalm 139:13–16). Children are considered gifts (Psalm 127:3); gifts that we are encouraged to receive with joy and love.
The Bible also teaches us that to take the life of another human is wrong (Exodus 20:13; Matthew 19:18). Jesus tells us that He has come so that all may have life; life to the full (John 10:10). As Christians, we learn that it is not for us to take away life, but to accept all life as a gift from God.
Contraception and family planning
How might Christians approach the question of contraception and family planning? This may seem like a strange question, especially in today’s day and age where contraception is widespread and often assumed to be a normal part of married life.
Scripture affirms time and time again that children are a blessing and a gift from the Lord (Psalm 127:3–5; Proverbs 17:6). God also reveals children to be part of his vision for married life when he invites Adam and Eve, who had become 'one flesh' (Genesis 2:24), to 'be fruitful and multiply' (Genesis 1:28).
Yet, marital sex is not just about having children, nor does every act of sexual intercourse bring about new life. (Did you know a woman is not fertile every day of her cycle, but only on days around the time she is ovulating?). Marital sex is also an expression of love and unity (Ephesians 5:25) and helps both husband and wife to avoid sexual immorality (1 Corinthians 7:2). These purposes are not in competition with each other but work together.
Infertility and fertility treatments
The desire for a child is a powerful emotion and, when unfulfilled, can be a huge source of grief. Some of the men and women of the Old Testament experienced this. When Rachel bore no children she cried to her husband, Jacob, saying: 'Give me children, or else I’ll die' (Genesis 30:1). Jacob’s response is equally moving: 'Am I in the place of God, who has kept you from having children?' (Genesis 30:2).
While it can be tempting to let grief over infertility or childlessness overwhelm us, it is important to keep in mind that children are not 'rights' but 'gifts'. Scripture tells us that children are a blessing (Psalm 127) and that all life comes from God and is under his control (1 Samuel 2:6). Indeed, our very lives are in his hands (Jeremiah 29:11) even before we were formed (Jeremiah 1:5).
Genetics and pre-natal testing
The thought of having a child with a disability or disease can be incredibly distressing. Will our child have a good quality of life? How will we cope? This was not a part of our plan!
Advances in medical technology have given scientists and doctors an increased ability to predict whether a child is likely to be born with a disability or disease.
During pregnancy, women are routinely offered blood tests and ultrasounds to determine the likelihood of a child being born with chromosomal abnormalities such as Down’s Syndrome. An overwhelming majority of unborn children diagnosed with such abnormalities are aborted. This is the case even though diagnoses are by no means perfect.
In-vitro fertilisation (IVF) clinics also offer a service called pre-implantation genetic diagnosis which involves testing embryos in vitro for genetic disorders, discarding those that carry a defective gene, and setting aside 'healthy' embryos for possible future transfer into the mother’s uterus.
Stem cell research
It is an uncontroversial scientific fact that human life begins at conception ie when a sperm fertilises an egg. At that point, a unique genetic entity comes into existence. It may not look human, but it most certainly is. A human embryo cannot develop into an ape or a chicken. In fact, each of us can date our existence back to the moment of conception. At that moment, God 'breathed' life into us (Genesis 2:7).
How then might Christians view research on human embryos? This practice is commonplace in Australia and is largely made possible given the 'excess' embryos that result from the in-vitro fertilisation (IVF). Not all embryos created during IVF are implanted into a woman’s uterus. If the biological parents of the embryo give consent, their embryos may be donated for research purposes.
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