Why Should Christians Care About the Stem Cell Debate?

From Faith Science;

Therapeutic cloning, also known as embryo cloning, probably has the broadest impact on society of the three cloning technologies in question. It’s the foundation of stem cell research and continues to stir passionate discussions worldwide. The Human Genome Project calls it “the production of human embryos for use in research.”

Fierce critics call it farming human embryos for body parts to help other humans who need them. After a human embryo has divided for five days into what is called a blastocyst, stem cells are extracted for research, killing the embryo. Stem cells are valuable because they are not specialized and can divide and renew themselves for extended periods before giving rise to specialized cell types.

What Does the Bible Say about Therapeutic Cloning?

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in
your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.
Psalm 139:13–16 nlt

The Lord gave me this message: “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”
Jeremiah 1:4–5 nlt

But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John. You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth.
Luke 1:13–15 nlt

At conception, your embryo was formed and earthly life began. As your stem cells replicated themselves, these newly formed cells became specialized in different areas to create your body. The Bible does not give a cut-off stage in the cell division process at which your “real” life began. God had his eyes on you before you were born.

He monitored the process of cell division as you developed from an embryo. Ethically, we cannot value the life of a thirty-year-old more than that of a three-year-old because of age, size, or development.

In the same way, we cannot say a human five days after conception is less valuable than one who is five days away from birth. After birth, I can’t kill you and take your heart because I need one. From the Bible’s perspective, it’s no better if I decided to take you out of your mother’s womb and kill you so that I could use your stem cells to grow heart cells.

There really isn’t much to discuss when it comes to embryo cloning for a Christian who believes the Bible. Every human life is valuable, and we can’t grow human eggs to use in experiments like chicken eggs to use for breakfast. Notwithstanding, vegans might disagree with me about the chicken eggs, but this is the Christian position. Fortunately, that’s not the end of the story.



All stem cell research is not morally repugnant. The NIH Stem Cell Basics states, “Until recently, scientists primarily worked with two kinds of stem cells from animals and humans: embryonic stem cells and non-embryonic “somatic” or “adult” stem cells.” (Stem Cell Information, The National Institutes of Health resource for stem cell research, stemcells.nih.gov)

Adult stem cells are undifferentiated cells found among differentiated cells in a tissue or organ. Undifferentiated cells have not yet developed into a specialized cell type. These stem cells acquire the features of the specialized cells (heart, liver, muscle, etc.) around which they abide to replace what is lost whenever there is tissue damage. This describes part of the process of natural healing that takes place in living organisms.

If these cells can be harvested, doctors can treat patients with their own adult stem cells to induce the natural process of healing. Scientists are also searching for ways to cause trans-differentiation. That way, if an organ is too damaged to source adult stem cells, scientists can genetically modify cells from one body part to use in treating another. If this process is successful, the problem of tissue rejection will be history since the source tissue cells and recipient cells can come from the same person.

For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Mark 8:36–37 kjv

In sum, from a biblical perspective, therapeutic cloning using human embryos is out of the question. We can’t grow people, kill them, then use their parts to help other people. On the other hand, as I explained earlier in this chapter, I see nothing wrong with the use of non-embryonic “somatic” or “adult” stem cells. The stem cell debate is important and Christians should care!

The Faith Science Experience 3 - Stem Cells and Cloning

When: Sat, April 30, 2pm – 4pm

Where: AMLI at Milton Park, 26000 Mill Creek Ave, Alpharetta GA 30022 (map)

Description: Join Donnell Duncan for next month's "Chapter Study" from his newest book, Faith Science. These sessions are open to the community and provide an open forum for discussion, discovery, and debates arising from the inevitable collision between modern scientific developments and timeless biblical truth!

For More Info Visit; http://www.meetup.com/The-Faith-Science-Experience