Issues: Infertility

Christians and Infertility

Christians believe that God wants us to have children. The first command God gave humans in The Bible, Genesis chapter 1 verse 28 was 'Go forth and multiply.' Christians also believe that God gives and takes away lives. In Deuteronomy chapter 32 verse 39 it says 'There is no God besides me: I kill and I make alive.' In the Bible, there are several accounts of infertile women where God has understood their desperation and has made them conceive, for example Hannah in the Old Testament (1 Samuel chapter 1 verses 1 - 20) and Elizabeth in the New Testament (Luke chapter 1 verses 5 - 25).

All Christians recognise that childlessness makes people unhappy but there is disagreement as to what types of treatment are morally acceptable for Christians.

Some Christians believe that overcoming infertility should always be encouraged as it brings happiness to those who otherwise wouldn't have a child. These Christians point out that all life comes from God and therefore creating new life in the form of babies conceived from infertility treatment has to be good and what God would want.

They also point out that using infertility treatments is enabling people to follow God's command to 'Be fruitful and multiply' in Genesis chapter 1 verse 28.

Christians can also point to the Golden Rule in Matthew chapter 7 verses 12. This says 'Do unto others as you would have them do to you.' If faced with infertility, most people would want to have treatment to overcome the infertility. Therefore, you should not deny to others what you would want. These Christians say that it is often the most loving thing to allow infertile couples to use technology to conceive a child.

Other Christians believe that only God should have the right to choose who has babies. Sometimes God wants people to be childless. These Christians are concerned that conceiving children without sex is unnatural and against what God has intended. These Christians believe that using infertility treatments to conceive is 'playing God' - trying to do a job that only God should do.

Most Christians would put themselves between these two extremes. They look at what is involved and make a decision on whether it is acceptable on what is being done in each procedure.