Dear Sir,
Although I can understand that an apparent dismissal of IVF could cause heartache to couples trying to have a baby (June en, letters July en), the wider point must not be lost.
Having been told that a child was most unlikely to be ours naturally, we examined IVF. Although IVF can be done ethically – with no miniature people discarded or destroyed – we came to a few conclusions. Having a child is not a God-given right or biblical promise to us which should be sought using any method found by medicine. And IVF etc has opened the door to children being seen as a commodity, and also to research which is repugnant to the thinking Christian. As an aside, how much heartache will be caused in the future when children of donated sperm or eggs discover they can’t have children, or marry, as they are related?
We also didn’t want to look back on one decade of our lives (having seen our 20s zip by in a flash) and wonder where had it gone, and had we really spent as much of our time as possible serving God in extending his kingdom? Or had we spent it in an endless round of hospital appointments, injections, disappointments, and a focus on ourselves and God’s failure to give us something we were trying to demand rather than thank God for the huge amount of blessing we’d already had by having each other. And (don’t be too shocked) the freedom to have worry-free intimacy as a couple as we were not trying to avoid becoming pregnant which plagues many a young couple’s early years of marriage!
God is compassionate even when people can’t have children. I am thankful for thought-provoking articles, and I would hope that we all examine everything that is on offer to us with an eye to how it helps us grow as Christians, serve our great God, and bring us the peace that we can have regardless of our life’s circumstances.
My heart goes out to every couple trying to conceive. Embrace what God has given to you and just love him more.
Yours sincerely,
