What is your opinion of embryo and egg donations as an option for infertile couples?

Good question. I think that the introduction of third parties through sperm or egg donation, or through surrogate motherhood is inconsistent with the biblical pattern of continuity between procreation and parenthood. Here is the point: if in vitro fertilization is actually used, the sperm and the egg should come from the husband and the wife that are committed to raising the child.

If you look at the Bible you see the potentially disastrous consequence of third party involvement. (For example, the account of Sarai having Abram sire a child through the maidservant Hagar in Genesis 16.) That is a very significant point.

I think another significant point would be that if in vitro fertilization is used no more eggs should be fertilized than the couple is willing to give a reasonable chance at full term life. The reason is that from a Christian perspective when a woman conceives, she’s not conceiving merely a body, she’s conceiving a body-soul unity, that’s what it means to be human. Therefore, if you extinguish the life of a fertilized human egg, then you are extinguishing the life of a human being. That is the equivalent of an abortion. I think that is a major moral concern.

One other thing that comes to mind is the fertilization of an egg in a glass dish can in some cases lead to viewing children as products rather than gifts from God. You have heard about the whole issue of designer babies being in the offing’s so that people can get exactly what kind of product they want. I think all of that leads to significant moral concerns.

—Hank Hanegraaff

For further related study, please access the following equip.org resources:

Should Christians use in vitro Fertilization? (Hank Hanegraaff)

Brave New Families? The Ethics of the New Reproductive Technologies (Scott B. Rae)

Compassionate Adoption for the Most Helpless (Richard Poupard)

Snowflake #94 (Hank Hanegraaff)

An Introduction to Biblical Ethics: Walking in the Way of Wisdom (IVP) by Robertson McQuilkin and Paul Copan

How to be a Christian in a Brave New World (Zondervan) by Joni Eareckson Tada and Nigel Cameron

Blog adapted from “What does the Bible say about In vitro fertilization?”