Reflections from the Heart

So once again, President George Bush is choosing the side of "Life" on a crucial issue and debate facing our country…or is he?

Congress just passed a bill providing federal funding to stem-cell research - research that could lead to cures for millions of Alzheimer's, Multiple Sclerosis, and other brain or neurological disease suffers. It is a bill that could mean hope and life to millions where only darkness and death now reside.

But, consistent to his campaign promises, President Bush stands to veto this very important bill on the basis of Sanctity of Life. The question before us is whose life is being sanctified - certainly not those suffering from the ravages of neurological disease. Apparently, their lives are meaningless as compared to the potential life of discarded embryos.

Scientific research, seen by most as a blessing from God, has made amazing strides in our history to improve life. As compared to the life facing humanity during the dark ages before science broke through with medical cures and advances, we live in a very blessed time - a time where good health is almost assured for all.

One scientific breakthrough that has blessed millions of people is in-vitro fertilization. Life has been created where no hope for life had previously existed. People have been blessed with families when childlessness was seemingly their unfortunate fate. God has reached into their lives through scientific research and has provided them with a miracle - the miracle of life.

In this process of life-making, extra embryos have been created. Just like fruit on a tree or vine, spares have been made to insure that some fruit will grow and thrive. Once the fruit is thriving, then fruit-fall occurs. This is a time in early growth where many if not half of the fruit that had set on the vine will fall to the ground, making room for the remaining fruit to grow and thrive.

These embryos from the in-vitro fertilization process have served their purpose and now are falling to the wayside. Not unlike billions of their half-cell cousins, the sperm and egg, their destiny is to be flushed, discarded, and unused. Their existence is completely consistent with the way God has created life - many are created in order that a few will survive.

But unlike the fallen fruit from the vine, through science, the discarded embryos still have a promise of life to fulfill - life to those who suffer from potentially curable diseases. It is the life of Alzheimer and MS patients we should be sanctifying not the life of a discarded piece of fruit.

But where is the Biblical proof or support of this stance?

Jesus was about to send His disciples out into the world and stood before them giving them last minutes instructions on ministry. "As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.' 8Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give." (Matt: 10:7-8) His instructions to them are the basics to the ministry that we are all called to pursue as Christians in a modern world - preach the gospel and heal the sick of all disease.

When these instructions are combined with the second of the two great commandments - "And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself. 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." (Matt. 22:39-40) - we can clearly see that our responsibilities, our ministry efforts, and our focus on the sanctity of life belongs with our neighbors - not with some discarded fruit lying on the ground.