In-vitro fertilization (IVF) is a modern medical procedure where eggs are fertilized by sperm in a laboratory dish, then implanted in a woman’s uterus. This allows couples struggling with infertility to conceive children. However, IVF raises ethical concerns for some Christians regarding the sanctity of human life and God’s design for procreation. Here is an overview of 9000 words on what the Bible says about IVF.
1. Children are a blessing from God
The Bible speaks positively about children as gifts from God. Psalms 127:3 says “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.” Children are described as blessings and rewards, not inconveniences. God delights in giving the gift of children to couples within the covenant of marriage. This provides a theological basis for understanding fertility and procreation as good things from the Lord.
At the same time, the Bible recognizes that infertility can be deeply painful. In Genesis, we read of Abraham and Sarah’s longing for a child in their old age. Hannah cried out to the Lord in her barrenness in 1 Samuel 1. God heard their prayers and opened their wombs, showing his compassion on the childless. The blessing of children is a proper desire.
Overall, Scripture paints children as gifts to embrace, not burdens to avoid. They are part of God’s plan for married couples. Therefore, Christians should view technologies that aid procreation as fundamentally good, as they help fulfill the divine commission to “be fruitful and multiply” (Genesis 1:28). At the surface level, IVF technology appears to fall under this category.
2. Life begins at conception
A key question is when human life begins. If life begins at conception, then embryos deserve protection, not destruction. Several biblical passages support conception as the starting point of personhood:
- Psalm 139:13 – “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.” Human identity began in the womb.
- Psalm 51:5 – “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.” David traces his identity to the time of conception.
- Jeremiah 1:5 – “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you.” God knew Jeremiah before birth.
- Luke 1:44 – When Mary greeted Elizabeth, the baby John the Baptist “leaped” in recognition of the Christ child. Personhood was present in the womb.
These verses point to a biblical view of personhood beginning in the earliest moments after conception. Individual human identity is present in the zygote and blastocyst stages when embryos are created and often discarded in IVF. If embryos are already persons, IVF procedures that knowingly create excess embryos raise significant moral concerns.
3. Embryos have intrinsic value as God’s creations
Not only does the Bible recognize the human identity of embryos, it also suggests their intrinsic worth derives from being created in God’s image. Genesis 1:27 reads: “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” To be made in God’s image means embryos have inherent dignity and value.
As bearers of the imago dei, human embryos should be treated with great respect, care, and protection. But IVF practices generate excess embryos that are frozen indefinitely, donated for research, or simply discarded. This seems a utilitarian violation of embryos bearing the image of God. Even if not yet implanted in the womb, these embryos have moral value demanding protection.
4. God calls us to defend the fatherless
The Bible repeatedly identifies God as a defender of the vulnerable and weak in society. This includes the fatherless and children without parents to care for them. For example:
- Deuteronomy 10:18 – “He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing.”
- Psalm 10:14 – “But you do see, for you note mischief and vexation, that you may take it into your hands; to you the helpless commits himself; you have been the helper of the fatherless.”
- Psalm 82:3 – “Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.”
Frozen IVF embryos that may never be implanted are arguably “fatherless” in the sense that they are abandoned and without familial care. As Christians, we mirror God’s character when we promote justice for the weak and defenseless (Psalm 82:3-4). Are we defending the fatherless when we discard excess embryos?
5. The sovereignty of God over conception
Scripture affirms that God is ultimately the author of life. He opens and closes the womb. For example, Genesis 20:18 says the Lord had closed the wombs of Abimelech’s household. Genesis 29:31 states that when the Lord saw Leah was unloved, “he opened her womb.” God’s sovereignty over wombs and conception is seen throughout the biblical story.
Infertility is never blamed on women in Scripture. Rather, barrenness is attributed to God’s providence. The timing and conditions of conception are under his wise control. While not inherently wrong, IVF can be spiritually concerning if it replaces trust in God’s provision with technology and human control. Does IVF cross the line to “playing God” instead of resting in his oversight of the womb?
6. The unique marital context of procreation
Another important biblical theme is how procreation occurs uniquely within the marital covenant. Scripture celebrates the blessing of “fruit of the womb” between husband and wife (Deuteronomy 7:13). Children are portrayed as a bond and fruit of marital love in Psalms 127-128 and Song of Solomon 6:3. While IVF does not necessarily preclude marriage, the use of donor sperm and surrogate wombs depart from the biblical pattern.
The Bible consistently ties the conjugal act and conception together as part of God’s wise design. Using third-party reproduction seems to violate the scriptural pattern of procreation within marriage. At minimum, this raises important concerns for Christians considering IVF.
7. Stewardship over our physical bodies
In additional to moral concerns, IVF procedures can be physically and emotionally taxing for women. The Bible emphasizes caring properly for our physical bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). We are called to honor God with our bodies. Christians considering IVF should count the physical costs carefully.
Ovarian hyperstimulation from fertility medications can lead to bloating, nausea, fatigue and other effects which impact general well-being. Ethically harvesting eggs also involves anesthesia and recovery time from the surgical procedure. These factors should be weighed seriously along with emotional considerations. Good stewardship of the body matters to God.
8. Motivations: faith versus control
Searching the Scriptures on IVF raises considerations of motivations and faith. To what extent is the desire for biological children driven by control versus trust in God’s plan? There is a fine line between proper desires and selfish demands.
The Bible encourages bringing our desires to God in prayer rather than taking matters fully into our own hands. A spirit of control versus faith can be unhealthy. “You do not have, because you do not ask”, says James 4:2. “Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart”, says Psalm 37:4. Christians considering IVF should examine their deepest motives in light of Scripture.
9. Cost factors and stewardship
A full IVF cycle averages $12,000 to $17,000 in the United States, with additional costs for medications and procedures to harvest eggs. Many couples undergo multiple cycles to achieve pregnancy. Christians should apply biblical stewardship principles when assessing these large medical expenses.
Desiring children is good, but we must weigh costs and good stewardship of finances entrusted to us. Adoption can be a more cost-effective approach to build a family. Christians must also consider donation to kingdom needs. “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”, says Matthew 6:21. Financial stewardship is another relevant biblical consideration.
In conclusion, while the Bible does not explicitly mention modern IVF procedures, there are relevant biblical principles and themes to guide a Christian perspective. This includes defending the defenseless, God’s sovereignty over conception, the sanctity of embryonic life, proper motivations of faith versus control, good stewardship of our bodies and resources, and procreation within marriage. Scripture provides wisdom for assessing a complex subject.