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Science without Limits:
Reinventing Parenthood

Recently, two University of Pennsylvania researchers announced findings
that, in the words of the WASHINGTON POST, "could blur the biological
line between fathers and mothers."

Writing in the online journal SCIENCE, Hans Schoeler and Karin Huebner
described how they turned ordinary mouse embryonic stem cells into eggs
capable of being fertilized.

What's more, the stem cells they used were from males. Thus, if the
technique used by the two researchers is applicable to humans, it could
be possible for a gay couple to have children "with one man
contributing sperm and the other fresh eggs bearing his own genes."

That raises a new question: Should the man who contributed the cells
for the egg be recognized as the child's "mother"? If not, what is he?

Scientists are abuzz. John Eppig, a mouse geneticist, told the
WASHINGTON POST that "the mind boggles with potential wild applications
of this stuff." Lee Silver, molecular biologist and bioethicist at
Princeton, told the POST that the results "[break] down all the classic
barriers in terms of sexual reproduction, with none of the problems of
cloning."

But others were less enthusiastic. Douglas Johnson of National Right to
Life, for one, called the results a potential big step toward opening
"human embryo farms."

Johnson is right. But the even bigger threat comes from the hubris of
researchers who feel free to "blur the biological lines between mothers
and fathers." Even the risk of fundamentally changing what it means to
be human doesn't seem to deter them.

It should, for even dyed-in-the-wool Darwinists would agree that sexual
reproduction involving fathers and mothers must serve some important
purpose. They would recognize that the only animal species without
distinct roles for the sexes in reproduction are lower species like
amoebas and paramecium.

Darwinists like Stephen Pinker of MIT would affirm that the differences
between male and female go beyond their roles in reproduction. They are
different in many ways -- physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Christians, of course, affirm all of this and more. The respective
roles and contributions of both sexes are what Genesis is referring to
when it says "male and female He created them." The history and destiny
of life is inextricably tied up in that phrase. It is sheer madness to
tamper with the distinction.

Christians shouldn't let anyone say that these concerns make us
"Luddites" who fear technology. Bill McKibben, a science writer whom no
one would call a Luddite, shares the same concerns. In his book,
ENOUGH: STAYING HUMAN IN AN ENGINEERED AGE, he writes that the
questions posed by biotechnology threaten to alter what it means to be
human and are too important to be left to scientists. He asks, "Must we
forever grow in reach and power . . . Or can we, should we, ever say,
'Enough'?"

Exactly -- which is why BreakPoint keeps focusing on bioethics, which
raises the most profound moral questions. Christians ought to sound the
alarm now, before science without limits blurs lines that were meant to
be distinct and achieves what C. S. Lewis called the "abolition of
man."






"BreakPoint with Chuck Colson" is a daily commentary
on news and trends from a Christian perspective.
Heard on more than 1000 radio outlets nationwide,
BreakPoint transcripts are also available on the Internet.

BreakPoint is a production of The Wilberforce Forum,
a division of Prison Fellowship Ministries.

Chairman: Charles W. Colson
Dean: Nigel M. de S. Cameron, Ph.D.
Managing Editor: Jim Tonkowich, D.Min.
Senior Writer: Anne Morse
Associate Editor: Roberto Rivera
Associate Producer: Teresa Woodward
Wilberforce New Media Editor: Gina Dalfonzo
List Maintainer: Larry Wilson


As you read the Scriptures with your family, I hope
you'll have a new appreciation for who the "Word made
flesh" really is: He's the Creator who existed before time.
He's the Logos Who made heaven and earth, and Who
steers the stars in their courses. He is the Truth that is
ultimate reality. He is the 'Babe of Bethlehem & the
'Word' of John 1. If you know of others who would
enjoy receiving BreakPoint in their E-mail box each
day, tell them they can sign up 1-800-457-6125.
 

He was last seen in the cockpit of his F/A-18 fighter jet. Scott Speicher's
plane never made it back from its combat mission in the Persian Gulf War.
For years, Scott Speicher was presumed dead. But as more facts became
available about the details of the incident that brought down his plane,
there began to be more and more doubt about that verdict. Finally, the
Pentagon revised the fallen pilot's status to "missing in action." Through
it all, his family has been doing all they can - and trying to get officials
to do all they can - to see if Scott is still alive as a prisoner in Iraq. I
saw one family member interviewed on television. In urging an all-out effort
on Scott's behalf, this family member said, "Scott was a strong believer in
the doctrine of 'leave no one behind.'"

I know someone who's a strong believer in the doctrine of "leave no
one behind." He is, in fact, the strongest believer of all. Jesus can't
stand for even one person to be left behind spiritually. In the words of 2
Peter 3:9, He is "not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to
repentance." Including you. Including someone you may have almost given up
on. Including that person everyone has written off or rejected.

Here's the rescuing heart of Jesus - it's in Matthew 18:12-14, our
word for today from the Word of God. Jesus said, "If a man owns a hundred
sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on
the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it,
I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the
ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way, your Father in heaven
is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost."

Sadly, those of us who were rescued by this seeking Shepherd seem
all too content to just keep on fellowshipping with the already-rescued,
seldom making an effort to go after those who are still lost. We can't
imagine living one day without Christ. They've never had one day with
Christ. We can't just keep focusing on those who are already in! Someone has
wisely said, "The Church is the only organization in the world that exists
primarily for those who are not yet in it." How can the followers of the
ever-seeking Jesus just settle into our little Jesus-club, sing our club
songs, go to our club meetings, pay our club dues, and forget about the
people who have no hope, no heaven unless someone tells them about Jesus.
They are Jesus' top priority. Are they ours?

It's easy to forget those who are lost or who have wandered away.
It's easy to ignore them, condemn them, give up on them unless we're
following Jesus - because I know where He's going - to seek and to save the
lost. If you're really following Jesus, you'll inevitably end up in a sea of
lost people - because He will leave the 99 found just for one of them. Go
with Him to find them. Go with Him to bring them back. We cannot leave them
behind.

And maybe you're the one who's away from God. You're not sure He
would even have you. But the good news is, He went all the way to a cross to
pay the price to get you back. And now He's come right to where you are
today. You may be listening to my voice on the radio, but that's His voice
in your heart - tugging you to give yourself to Him. If you can sense Jesus
moving in your heart, inviting you to belong to Him, you may never be this
close to Him again. Open your heart to Him. And I hope you'll let me send
you my booklet, "Yours For Life." It's all about beginning your personal
relationship with Jesus. Just let me know you want it.

Jesus doesn't want to leave anyone behind. Including you. He's come
to rescue you - at the cost of His own life. Grab Him - while He's close -
while you can.