"Nothing is out of bounds unless it is out of Christ."
Susan Storm Smith
By now you know that there are all kinds of subjects on www.Mudsplats.blogspot.com and nothing is out of bounds, unless is is out of Christ. So the subject today is one that has been around for quite a while and to which my family has been at odds over--embryonic stem cell research.
My eldest brother became quite ill later in life and extremely overweight. His top weight was close to 500 pounds on a 6 foot 3 inch frame. To this day I'm not sure if his weight helped cause some of the health problems, or if his health problems added to his weight; either way, his kidneys took a beating and finally decided to shut down. Dialysis three times a week became a way of life for him. His weight came down dramatically.
In his last few years we had heart-to-heart discussions about the use of embryonic stem cell research. I have always been opposed to it. Quite clearly, including statements from the medical community, it is the destruction of a viable embryo which would could become a mature fetus and child. On the other hand, I understand people who are at death's door and their desire to remain alive. It is a hard but not impossible debate.
My brother asked me point blank if I would rather have him die than to have an embryo destroyed? My answer came without hesitation, I would not destroy any embryo for the survival of a person. To many that may sound hard and beyond comprehension.
The reasons I cited to him were clear and simple. I love my brother with all my heart and would sorely miss him, his laugh, guidance, and friendship. If my kidneys would have been a good match, I would not hesitate to give him one of mine, but they were not.
The Bible says, "Greater love has no one than this, that he lays down his life for his friends." John 15:13 NIV Weeping I reminded my dear friend and brother, an embryo has no choice to lay down its tiny but precious life to another. It is robbed, killed, and then destroyed for the sake of someone else, including the research that goes into the process.
Biblically the devil is described as the enemy who comes to kill, rob, and to destroy life. That is exactly what stem cell research does. So no, I will not condone it nor support it in any way that I can have control over.
My last words to him in this life were, "With much love, I shall truly miss you and appreciate the life we have shared together." We never had an opportunity to speak with each other again. He sat in his favorite chair one night, with his blanket covering him, nodded his head and passed on to another life.
Letting go is never easy, no matter what the circumstances. In the case of my brother who was dying without a kidney transplant and on a waiting list, who left the biblical belief of abortion while trying to stay alive, I grieved. But it is no different than the millions of people who die each year from cancer, diabetes, and other horrible life altering diseases. Families miss them and have memories.
Embryonic Stem cell destruction is abortion. It is murder. It is a sin against God and there will be a price to pay for it. It is surely out of bounds in Christ. Our nation has now changed the law that says we will not support this horrific act into we will and now we have. The FDA has approved the trials of embryonic stem cell research on humans.
The resolution to this type of research is underscored by the knowledge, proof and documentation that umbilical cord and adult cells work for regenerating cells--but we as a nation have now gone the road and next steps to make sure we continue the use of abortion so others might live.
This is truly out of bounds in Christ!
My eldest brother became quite ill later in life and extremely overweight. His top weight was close to 500 pounds on a 6 foot 3 inch frame. To this day I'm not sure if his weight helped cause some of the health problems, or if his health problems added to his weight; either way, his kidneys took a beating and finally decided to shut down. Dialysis three times a week became a way of life for him. His weight came down dramatically.
In his last few years we had heart-to-heart discussions about the use of embryonic stem cell research. I have always been opposed to it. Quite clearly, including statements from the medical community, it is the destruction of a viable embryo which would could become a mature fetus and child. On the other hand, I understand people who are at death's door and their desire to remain alive. It is a hard but not impossible debate.
My brother asked me point blank if I would rather have him die than to have an embryo destroyed? My answer came without hesitation, I would not destroy any embryo for the survival of a person. To many that may sound hard and beyond comprehension.
The reasons I cited to him were clear and simple. I love my brother with all my heart and would sorely miss him, his laugh, guidance, and friendship. If my kidneys would have been a good match, I would not hesitate to give him one of mine, but they were not.
The Bible says, "Greater love has no one than this, that he lays down his life for his friends." John 15:13 NIV Weeping I reminded my dear friend and brother, an embryo has no choice to lay down its tiny but precious life to another. It is robbed, killed, and then destroyed for the sake of someone else, including the research that goes into the process.
Biblically the devil is described as the enemy who comes to kill, rob, and to destroy life. That is exactly what stem cell research does. So no, I will not condone it nor support it in any way that I can have control over.
My last words to him in this life were, "With much love, I shall truly miss you and appreciate the life we have shared together." We never had an opportunity to speak with each other again. He sat in his favorite chair one night, with his blanket covering him, nodded his head and passed on to another life.
Letting go is never easy, no matter what the circumstances. In the case of my brother who was dying without a kidney transplant and on a waiting list, who left the biblical belief of abortion while trying to stay alive, I grieved. But it is no different than the millions of people who die each year from cancer, diabetes, and other horrible life altering diseases. Families miss them and have memories.
Embryonic Stem cell destruction is abortion. It is murder. It is a sin against God and there will be a price to pay for it. It is surely out of bounds in Christ. Our nation has now changed the law that says we will not support this horrific act into we will and now we have. The FDA has approved the trials of embryonic stem cell research on humans.
The resolution to this type of research is underscored by the knowledge, proof and documentation that umbilical cord and adult cells work for regenerating cells--but we as a nation have now gone the road and next steps to make sure we continue the use of abortion so others might live.
This is truly out of bounds in Christ!
Posts
1 comment:
Wow---what a moving post. I don't know what to say but I am so glad you are a woman of convictions despite the difficutly of the sitation.
Post a Comment