“To assert that “an embryo is not a potential human life—it is a human life with potential” is comparable to asserting that an acorn is an oak tree or that an egg is a chicken. This assertion makes the already difficult conversations about embryos virtually impossible and loads unwarranted guilt on those who lovingly make informed choices that result in the destruction of defective or healthy embryos.”
—George Vander Weit Rochester, Mich.
George, it just this simple. We don’t know when life begins. We don’t know. Now, since we don’t know, we are, by necessity, in a position where we need to err on the side of being conservative. If we err with acorns, chicken eggs, or tulip bulbs, nobody is going to lose any sleep. However, if we err with nascent human beings and are destructive with those that God does count as human life, well then that is another story all together. Ignorance on this vital and important of a matter should be very patient in awaiting for enlightenment. Fools, however rush in where ignorant but wise people fear to tread.
I do agree however that caution does make the already difficult conversation about embryos virtually impossible. It makes it virtually impossible because it challenges the presuppositions of ignorance that are masquerading as knowledge. It makes it difficult because suddenly we now are in the position of having to consider the possibility that those conceived people already are stamped with the Imago Dei. If we consider that it is possible that conceived people already have the Imago Dei stamped on them suddenly we are no longer in a position to harvest them for vaccines, or skin cream, or replacement parts for when we get old and decrepit.
You say that you fear that people are going to be loaded with unwarranted guilt. But, again, George, you don’t know absolutely if that guilt is unwarranted. This is a presumption on your part. It may be the case that the guilt is quite warranted. Since we don’t know when life begins I think it is unwarranted of you to suggest that guilt in the destruction of healthy or defective embryos is unwarranted.
One of the mottoes for Doctors has been for centuries, “First, do no harm.” I think George, that motto might serve us pretty well on this issue. Since we don’t know when life begins, we should “First, do no harm.”
All human beings sometimes make mistakes, but when doctors make mistakes, it can cost people’s lives. Especially sad when babies are dying.
“Thine hands have made me and fashioned me together round about; yet thou dost destroy me. Remember, I beseech thee, that thou hast made me as the clay;
and wilt thou bring me into dust again? Hast thou not poured me out as milk, and curdled me like cheese? (Job 10:8-10)
“And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins;” – Gen. 35:11 (Also 46:26 and Ex. 1:5)
Poetic language perhaps, but then again God was none too happy when Onan let what came “out of thy loins” spill to the ground.
Bret,
Does Ps 51:5 speak to this? At conception?
“Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.”
Jerry,
I perfectly agree with that but I am trying to make the argument according to standards that George’s own position require. George is never going to admit that Ps. 51:5 means what it says but he can’t escape the reality that there is no way that he can say that he knows when life begins. Hence, since George is ignorant on the matter of when life begins, George should err on the side of caution.
Unless of course, George isn’t really concerned about when life begins but just wants what he wants.
And I’m hoping that would be an embarrassment to his position that most decent people would be appalled by.
George has a track record of dismissing what others believe are tight biblical arguments in favor of his own “tight biblical arguments” and so I thought I would go another route.
I see
Thanks
My wife and I were discussing a friend who is a member of a church that merged with a UCC local church under UCC oversight.
This friend is a very nice man but I told my wife that to be a member there he was probably very liberal. Little did I know how liberal the UCC is. From their website:
I found Mr Vander Weit’s comment on the Banner.
It seems to me that the only way around the issue of Pr 8:36 “All those who hate me love death.” and abortion for those who say they are believers is to claim that a fetus is not a human being.
Having seen Mr Vander Weit’s comment in context I understand perfectly where you are coming from.
Thanks for your vigilance and action brother
And here is the kicker Jerry …
Mr. VanderWeit is Rev. VanderWeit and has been instrumental for decades in moving the CRC in a liberal direction. I think he is retired now but still pushing his agenda.