When I was 11 years old my father had a stroke. At the time I was playing Little League football in the park across the street from my home. My father would always lend a hand with the team when he could. One day after practice, he was on his way home. In order to get to our house you had to cross a ditch. I found out later that when my father went down into the ditch he became very weak. He said later that he prayed for God to let him at least make it home so as not to pass out in the ditch. Not long afterwards he was admitted to the hospital where he had his stroke. Thankfully, he was close to medical attention which, no doubt, saved his life. It has been said by doctors who attended to him that they had never seen a person survive such as massive stroke as the one my father suffered. To this day he still doesn't have full use of the left side of his body. For the longest time after his stroke I remember praying to God for my father to regain the full use of his body.
When I was in my early twenties I was dating a young lady. Unfortunately, like most twenty-somethings, we were engaged in sexual activity. There came a time, due to carelessness on the part of both of us, that I thought I had gotten her pregnant. From the time I thought I had gotten her pregnant until the day she told me she wasn't, were some of the most stressful times of my life. To make a long story short, I did not want to become a father. Looking back on the situation, I can admit that my motivations were selfish. I wanted to continue on with my life the way it was and did not want to face the consequences of my actions. What would I have wanted to do if she had become pregnant? Would I have pressured her to have an abortion? If she wanted to have our child would I have married her out of guilt even though I wasn't in love with her? I really don't know. All I know is that I didn't want to have to be faced with that dilemma.
You may be asking yourself what does my fathers stroke and my past sexual immorality have to do with each other? Believe it or not they both are related to the debate over stem cell research, embryonic stem cell research to be exact. Recently, President Barack Obama lifted the so-called ban on embryonic stem cell research. Actually, the research wasn't banned, but the use of taxpayer money to research it was prohibited under President George W. Bush. This has caused an uproar because many people, myself included, believe that the use of embryonic stem cells is directly related to pro-life issues because it involves the killing of an innocent human being. According to Georgia Purdham, Ph.D., in an article entitled "Stem Cells: Does Their Origin Matter?":
"Harvesting ESCs (Embryonic Stem Cells) kills the embryo, but harvesting adult stem cells does not kill or harm the adult. Many involved with the research of embryonic stem cells do not believe a new person begins at conception or don’t care. Embryonic stem cells are viewed as property, not people. However, the Bible clearly indicates that life does begin at conception (Psalm 51:5, 139:13–15; Jeremiah 1:5)...Therefore, harvesting ESCs violates God’s commandment not to murder."
At the time of my father's stroke, and when I thought my girlfriend was pregnant, I was not a Christian. While I was a cultural Christian, one who went to church and, thus, called myself a Christian, I had not accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior. Therefore, while understandable, my desire to have my father healed and my girlfriend not to have become pregnant were motivated by my flesh. In the case of my father, I could see how easily one could see no problem in using stem cells from embryos to help find a cure that would enable him to have full use of his body. In the case of me not wanting to have a baby, I would have agreed with the words of current President Barack Obama. Asked if either one of his daughters were to be faced with an unwanted pregnancy he said he would not want them to be "punished" with a baby. So, I guess he considers becoming a grandparent punishment. Barack Obama also claims to be a Christian. I have my doubts. The bottom line in all of this talk about embryonic stem research is that it reveals the depths mankind will sink in order to extend life or increase the quality of it. I guess taking the life of innocent unborn children is okay if one can use their entire body again or if I can prevent myself and my girlfriend from being "punished" by our actions.
In the picture above, it is clear that life begins at conception. While that life may not "look" like a human, it is definitely human. We all, at one point in our development, were embryos. Thank God we weren't harvested in an attempt to cure disease and sickness. Even more, embryonic stem cell research has yet to yield even one potential cure for anything. Adult stem cells, on the other hand, have yielded over 70 potential cures and uses. Many proponents of embryonic stem cell research will claim that it must be done in order to save lives. However, saving lives is the exact reason it should not be done. The real lives at stake are the millions of unborn children who have not and will not be allowed to survive their first month of development. I would love nothing more than to see my father "whole" again, but not if it means destroying life. If my girlfriend would have been pregnant, our child would be a teenager today. Thankfully, we didn't have to make that choice. I shutter to think what decision would have been made. In conclusion, I will let the words of Dr. Purdham speak for me:
"Although everyone wants to see such devastating diseases come to an end, we all must realize our work will only lead to a temporary alleviation. Jesus Christ, the true conqueror of disease and death, will create a new heaven and a new earth where the effects of sin have been removed. That is the cure we eagerly await."
"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." Psalm 139:13-16
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