Posted on 03/09/2009 7:55:16 PM PDT by GodGunsGuts
Preserving life—it is extremely important in the Christian faith. But what is the biblical definition of life, and how does this definition affect stem cell research?
God clearly commands in Exodus 20:13: “You shall not murder [the intentional, predatory killing of another]” (NIV; see also Matthew 19:18; Romans 13:9). A big controversy today is that of determining when life begins. In the field of embryonic stem cell research (ESCR), this determination is especially crucial. Because technology is advancing faster than society’s ethics, we are left to solve such dilemmas in the midst of active research. Determining the ethics in these issues is especially difficult when the research promises to cure diseases that leave millions disabled or dying every year. However, the Bible clearly prohibits evil means to accomplish good ends (Romans 3:8). To develop a biblical worldview of ESCR, we first must sort fact from fiction.
A “stem cell” is an unspecialized cell with the capacity to change into many different cell types, such as blood, muscle, and nerve cells. Two main categories of stem cells are found in embryos and adults. Embryonic stem cells (ESC) are derived from human embryos shortly after fertilization (union of egg and sperm) in a lab dish and are considered to be “totipotent,” meaning that they can form any other type of cell in the human body. Adult stem cells are derived from varying locations in adults and are considered to be “pluripotent” or “multipotent” because they can give rise to some but not all the cells in a human body.
Harvesting ESCs kills the embryo, but harvesting adult stem cells does not kill or harm the adult...
(Excerpt) Read more at answersingenesis.org ...
“I suspect if 25 million or 40 million or 80 million people signed the pledge, the drug companies developing these therapies would think twice about spending big bucks on this research.”
The companies would pay no attention. If they’re already considering this the bottom line on the ledger is really all they care about.
“If Pres. Reagan was twisting Scripture to further an evil agenda then shame on him, I will not be a part of that.”
I’m pretty sure the quote was Nancy Reagan, not Pres. Reagan.
*That’s better*? Gee thanks for that tidbit... Glad you approve.
If you want to turn people toward God isn’t it best to do it right?
True but what if 40 million people pledged to refuse their treatment? What would that do the economics of their research?
Would stockholders support their funding research in an area where half the people refuse the “poisoned fruit.”
I think it would make a difference and furthermore it’s our only chance to halt this juggernaut.
it isn’t us hwo turns people- it is the Holy spirit- Was Jesus concerned about ‘turning people to Him’ when He said the following, calling peopel out for hteir hypocrisy and sin?
“Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”
“Then His disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” But He answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.”
“And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables” -John 2:15
“O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” -Matthew 12:34
“Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels” -Matthew 25:41
Mt. 10:34-36 “Think not that I am come to send peace on the earth; I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.”
InMt. 11:21-24 Jesus rebuked severely, and bitterly, the people of the cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum, when he pronounced Woe upon them.
In Mt. 12:33-37 Jesus Rebukes the people who were Pharisees, the church people of that day, with words that you would find very objectionable today, when Jesus called them Vipers, (snakes) and that they are Evil, then proceeded to tell them why they were evil.
In Mt. 12:38-39 Jesus calls the Scribes that he is speaking to, Evil, and Adulterous people.
In Mt. 15:1-9 and Mk 7:1-13 Jesus calls the Scribes and Pharisees Hypocrites who are teaching wrong man made doctrines.
In Mt. 16:4 Jesus tells the Pharisees and Sadducees that they are Wicked and Adulterous
In Mt. 16:6-11 Jesus warns the Apostles to look out for and to stay away from the false Doctrines being taught by the Pharisees and Sadducees.
http://www.barr-family.com/godsword/the-love-of-jesus.htm
It is true that Jesus reserved his harshest tone for religious leaders. Other than that I don’t believe he said those other things, like he didn’t really tell people to handle snakes and drink deadly poison.
Moonman, you’re going to have to read the Scriptures for yourself, think on them and then make a decision which path you wish to take. There are only TWO: The path to eternal condemnation and the path to eternal salvation.
The decision is yours, the consequences are also yours. It’s a matter of “choice” right? What could be more American than making a “choice” only beware, this decision certainly has eternal consequences. Taking potshots out of context with Scripture is unprofitable and a waste of time.
It’s your sort of attitude that turns people away from God.
No Moonman, what I said should not turn anyone AWAY from God but should spur their interests enough to dig further. I speak to prisoners in my work, folks who have virtually hit bottom, one speaks truth without sugar coating but not cruelly either I understand that. Many of them appreciate that, they know one cares by speaking truth and pointing it out in the Word so they can read it for themselves.
What I said puts things in a nutshell to get you to think but one should search out the Scriptures for himself, not depend on learning from “osmosis”, won’t happen. I replied about the two paths for a reason. The popular thought out there is that “all roads lead to heaven”. Wrong, that’s not ME saying that, that’s Jesus’ word as he said, “No one comes to the Father except by (through) me”, seek Him out, doors will open, try it.
I’m sorry if you’re offended but we also must speak truth boldly in these days of lies, corruption, deception and falsehood but the world has always been that way, hasn’t it? I learned the most from folks that did’t mince words so forgive me for being like that myself but time is short, I’d rather say something in a perhaps clumsy way than say nothing at all, hopefully to get one to consider these things a bit.
There is plenty of help out here especially among FReepers, some very well grounded folks. Keep searching.
[[It’s your sort of attitude that turns people away from God.]]
Ahhhh- the old emotional manipulation tactic- look- I too used every excuse in the book when running from the Call from God that I KNEW He was calling me to- I blamed everyone else too- but ya know what? It didn’t matter what anyone else said or did- My ‘battle’ was with God directly, and not between Him and some middle man- so I had NO excuse or occassion to shift hte blame to ANYONE else but myself! My footstomping insistance that I shoudl be allowed to ignore and not be required to heed His call because so and so ‘didn’t act right... didn’t act like a ‘Christian’ (or at least how my warped mind thought Christians shoudl act- according to CottShop at that lost time) meant absolutely squat in the end- because in the end, it was me and me alone that was avoiding God- NOONE was making me ‘miss His call’ or to ‘turn from Him’- so please- enough with the manipulation attempts
At least be honest enough with both yourself and with God to admit what it is that is ‘keeping you’ from Him- it’s Your sin (I’m not singling you out- we ALL are sinners in NEED of His GRACE- His FREE GRACE, a grace NONE of us deserve, so let no man boast)God’s love is good and it is kind, butit does not suffer excuses or fignerpointing, and deep in your heart, you know this. We MUST own up to our own responsibilities before Him- because nothign is hid from Him, even our hearts sin.
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