The California Collection/TheCaliforniaCollection.cdr/his094/surogate.arj/SUROGATE.TXT

Text File | 1991-10-24 | 10.1 KB | 232 lines

                               SURROGATE MOTHERS


 A. Introduction

    Today in America there is a move toward the use of surrogate
    mothers for those couples unable to bear children.  Simply
    put, the surrogate mother is artificially inseminated by
    the Husband of the woman who is unable to conceive.  Usually
    there is a contract signed that makes both parties legally
    bound to the conditions of the agreement.  However, there is
    still much debate today about the rights of the various
    parties involved despite the contract.

    This brief discussion is to provide a review of some
    considerations that a Christian couple should pray about
    before either trying to utilize a surrogate mother or allow
    themselves to surrogate for someone else.


 B. Biblical Perspective

    1. God's Sovereignty over Conception

       God has revealed to us in the Scriptures that He is the one
       who opens and closes the womb.  If a couple is married and
       are Christians and God has not opened the womb then I would
       caution them to be very careful in seeking alternate ways of
       obtaining children.  Often it is not the right time for
       children.  Likewise, Christian couples should be sure that
       God is leading them to avoid the conception of children
       prior to deciding to use birth control.

       a) God closes wombs

          1) Genesis 20:18 "...the Lord had closed up every womb in
             Abimelech's household..."

          2) 1 Samuel 1:5 "...the Lord had closed her womb..."

          3) 2 Samuel 6:16,23 "...Michal daughter of Saul watched from
             the window.  And when she saw King David leaping and dancing
             before the Lord, she despised him in her heart...And Michal
             daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death."

       b) God opens wombs

          1) Genesis 25:21 "Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his
             wife, because she was barren.  The Lord answered his prayer,
             and his wife Rebekah became pregnant."

          2) Luke 1:7,13 "But they had no children, because Elizabeth was
             barren; and they were both well along in years...the angel
             said to him, 'Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has
             been heard.  Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son...'"

          3) 1 Samuel 1:5,10,20 "..the Lord had closed her womb...Hannah
             wept much and prayed to the Lord...So in the course of time
             Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son."

    2. Man's Use of Surrogates

       Man has used the surrogate method of obtaining children in
       times past.  The only real difference from today is the
       method of insemination.

       a) Gen 16:1,2,4 "Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no
          children...so she said to Abram, 'the Lord has kept me from
          having children.  Go, sleep with my maidservant; perhaps I
          can build a family through her'...He [Abram] slept with
          Hagar, and she conceived.  When she [Hagar] knew she was
          pregnant, she began to despise her mistress."

       b)  Gen 30:3 "Then she [Rachel] said, 'Here is Bilhah, my
          maidservant.  Sleep with her so that she can bear children
          for me and that through her I too can build a family.'"


 C. Cautions

    1. Costly

       a) Time

          1) The insemination process can be rather lengthy requiring
             many trips to the doctors office.  Those agencies that
             arrange the use of surrogates often have a childless couple
             in one city or state and the surrogate mother from another
             state or city.  This helps when after the birth that the
             original mother has no accessibility to her natural child.
             But for the insemination procedure this will cause the
             surrogate mother to travel long distances many times a month
             trying to become pregnant.


          2) Another consideration is that the surrogate mother is
             pregnant for nine months which is a considerable length of
             time.  And the physical effects of the birth may linger for
             many months afterward depending on the type of birth.

       b) Money

          There is usually a large sum of money paid to the surrogate
          mother for her part ($15,000).  The couple that hires the
          surrogate will of course pay all bills for the pregnancy
          (which could total $25,000 plus).

    2. Dangers


       a) Physically

          Natural childbirth can be fatal in a minority of cases and
          must be a consideration for surrogate mothers.  Of course,
          if the mother needed a "C" section in order to remove the
          child, then the risk factor goes higher.  Also a number of
          births result in the sterility of the mother and must be a
          price she is willing to pay.

       b) Emotionally

          It is inherent in the pregnancy that the mother will
          develop a emotional relationship with the baby she bears.
          This is designed by God for a lasting mother-child
          relationship.  To have to immediately "give up" the child to
          another couple is very costly emotionally.  In nearly all
          cases of surrogate mothers there is a grieving process that
          begins when the child is "given up."  Some surrogate mothers
          say they have never stopped grieving.

       c) Socially

          1) Creates an unnatural relationship between the Father (donor)
             and the surrogate mother.  Even though they would have had
             no sexual relationship they still have become "one flesh" in
             one sense by producing a child together.  If the two persons
             live in close proximity and see one another on a regular
             basis then an adulterous relationship could result because of
             the special bond that they have because of the child.  The
             sterile wife may also feel estrangement from her husband
             because the child is from her husband and another woman.



          2) Society may also place a stigma on the surrogate mother for
             its perception of "selling babies."  Although some surrogate
             mothers may do it for reasons other than money, they may
             still be branded as someone willing to sell their child for
             a price.


       d) Possible Complications

          The following are possible problems that could arise that
          would cause real distress for all parties.

          1) Custody Battles Surrogate and Couple


             a> What would happen if the child was retarded or had physical
                problems requiring special medical expenses or care for the
                rest of his life.  Would the couple refuse the child?  Would
                the surrogate mother abort the child if she is aware before
                the birth that problems exist?


             b> What if the marriage later broke up; then who would the
                child go to?  To the natural mother?  To the natural father?
                Or to the mother who did not bear the child?  The same
                questions could come up if there was a death of a parent.


             c> What if the surrogate mother refused to give up the child
                when he was born?  Many courts could side with her rights as
                the natural mother even charging the father child support
                payments.


          2) Custody Battle Initiated by Child


             a> What if the child later rejected the adoptive parents and
                wanted his rights to have his natural mother?


             b> What if a Christian surrogate mother bears a child and the
                other couple fails to raise the child in the Lord, would the
                natural mother feel any responsibilities for the spiritual
                direction of the child?

 D. Conclusion

    It is my personal opinion that the use of surrogate mothers
    should be avoided by all Christians.  God is able to open
    and close the womb at will.  There are too many problems
    involved with the surrogate process that could cause
    conflict for the Christian.  The joining of a man into a
    relationship with a woman outside of his own marriage and
    the resultant child would be harmful to the God ordained one
    flesh marriage relationship.

    While I most strongly advise against surrogate mothering, I most
    certainly believe that adoption and medical procedures to aid in
    conception are valid options.

    However, let me add a few comments with this.  First, we are
    again assuming a Christian couple.  A couple that is walking with
    the Lord and seeking His Kingdom and His Righteousness would be
    "Delighting themselves in the Lord," and could therefore take
    confidence, in the fact that God is giving them, "The desires of
    their heart" (Psalm 37:4).  If they have a desire for children
    but are unable to conceive, then they should prayerfully consider
    adoption and medical procedures.  But, and this is so important,
    they must make sure that any medical procedure that involves "In
    Vitro Fertilization" be avoided.

    "In Vitro Fertilization" is the process where the egg of a woman
    is join with the sperm of a male in a laboratory test tube.  The
    problem arises in that numerous fertilized eggs are destroyed in
    the process of trying to get one that will be "just right."  Each
    fertilized egg that is destroyed is a human life!  As long as
    procedures such as these are avoided then I would encourage a
    Christian couple, who want have children but have been unable to
    conceive, to try Adoption or safe medical procedures.


Tony Capoccia
Bible Bulletin Board
Box 130
Shreveport, LA 71110
MODEM (318)-949-1456
300/1200/2400/9600 Baud