A Christians View of Stem Cell Research

On March 9, 2009, President Barack Obama signed papers removing the financial barriers that President Bush had set on embryonic stem cell research. This means more of your money will be spent on government research. But money's not the entire issue. What does this mean for us; for us Christians? Should we oppose or encourage stem cell research? Maybe I should first answer the question, what is a stem cell? A stem cell is an unspecialized cell that can reproduce itself to form specialized cells such as red blood cells, brain cells, and muscle cells. Scientists think that stem cells can treat diseases by restoring enough cells to replace worn out tissues in organs. Before we look at the moral issues of delving into stem cell research, it's necessary to distinguish between the two types of stem cells. First, there are embryonic stem cells. These stem cells are only available in embryos (unborn babies). And these stem cells can only be accessed by destroying the embryo, thus destroying life. Then, there are adult stem cells. These are cells that can be found in the tissues of all mature humans. Our access to these cells does not require destroying life, which is why many favor this research over the other. So what does the Bible say? In Exodus 21:22-25 we're told, "If men fight, and hurt a woman with child, so that she gives birth prematurely, yet no harm follows, he shall surely be punished accordingly as the woman’s husband imposes on him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. But if any harm follows, then you shall give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe." (NKJV) So does God value the life of an unborn child as much as the life of everyone else? Yes. Psalm 139:13-16 and Jeremiah 1:4-5 also offer more support for the Christian's perspective of embryonic stem cell research. But what about adult stem cell research? In Matthew 4:23-24 it says, "And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them." (NKJV) Although the Bible doesn't directly address stem cell research, we can conclude that if Jesus was concerned about our physical needs, than there is no reason to think that we shouldn't also (staying within the moral boundaries that are set for us in the Bible). Adult stem cell research (according to my sources) has uncovered that adult stem cells have the potential to regenerate almost every cell type in the human body, and that they can achieve it with even greater reproduction numbers than embryonic stem cells would. In fact, adult stem cell research has already shown to provide treatment for diseases like cancer and heart disease. Therefore, I'm not sure why scientists continue to run after embryonic stem cells since there are moral problems as well as a deficiency in function with them compared to the capabilities of adult stem cells. In conclusion, embryonic stem cell research is wrong. Adult stem cell research is a great alternative. As Horton, from Dr. Suess's Horton Hears a Who, puts it, "A person's a person, no matter how small."