Session 22: Is Surrogacy Biblically Ethical?

Welcome to Apologetics and the Gospel. My name is Pastor Jonathan White, and I am the Lead Pastor at CrossPointe Family Church in Winfield, WV as well as a practicing Emergency Medicine Physician.

Question for Today: Is Surrogacy Biblically Ethical?

Last month we discussed IVF (in vitro fertilization) which had become a hot-button topic because of the legal battles in Georgia. This month we are going to stay on the topic of reproduction and discuss surrogacy. The Catholic Church came out with a statement from the Vatican condemning surrogacy again. Many Christians have not really thought deeply about this issue so I hope that today’s discussion helps you understand this controversial topic better.

Before we get into the heart of the talk, I want us to be sure that we are praying for those struggling with infertility. We discussed the difficulty of infertility last month as well. Couples who battle infertility can struggle with depression, anxiety, hopelessness, and even have relational difficulties. I pray that we, as the church, come alongside those struggling and help them through their pain.

However, as we do so, we must still Biblically counsel couples in a right understanding of God’s Word and Biblical ethics.

With that said, let’s jump in and discuss our topic for today.

What is Surrogacy?

Some of you listening may not even understand what this word refers to. So let’s start with the basics.

Gestational Surrogacy

This is the most common form of surrogacy today.

This is where an embryo created by in vitro fertilization is placed inside of a surrogate mother. The embryo is a baby formed by the egg and sperm of a couple and the surrogate mother is a third party who carries the baby. This baby does not have genetics from the surrogate mother.

In essence, the surrogate mother is a rented womb. The baby is not genetically related to her, but she has agreed to carry the child for the parents.

Traditional Surrogacy

This is a situation in which a woman is unable to produce viable eggs. A surrogate mother agrees to either naturally or artificially be impregnated by the father. The baby formed is biologically related to the father and to the surrogate but not to the father’s spouse.

There are different variations of these two types of surrogacy as well, but we will hold to these two for simplicity today.

How Common Is Surrogacy in the US?

We also need to understand the frequency in which this has grown.

There was a 100% increase in surrogate births from 2004 to 2011 reaching around 1000 per year by 2011 in the US according to an article written in 2014 by White and Lahl called “Biotech Babies (1).” IVF has caused surrogacy to grow at a fairly rapid pace by allowing couples to implant their own genetically derived embryo in a surrogate mother via gestational surrogacy.

I know these two ideas can be very difficult to wrap your head around so I hope that you have followed me thus far.

Problems with Surrogacy

Let’s start by discussing some of the common issues with surrogacy from a practical and then from a Biblical understanding as we go along.

1. It isn’t well regulated.

Unlike adoption which provides rigorous vetting, surrogacy is only dependent on the finances of the couple or a person wanting a child. There is no testing for fitness of parenting etc. Arguments against this issue are that there is no regulation of the general public who have babies - which is a valid argument. However, there is an aspect of adoption in this process which makes it difficult to regulate.

We want to be sure that we value these children and that they are being given to a home that is safe and loving. Because of the risks that we will see moving forward in surrogacy situations, we must be sure to be advocates for these children.

2. There is a risk for human trafficking

Unfortunately, those who are surrogates are often financially compensated which creates a strong risk for human trafficking. Women oftentimes become surrogates in order to pay their bills. This can amount to a form of bodily prostitution which allows a more financially stable person or couple to take advantage of a woman in poverty. Ukraine and other countries have been exploited as surrogates for quite some time. Some theologians refer to this as a form of temporary slavery or servitude as well.

Listen to God’s feeling on exploitation in Isaiah 61:8

Isaiah 61:8 (ESV)

For I the Lord love justice; I hate robbery and wrong; I will faithfully give them their recompense…

Although only in the case of natural traditional surrogacy is there consummation between the father and the surrogate mother - which is clearly in the wrong in regard to the Bible, there is still a form of bodily prostitution in cases where the surrogate is compensated or coerced. The Bible has many Scriptures against prostitution (consider Deuteronomy 23:17-18 among others).

Isaiah 1:17 also speaks against oppression of others:

Isaiah 1:17 ESV

learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.

3. It works to the exclusion of adoption

Adoption fixes two problems. It helps a child find a home, and it helps a couple have a child. We have so many children who need homes today. This is ignored by surrogacy.

Listen to God’s heart for the fatherless:

Deuteronomy 10:18 ESV

He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing.

4. It violates the norm for the family and procreation

Surrogacy introduces a third party into the marriage. Obviously, the Bible clearly teaches against any sexual relationship between a man and any woman other than his wife. Listen to Hebrews 13:4:

Hebrews 13:4 ESV

Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.

However, there is a strong argument that the surrogacy contract creates an unnatural bond between the father and the surrogate mother. This can create jealously and relational problems in the marriage.

We see examples of surrogacy issues in the Bible such as Abraham and Sarah as Sarah’s maidservant, Hagar, becomes a surrogate for them (Genesis 16). This created a lot of problems within the family and lead to a lot of pain for them as well.

It should also be noted that surrogacy also opens up the possibilities for nontraditional relationships such as homosexual couples wishing to have a child. These situations create environments that are not Biblical in the raising of a child. We understand from Scripture that children should be conceived only in the context of marriage between a biological man and a biological woman.

Genesis 2:24 provides for us the marriage mandate and clearly defines marriage between a man and a woman. Anything outside of this is out of God’s will and violates this ‘one flesh’ command from God.

5. It violates human dignity

Women who are surrogates are robbed of their dignity as a child of God. They are being used for their womb. Even those who are performing this act uncompensated and out of a devotion to the couple are still being robbed of their human dignity. This baby that they will bear will be ripped from her and given to the other woman. Any mother can tell you that there is a bond that forms during those 9 months of pregnancy. Having to give up a baby that you have carried for that long is extremely difficult.

The surrogate mother is now forced to abdicate all parental responsibility for a child that she has personally carried. This puts her in an arena that is immoral and unnatural.

If you want to see Scriptures on the value of women, please refer back to Session 19. Genesis 1:27 also refers to all of us being made in the image of God.

Finally, the child’s human dignity is challenged. The child is viewed as a commodity to be bought or sold. Surrogate contracts treat the child as property instead of as the gift from God that he or she is. Some may argue that adoption can be viewed that way as well, however adoptions are clear that the expenses paid go toward legal fees and governmental fees and not toward buying a child. International adoption rules - developed by the Hague Convention in 1993 - are very stringent and provide safeguards against baby-selling and child-trafficking.

Children are to be viewed as a blessing and as priceless. Listen to the Psalmist in Psalm 127:3:

Psalm 127:3 ESV

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.

As a side note, a study of children born through surrogacy found that 45% stated that it bothered them that money was exchanged in order to be conceived. (1)

Before finishing with a bonus related issue for today, I want to remind people of the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ. Issues like this can be hard to work through. For those of you who have been surrogate mothers or those who have contracted with a surrogate mother - this talk might have been tough for you. I pray that you understand the love of Jesus Christ. May you understand the truth but also understand His forgiveness and mercy as well.

For the rest of us - We need to show grace to those who may disagree with us and to those who may have participated in surrogacy in one way or another. We must always speak the truth but must always do so in love.

Bonus Issue - Rescue Surrogacy

I mentioned in our last podcast about IVF that there are some 1 million embryos that are frozen and without a womb. This situation has created a very difficult ethical dilemma today. Is rescue surrogacy morally acceptable? Can a mother adopt an embryo that will be destroyed?

I think this is a conscience issue. I can see good arguments of why this acceptable. This is not a coerced form of surrogacy. It does not come with any financial benefits to the married couple. A baby is being rescued and given a chance at life. There are many beautiful aspects of a couple taking on a rescue surrogacy situation.

However, this would require much prayer and conversation in the confines of a marriage to move in this direction.

Sadly, this situation should not even be a reality - however, the wicked world in which we live continues to create harder and harder situations that we must seek to address Biblically.

That is the heart of this podcast. Bioethics, medical ethics, and scientific ethics need to be viewed through the lens of the Scriptures. I pray that this has been helpful and that the other podcasts have been helpful as you seek to think about these difficult situations.

I think that these issues will only begin to multiply as science continues to advance, and we all need to be prepared to counsel our friends, family, and others on the Biblical approach to these difficult situations.

As we do so, may we not miss opportunities to share the Gospel - the reason for our hope.

God bless and have a wonderful day.

(Slide Closing 1)

This presentation has been put together to strengthen the faith of believers and to challenge the unbelief of others. I pray that you have found this presentation helpful.

Also, please note that this 10-15 minute presentation cannot exhaustively address most issues. My prayer is that it stimulates you to personally research further, and I am assured that you will find the Word of God proven time and time again.

(Slide Closing 2 with outro music)

Feel free to email any ideas you would like to see addressed by emailing me at crosspointewv@gmail.com. There are slides prepared for each of these presentations which can be accessed at our church website at crosspointefamily.church and select ATG. God bless and have a blessed week.

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