The Coupling of Faith and Works in Modern Times

by Christopher Hendrix

Every so often, news headlines erupt with a hot topic that divides Christians. In the news last week, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled on a case that involved frozen embryos through the IVF process. A simple internet search will explain the process if you're unfamiliar with IVF. The Court's ruling acknowledged that each fertilized egg produced from IVF is a child. However, this sent shockwaves through the church. Many who claim to be Christian took issue with this ruling because some IVF facilities shut down. They closed down because of fear they could be brought to Court for murder if they were to accidentally or purposefully destroy a fertilized egg. In response, some Christians protested because they desired children and couldn't have them. To mitigate this, IVF is their answer to overcome their infertility. After all, aren't children blessings, and shouldn't each person seek to have them?

Watch Pastor Chris Hendrix’s sermon on James 2:21-26.

Now, cases like this are where James 2:14–26 apply. How so? The Christian's works demonstrate the Christian's faith. Works do not justify us before God. They do not declare us righteous before the holy God. Yet, they do demonstrate righteousness before our culture. This is James's point, works justify a person's faith. Works give testimony and evidence of a true saving faith in Christ. These works include how Christians speak and act in culture. Our Christianity isn't regulated to Sundays only or even to giving us emotional and 'spiritual' highs. Our faith has legs to it. It walks the walk, not just talks the talk. So then, we ought to have a proclamation of faith, and our works should highlight that faith. Also, we must remember that James works off the foundation that faith is a gift to us. Faith did not originate with us but was given freely by God (Eph. 2:8–9). He is the giver of good gifts, and faith is one such gift! Therefore, faith aligns with God's nature because God only gives from who He is.

This means the Christian's work must align with the nature of God. This demonstrates true faith! So then, in our current news example mentioned above, what is the Christian's work? First, it's not passivity or silence. In the face of this debate, significant theological truths are at stake. To ignore this out of fear or ignorance is not the response. That's a sign of a dead faith. Second, the end goal of IVF is to bring a child into the world. This is a good goal. Every person I know who has gone through IVF has had good intentions in going through this process. Christians acknowledge that God controls the womb and gives every life in His providence. Perhaps IVF is one instrument God uses to do this very thing, much like how God works through modern medicine to heal sickness and disease. Recognizing every person is made in the image of God and wanting to reproduce is undoubtedly good. Third, the means to the end of IVF involves fertilizing multiple eggs for the sake of having one successful pregnancy. This is where issues arise, and the backlash to Alabama's Supreme Court decision reveals many of these issues.

At the heart of the issue is the most basic question, 'When does life begin?' The Bible is evident in this that it's at conception. The story of the first man born, Cain, describes this truth. Genesis 4:1 says that Adam knew his wife, then she conceived and bore Cain. Conception and birth both describe the giving of a man by the Lord. Other passages speak to this same truth (Ps. 139:13–16; Job 10:11–12; Matt. 1:20; Is. 44:24). So, every fertilized egg is a baby. The Supreme Court didn't determine this. They don't have the power to decide whether an embryo is a baby. Their ruling acknowledged what was true. This also means they deny the truth if the verdict goes wrong. Christians must recognize that God's Word, not the government, determines what is true. In this case, we applaud the Supreme Court for ruling correctly and seeking to protect life.

Another question that must be asked on this topic is, 'Is it morally right to achieve a good end with an evil means?' The short answer is no. In James 2, he uses the example of Abraham. Ironically enough, Abraham and Sarah tried using the first concept of reproductive technologies with Hagar. Instead of trusting the Lord, they ventured to fulfill God's promise by using Hagar to bring the promised son into the world. This act required breaking the marriage covenant through Abraham having relations with Hagar. The end seemed like a good goal, but the means was evil. In fact, God had other plans and did not choose this son at all. This is one of many examples that show it is not morally right to achieve a good end with evil means. This doesn't mean God doesn't work all things for His purpose. He always works through our evil to bring about His excellent end. However, He does this despite sin, not because our actions are morally right.

So then, the work of a living faith pushes Christians to think through these things biblically. The Christian response to IVF should be to condemn the biblically immoral practices surrounding this fertilization technology. These practices include masturbation to collect the semen, other people's semen, and eggs involved in the conception process, fertilizing more than one egg, and protecting the multiple eggs fertilized with the plan of giving birth to them and not abandoning them. Other issues ought to be considered in this area as well, such as stewarding God's resources well, regarding children higher than we should (idolatry), motives for wanting children, etc. This topic is not simple, but the Scripture touches on multiple levels over it. The Bible is sufficient, even for the most complicated issues in our time. As long as this remains our foundation and source, not our emotions or the culture, we can work out these truths together, seeking to demonstrate our faith to the world.