Children

Whether it was the debate on "Biblical Beauty, Brokenness, and Bioethics" or the Casting Crown concert as artist associates of World Vision this weekend, both made me think about what is the Biblical perspective in these areas related to children.

The debate, hosted by the Biola Torrey Honors Institute and Joni and Friends Christian Institute on Disability, featured Dr Gregory Stock (author and former director at UCLA's School of Medicine) and Wesley Smith (author and Senior Fellow at Discovery Institute).  

In the introduction, there were some really good points made:

• Dignity and justice are undervalued because striving for something higher than ourselves has been undermined
• Christianity began with "brokenness" - the sign of the cross.   Beauty came into the world, took on flesh, and allowed Himself to be broken, revealing Himself in ways we could not see thru His perfection
• We who are born into this "brokenness" can be made whole because of what was accomplished at the cross, a paradox of the brokenness being made beautiful
• When we look at true beauty, we may more so recognize our brokenness
• Despite outward appearances, true beauty can be found in a soul created in the image of God with a body created according to His design and plan; for beauty is not in the eye of the beholder but rather is in the mind of God
• The problem with Christianity are Christians and what's good about Christianity is Christ
• No civilization has ever survived the undermining of goodness, truth, and beauty
  

The debate itself included a discussion of challenges related to the ethics and effects of using technology for genetic selection (or "designer babies").     Overall, the point has been made, that in allowing parents to genetically select characteristics of their children, there will be negative effects on values of society:

• Promoting parents' desire rather than accepting children as they are and helping them to be the best they can be as they are 
  
• Promoting Eutopian-based values of the more "powerful" parent dictating a child's future, turning away from goals of equality, inclusion, diversity, etc.
• Redefinition of what a "human" is
  

From the Christian perspective,  some questions are also raised about how parents can think that they know what is better for their child than the Creator?   What are the absolute moral lines which cannot be crossed?

The difficulties with the evolutionist worldview was that

• Assumptions were made that man was basically good and would make good decisions
• A libertarian approach was promoted because of the lack of moral absolutes to determine what to regulate and monitor; and any "laws" that were to be put in place would be socially determined and can be subjected to other factors and motives

It was an interesting debate which raised a lot of really good questions.   Personally, I feel that we as the created should accept what God as the all-knowing loving Creator has designed for each and every living person.   Technology in genetics should be used for therapeutic purposes (e.g. curing diseases, etc) and should never overstep moral absolute boundaries (e.g. destroy life in the process of scientific experiments)

As for the Casting Crowns concert, it was special to help, as a World Vision volunteer, with signing people up to sponsor a Hope Child in regions afflicted with HIV/AIDS.   This is placing value on life and doing what we can to help improve the community of those in need.   And, the music was also great!  (No surprise there)  I also had a chance to meet the band once again afterwards.

Another thought I just wanted to include.....Now that much of construction has been completed in our church ministry partnership with Mexico, the leadership was committed to expanding the ministry to include reaching the people.  So, I was asked if I would consider going to teach the women how to study the Bible.  That is something that I would love to do, for Bible Study is an area I am passionate about; and this is such a great idea.  However, because of the timing, the schedule doesn't work well for me.  Fortunately, God brought to mind someone else who was able to do it; and it has turned out well, for she and her husband are very excited about being able to go.