Ethics (Biblical Morality): Bioethics
Bioethics, the study of moral questions raised by advances in medicine and biotechnology, presents profound challenges for Christians seeking to live faithfully in light of Scripture. From genetic engineering and prenatal testing to end-of-life care and organ donation, bioethics touches on some of the most sensitive issues of human existence.
The Bible does not use modern terms like bioethics or gene editing, yet it gives foundational principles for evaluating these concerns. Scripture teaches that every human life is made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26–27), that human beings are set apart from animals, and that Christians are called to love one another as Christ has loved us (John 13:34).
Christian bioethics is not grounded in rigid legalism but in the Gospel. True morality flows from a living relationship with God through Christ, expressed in obedience, love, and the pursuit of holiness. This means that Christian bioethics resists reducing human life to mere biology while affirming the dignity, worth, and eternal significance of every person.
1. Foundations of Biblical Bioethics
The biblical foundation for bioethics rests on the doctrine of creation. Humanity is uniquely created in the image of God, set apart from the rest of creation. This confers inherent dignity and value upon every human being, regardless of age, ability, or stage of development.
Key truths shaping biblical bioethics include:
Imago Dei – Humanity reflects God’s image (Genesis 1:27).
Sanctity of life – Human life is sacred and not to be taken lightly (Exodus 20:13).
Human distinctiveness – People are more than animals; they are moral and spiritual beings (Psalm 8:4–5).
Stewardship – Humanity is called to exercise care, not exploitation, over creation (Genesis 2:15).
These foundations provide a framework for addressing modern medical questions. Bioethics is not merely about what is possible but about what aligns with God’s revealed will and his design for human flourishing.
2. Challenges in Modern Bioethics
Contemporary bioethics raises questions that previous generations could scarcely imagine. Technologies like CRISPR gene editing hold promise for curing disease but also raise concerns about altering human embryos or selecting traits. Prenatal testing can help parents prepare for challenges, but it has also led to increased abortion rates for children with disabilities. End-of-life decisions now involve complex considerations of life support, palliative care, and the definition of death.
These challenges expose fundamental tensions:
Healing vs. manipulating – Medicine rightly seeks to heal, but when does it cross into altering God’s design?
Compassion vs. control – Care for the suffering must be balanced against a culture that values autonomy over divine authority.
Hope vs. hubris – Scientific discovery offers hope but can also tempt humanity to play God.
Christian bioethics insists that medical progress must serve human dignity rather than undermine it. The test is not merely whether something can be done but whether it should be done in light of God’s Word.
3. Sanctity of Human Life
One of the central themes of biblical morality in bioethics is the sanctity of life. The Bible affirms that God is the author of life: “In him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28). Life belongs to God, not to human autonomy.
This conviction has direct application:
Abortion – Christians affirm the value of unborn life, grounded in passages such as Psalm 139:13–16.
Euthanasia – While alleviating suffering is important, Scripture forbids taking life into our own hands (Job 1:21).
Disability – Every person, regardless of ability, reflects God’s image (Exodus 4:11).
Sanctity of life does not mean prolonging life at all costs but respecting life as God’s gift. The aim is always to honor God by protecting the vulnerable and upholding human dignity.
4. Distinctiveness of Christian Ethics
Christian ethics in bioethics differs from secular moral reasoning. Modern perspectives often reduce human beings to biology or equate human worth with capacity or utility. Scripture resists this reduction. Human beings are not accidents of evolution or mere machines; they are spiritual beings created for eternal fellowship with God.
Christian bioethics is also distinguished by its grounding in the Gospel:
Grace over legalism – Obedience is not about rigid rules but about reflecting Christ’s love (Romans 6:14).
Spirit-led discernment – Ethical decisions are guided by the Spirit and Scripture, not cultural consensus (John 16:13).
Christ-centered morality – Christians are called to love others sacrificially, modeling Christ’s example (Philippians 2:5–8).
This distinctiveness keeps bioethics from becoming either moral relativism or rigid legalism. It is a call to live faithfully, recognizing both human weakness and God’s redemptive purposes.
5. Gospel and Last Days Perspective
Christian bioethics must ultimately be understood in the context of the Gospel and the hope of the last days. Sin has distorted human relationships, including how we view life, suffering, and death. But Christ redeems and restores. He heals not only bodies but also hearts, and his resurrection secures the promise of eternal life.
The hope of the new creation gives perspective to bioethical debates. Suffering and death will not have the final word (Revelation 21:4). Until then, Christians are called to witness to the sanctity of life, the dignity of the weak, and the compassion of Christ in every decision.
Bioethics, then, is not simply about medical dilemmas but about discipleship. It calls the church to live in hope, practicing love and truth as signs of the coming kingdom.
Conclusion
Biblical morality in bioethics insists that every human being is made in the image of God and worthy of dignity and respect. The challenges of modern medicine and biotechnology demand careful reflection, guided by Scripture and the Spirit.
While technologies like genetic engineering and prenatal testing may offer promise, they must be evaluated through the lens of sanctity of life, stewardship of creation, and obedience to God’s Word. Christian bioethics affirms that life is sacred, morality flows from the Gospel, and the hope of new creation sustains the church in a world of difficult choices.
Bible Verses on Bioethics
Genesis 1:27 – “So God created man in his own image…male and female he created them.”
Genesis 2:7 – “The Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.”
Exodus 20:13 – “You shall not murder.”
Exodus 4:11 – “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord?”
Psalm 8:4–5 – “You have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.”
Psalm 139:13–14 – “You knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”
Acts 17:28 – “In him we live and move and have our being.”
Romans 6:14 – “You are not under law but under grace.”
Philippians 2:5–7 – “Christ Jesus…emptied himself, taking the form of a servant.”
Revelation 21:4 – “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more.”
