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Does God command every Christian couple to have children? What happens when infertility makes biological children impossible? Is adoption the biblical answer? And where does IVF fit into a Christian understanding of family, faith, and God’s sovereignty?
In this episode of Ask Dr. E, Michael Easley works through a listener’s difficult questions about infertility, adoption, IVF, embryos, surrogacy, and whether Christians are obligated to pursue having children.
Dr. E explains why the command to “multiply and fill the earth” should be understood in its biblical context rather than automatically applied as a universal requirement for every Christian couple. He also discusses how infertility fits within a fallen world, why adoption should not be treated as an automatic obligation, and why IVF presents ethical questions Christians should carefully consider.
The conversation ultimately points couples toward grace, wisdom, stewardship, prayer, and good counsel rather than simplistic formulas.
Key topics covered:
-Is having children a command for Christians?
-Biblical context of Genesis 1
-Infertility and God’s sovereignty
-Adoption and infertility
-IVF and Christian ethics
-Embryos and “snowflake babies”
-Donor conception
-Surrogacy
-Wise counsel for couples facing infertility
-Family, stewardship, and grace
Chapters:
00:00 – Is having children a command?
01:28 – The Genesis command to multiply
02:23 – God’s sovereignty and infertility
03:37 – Infertility in Scripture
04:45 – IVF and ethical questions
06:33 – Donor conception and unintended consequences
08:29 – Adoption, IVF, and wise counsel
09:40 – When infertility leads to adoption
10:00 – Biological children aren’t guaranteed either
11:15 – Family size and stewardship
11:52 – Family as a gift from God
12:16 – Further resources on IVF ethics
Links Mentioned:
Jim Denison IVF Article: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/denisonforum/2024/06/in-vitro-fertilization-southern-baptists-and-moral-relativism/
If you've got a question for Dr. Easley, call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.
