An article in the Akron Beacon Journal (5-4-90), reports that scientists have succeeded in growing human brain cells in their laboratories. This offers the A possible hope of having these brain calls available to replace those that are damaged. Many years of study remain before the technology can be developed for infusing these new cells into our heads. However, the prospects are challenging, to say the least.

I'm going to put my name on the list to receive some of these brain cells. I'm going to order some Jack Nicklaus cells in the hope that I can learn how to hit a golf ball. I want some Chet Atkins cells to improve my guitar playing skills. If I had some Donald Trump cells, maybe I could make more money. Who knows, maybe one day I could become an instant brain surgeon, like Jethro Bodine on the Beverly Hillbillies. The potential is too great to imagine. It might be difficult to find somebody with desirable brain cells who would be willing to donate them, but I want to get my name on the list, just in case.

In all seriousness, the scientific community envisions this development as a possible solution to problems like Alzheimer's, stroke or head injuries. All of this notwithstanding, I get concerned about some of our so-called "advancements. " It seems to me that we have some people who are "playing around" with the natural order of things and the use they are making of some of these new-found technologies is frightening.

Scientists have developed an abortion pill which facilitates in the continued slaughter of unwanted babies. The total now exceeds 20,000,000 abortions in America since 1973! New and better ways to commit this murder are not "advancements. " It is now possible to know not only the sex of an unborn baby, but whether or not it has any defects. This will help in getting rid of the "undesirable" children. Scientists can determine the sex of a human egg, artificially inseminate it and guarantee a couple that they will have a boy or a girl. It is now possible to control the gender and health of future offspring. Hitler envisioned a "super race" and we now have the technology to produce it. Given the movement in thought toward euthanasia - getting rid of the old, infirm and useless - one has to wonder about the future of the human race. Thus, it is time for concern about where all of this is headed and what use is going to be made of all of these new things we are learning to do.

I do not know of anything in the Scriptures that prohibits scientific study and development. I think it would be wrong to issue a blanket condemnation of scientific endeavors. Many things have been discovered which are helpful in dealing with disease, as well as every day activities of modern man. One would be foolhardy to object to something that has so obviously helped. However, when Paul wrote to Timothy he issued a warning saying, "O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: which some professing have erred concerning the faith" (1 Tim. 6:20-21). This suggests that science could possibly array itself against the purposes of God. It could stand in opposition to that which is right. Such, Paul says, should be avoided. Does it not appear to you that there are times when scientists are dabbling in things that they should stay out of? The things we earlier described are cases in point. Let us pray that wisdom will prevail to change the evils already being practiced, and that we might be delivered from even greater evils that might come.

Guardian of Truth XXXIV: 16, p. 492
August 16, 1990