How Should Christians View IVF?

As Christians, we’re called to be compassionate — but also discerning. And when it comes to IVF, or in vitro fertilization, it’s a topic that touches deep places of grief, hope, and ethical responsibility. I want to approach this carefully, because I know many believers have walked through the heartbreak of infertility. But I also believe we need to look at this through a biblical lens, not just an emotional one.

Let me say from the outset: I believe life begins at conception. That conviction shapes everything I’m about to share.

What Is IVF, and Why Does It Matter Spiritually?

IVF is a process where a woman’s egg is fertilized by a man’s sperm outside the body — in a lab — and then implanted in the womb. For some couples, it’s seen as a lifeline, a final hope after years of struggling to conceive. But just because something is medically possible doesn’t automatically make it biblically acceptable.

We have to ask: Are we trusting God’s design, or are we trying to override it?

1. Every Embryo Is a Human Life

Psalm 139:13–16 says that God knits us together in the womb. That means from the moment of conception — whether in a body or in a petri dish — life has begun. Yet many IVF procedures create multiple embryos, and not all of them are implanted. Some are destroyed. Others are frozen indefinitely, and some are even used for experimentation.

This is where the real ethical issue begins. Those embryos aren’t “potential” lives. They are lives. And as Christians who believe every human being is made in the image of God, we cannot ignore that.

As Focus on the Family affirms in their article on IVF: Moral and Ethical Considerations, human life begins at fertilization, and every embryo must be treated with full moral dignity.

2. God’s Design for Family and Procreation

God created man and woman and blessed them with the ability to reproduce — through the union of their bodies in marriage (Genesis 1:28). That doesn’t mean fertility treatments are automatically wrong. But IVF goes beyond assisting natural reproduction — it often replaces it entirely. And when we turn to anonymous donors or surrogates, we’re stepping outside the biblical model of one-flesh union.

God’s design isn’t just biological — it’s spiritual. When we introduce third parties into the creation of a child, we introduce confusion into the structure God ordained for family.

3. Infertility and the Idol of Parenthood

Let’s be honest. The desire to be a parent is beautiful. But it can also become an idol if we’re willing to cross ethical or biblical lines to get there. Children are a blessing (Psalm 127:3), not a right. And I say this with compassion, not condemnation: sometimes, our desire for a child can overshadow our desire to obey God.

If IVF causes us to compromise biblical principles, then it’s not a gift — it’s a temptation. And Satan is subtle. He can dress disobedience in the clothing of hope.

4. IVF Without Compromise? A Narrow Path

Are there ways Christians could use IVF more ethically? Some theologians believe yes — but only under very strict conditions:

• The couple uses only their own egg and sperm.
• No embryos are destroyed or donated.
• Every embryo created is given the chance to live.

But even then, we must proceed with extreme caution. The pressure to “succeed” can easily lead to compromise. And let’s be honest — the industry isn’t set up to respect life at every stage. It’s set up to deliver results.

5. Trusting God’s Timing and Will

One of the hardest things in the Christian life is surrender. But infertility is not a curse. It’s not a failure. It may be a calling to trust God more deeply. There are other beautiful, God-honoring ways to pour out your love: adoption, mentorship, fostering, discipleship. God doesn’t waste pain. He redirects it.

When we surrender our desire for a child and place it in God’s hands, we’re walking in true obedience to God — not just surrendering outcomes, but our very need for control.

Final Thoughts: Truth in Love

I know this blog may be hard to read for some. That’s okay. These are hard conversations. But as believers, we don’t shy away from truth just because it’s uncomfortable. We speak truth in love.

If you’ve already been through IVF and now feel conviction, there is grace. If you’re considering it, I urge you: pray, study, seek counsel from mature believers. And above all, ask if your choices reflect trust in God — or a desire to bypass Him.

When life begins at conception, every decision carries eternal weight. Let’s honor that.

Arch Kennedy
Bold, Unfiltered, and Unafraid