Surrogacy

Surrogacy, the practice where a woman carries and delivers a child for another individual or couple, has become increasingly common in today’s world. It is often presented as a compassionate solution for those unable to have children. As Christians, however, we are called to evaluate such practices through the lens of Scripture and God’s design for life and family. Drawing from biblical principles and insights shared in a discussion on the sanctity of life and children’s rights, this essay explores a traditional Christian stance on surrogacy, emphasizing compassion, clarity, and a commitment to God’s created order.

The Sanctity of Human Life and Family

Central to the Christian worldview is the belief that every human life is sacred, created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27). This extends to children born through surrogacy, who bear the same inherent dignity as all people. Scripture also presents the family—rooted in the marriage of a man and a woman—as God’s design for raising children (Genesis 1-2). Surrogacy, however, often disrupts this design by involving third parties, such as gestational surrogates, sperm donors, or egg donors, which can result in children being separated from one or both biological parents. This separation raises ethical concerns, as it challenges the biblical model of family and the relational bonds God intends for children.

From a justice perspective, surrogacy is problematic because it intentionally creates scenarios where children may grow up without their biological mother or father. Ephesians 6:1-4 underscores the unique roles of parents in nurturing their children, roles that are compromised when surrogacy arrangements prioritize adult desires over a child’s right to their genetic heritage. The emotional and psychological hardships faced by children who lack access to their biological parents—such as identity struggles or a sense of loss—constitute an injustice that Christians must address.

Surrogacy as a Marketplace

The surrogacy industry, part of what is often called “Big Fertility,” operates as a marketplace where human lives are commodified. Unlike adoption, which is heavily regulated to protect children, surrogacy lacks similar oversight, allowing for practices that exploit vulnerable lives. In commercial surrogacy, intended parents pay significant sums—sometimes over $100,000—to surrogates or agencies, essentially purchasing a child. This violates adoption best practices, which prohibit direct payments from intended parents to birth parents to prevent baby buying. In a Christian worldview, such transactions conflict with the biblical call to protect the vulnerable (James 1:27) and treat children as persons, not products.

The surrogacy market also raises justice concerns because it enables the creation of motherless or fatherless children, particularly for single individuals or same-sex couples who rely on surrogacy to form families. These arrangements intentionally deprive children of one biological parent, denying them the complementary love and identity tied to their mother or father. The industry’s lack of background checks or post-placement supervision further exacerbates risks, potentially exposing children to harm by unsavory individuals. This unregulated “open market” prioritizes adult desires over children’s rights, making surrogacy a justice issue that demands scrutiny.

Connection to Cultural Shifts

The rise of surrogacy is closely tied to cultural shifts, notably the redefinition of marriage in 2015, which normalized same-sex parenting and increased demand for reproductive technologies like surrogacy. By making mothers and fathers optional in parenting, this redefinition has fueled practices that separate children from their biological parents. For example, gay couples or single men may use surrogacy to acquire children, often purchasing eggs and renting wombs, resulting in children who are intentionally motherless. Christians view this as an injustice, as it undermines God’s design for family and disregards children’s natural right to both parents.

The push to subsidize surrogacy through insurance or taxpayer funds, framed as a matter of equality, further entrenches this injustice. Such policies prioritize adult access to children over the well-being of the children themselves, who bear the lifelong consequences of missing a biological parent. The Bible calls Christians to defend the vulnerable, not to support systems that commodify human life or disrupt God’s created order.

A Call to Compassion and Discernment

The desire to have children is a God-given longing, and the pain of infertility is profound. For those who have pursued surrogacy, often unaware of its ethical and justice implications, the Christian response must be one of compassion, not condemnation. This issue requires humility, prayer, and a willingness to align personal desires with God’s design. The Church can support those facing infertility by offering biblical counsel and exploring alternatives like adoption, which prioritizes children’s needs over adult wants. Churches should also teach about the theology of children and family, equipping believers to navigate these complex issues with wisdom and grace.

The Church’s Role in Advocating for Justice

The Church is called to be a defender of children, advocating for their right to life and their right to their parents as a matter of justice. Grounded in a worldview that values the image of God in each human, Christians are uniquely equipped to challenge the harms of the surrogacy industry. This involves opposing practices that victimize children and promoting policies that strengthen families according to God’s design. Pastors and church leaders should preach on these topics, fostering a robust theology of children that affirms their dignity and rights. By addressing surrogacy as a justice issue, the Church can stand as the “last line of defense” for the vulnerable.

For more on this topic:

• Read the book, The Before Us.

• Watch this video: