Idolatry involves the worship of an idol, regardless of whether that idol is a physical creation. While our culture recognizes idols beyond traditional carved images, In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), or Idolatry Via Factory, stands as both an internal idol of the heart and mind and results in a physical outcome. A defining trait of idol worship is such an intense desire for something that one becomes willing to create it independently of God’s will, driven by personal purposes and pleasure. Ultimately, all idol worship is a form of self-worship, aimed at obtaining personal desires in life. Idolatry manifests when our self-directed creation contradicts God’s will, leading us to impose our desires upon Him and neglect the honor due to His desires. This consideration includes both God’s revealed will in Scripture and His secret will in our individual lives. Therefore, IVF represents a rebellion against both God’s revealed will and what may be His particular secret will for us.
As Christians, we should readily comprehend God’s revealed will regarding procreation. Furthermore, individuals experiencing reproductive challenges often possess an awareness of God’s secret will for them in that specific context. However, within the practice of IVF, individuals often assert their own will in opposition to God’s on both these levels. Their efforts to procreate highlight a clear inability to conceive children, which could be recognized as God’s secret will in that circumstance. Yet, do they truly understand it as such, and what is their subsequent response? It is here that a lustful desire can arise from an intense longing for what one lacks, further emphasizing the element of worship. When the underlying issue is idol worship, the matter quickly escalates to a serious and dangerous level.
This leads us to consider the thought process behind IVF, which further clarifies this two-fold rebellion. To reiterate, God’s revealed will concerning the creation of children is unequivocally clear. His Word states that children are intended to come from the physical union of a man and a woman, through the fertilization of the woman’s egg by the man’s seed. This natural process is the “baby factory” established by God, a truth universally known by Christians. Therefore, any single Christian desiring a child who pursues IVF, lacking a partner, violates fundamental aspects of God’s design. Similarly, any couple holding this view rebels against God’s explicit instruction. The struggle often arises because individuals understand the essential role of children in God’s purpose for us, yet they confront the reality of their own infertility, whether stemming from the man, the woman, or both. This intense emotional conflict can erode their comprehension of God’s Word, driving them to take matters into their own hands. They do so because the desire for a child is powerful, leading them to think, “Surely God wouldn’t deny this to anyone who wants children!”
Therefore, the thought process involves not only the means of procreation but also God’s sovereign purpose within the context of His specific secret will for individuals. There are moments in life when we can discern God’s secret will for us in a particular situation. As previously mentioned, the inability to conceive is often such a case. In these instances, our understanding of God’s revealed will should guide our response. Scripture recounts times when God, for His own purposes, closed the wombs of women. Consequently, the inability to conceive naturally does not justify presuming upon God’s will by engaging in practices that contradict His revealed will. Our emotions can deceive us, leading us to act on these deceptions. This deception is a lie from the enemy, suggesting that despite God’s apparent ordination of infertility, one should pursue a child through artificial means because God “really wants” them to have one anyway. This creates a contradiction within God’s nature. It is a presumptuous sin to say to God, “I know I am physically unable to produce a child, but there is no way You would withhold this blessing from me! You want my happiness and fulfillment, and personally, a child is essential for that to happen.” God desires our sanctification, and a significant aspect of sanctification is trusting and submitting to His will, even when it pertains to His secret will, which we may find undesirable but can clearly discern through our life circumstances. In such situations, we have a responsibility to respond according to His revealed will.
Observing the distortion of God’s clear sovereign providence in people’s lives today should not be surprising, considering the theological weaknesses prevalent in the contemporary church. In an era of increasing self-focus, the absolute sovereign work of God over every detail of life is often knowingly or ignorantly rejected by many professing Christians. This leads individuals to justify their own will over His, as many believe our will ultimately holds sovereignty. Our emotions, as seen in this context, often dictate this line of thinking, portraying God as merely reactive to our desires. Ultimately, we tend to believe that He desires what we desire and that our personal happiness is a high priority for Him. Consequently, if we are unhappy for any reason, we feel justified in doing whatever is necessary to achieve happiness. Another perspective is that we believe we need to correct His “mistakes,” viewing our infertility as such. While His Word instructs us to have children, we fail to grasp that His sovereign and hidden purpose for our lives may differ. Therefore, we feel compelled to take matters into our own hands, unable to accept that He may have ordained this specific aspect of our lives for a particular purpose. Adoption serves as an example: it can be a profound blessing for a couple and a child in need, yet the pursuit of IVF against God’s will can cause one to miss such a redemptive experience.
Once the decision to pursue IVF has been made, the “factory” process commences. The idol has already taken shape in our hearts and minds; the remaining step is to form the physical idol.
