Genetic Modifications
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin ArticlesThe message of the gospel of Jesus Christ is still the same today as it was two thousand years ago. In the book of Hebrews we read, “Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). It is based upon this solid fact of scripture that the principles of restoration are preached. If the gospel message is the same today as it was 2000 years ago (and it is) and if mankind is basically the same as he was 2000 years ago (and he is), then the gospel is relevant to mankind today and when planted in the hearts and minds of man, it will produce the same thing that it produced 2000 years ago-Christians.
This is due in large part to the preservation of the gospel of Christ throughout the centuries. Jesus said that his word would not pass away (Luke 21:33). Jesus also said that his gospel was like a seed (Luke 8:11). Today, we know that a seed contains the genetic information of the plant from which it originated. And when the same seed is planted the seed will produce the same kind of plant from which the seed came. But what if a scientist got a hold of the seed and genetically modified it? Today we have scientists who are genetically modifying plants so that they will live longer, grow in dryer climates, produce larger fruits, and generally change the original characteristics of the seed. This can produce a better plant and increase the production of the species.
What would happen, however, if there were a “perfect” seed and a scientist started modifying it genetically? The next plant would be less than perfect. It would be flawed. It would be substandard because it would not contain the original qualities that are in the perfect seed. Most likely the resulting project would be abandoned and discarded because no improvements can be made upon the original. But sometimes, scientists can act in such a way so that they believe they are improving something when they are actually harming it. Such was the case with the tonsil. For years and years doctors removed tonsils from young children thinking that they were improving their lives. However, recent medicine has shown that the tonsil is a very important part of the body’s immune system. As a result, it is much more rare today to hear of child’s tonsils being removed. This can be true genetically as well. It takes years and years for scientists to effect changes in a genetic pattern that are beneficial. Many genetic changes actually result in inferior plants and some genetic changes result in no change at all.
But with a PERFECT seed, there can be no beneficial changes. All changes made would be detrimental. We can understand then Paul’s warning regarding changes to the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Christians in Galatia were accepting a different gospel. Paul warns them, “I marvel that ye are so quickly removing from him that called you in the grace of Christ unto a different gospel; which is not another {gospel} only there are some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach unto you any gospel other than that which we preached unto you, let him be anathema. As we have said before, so say I now again, if any man preacheth unto you any gospel other than that which ye received, let him be anathema.” With the PERFECT seed, any genetic modifications that are made are detrimental and fatal.
Peter writes in 1 Peter 1:23 that the word of God is “incorruptible.” It is the perfect seed. It won’t decay; it won’t perish; it won’t be changed and still remain the word of God. Any modifications made to the word of God by human hands result in something other than God’s word. This is why it is so important that we leave God’s word alone and not try to change or alter it in any way.
There are men today who are trying to make genetic modifications to the word of God. Some men do this through preaching another gospel. Some men do it through producing Bible translations that do not respect God’s word. Some men do it by ignoring important parts of God’s word all together. One consistent truth about genetic modifications is that they are done in very small amounts at a time. Men who bring in false doctrine do exactly the same thing. They don’t alter everything all at once, but just make one small change at a time. In doing so, they produce inferior plants that will ultimately be uprooted and destroyed (Matthew 15:13).
Men may succeed at genetically altering corruptible seeds, but no one will ever succeed at altering the word of God. To attempt to do so invites destruction. John wrote in Revelation 22:18, 19 “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”
Let us as Christians determine to do everything in our power to ensure that the pure word of God is preached and taught wherever we are today. This is the only hope we have of producing the same plant that God wants growing in our lives. Let’s leave genetic modifications in the laboratory being practiced on the corruptible seeds, not the incorruptible one.