What is the Christian View on Genetic Modification and Editing?
Genetic technology, from creating disease-resistant crops to editing human embryos, introduces profound ethical challenges that require the church to apply ancient wisdom to modern innovation. For a Christian, the debate is not about opposing science, but about ensuring that science respects and upholds the dignity of God's creation, especially human life.
Since genetic modification and editing (like CRISPR) are not directly mentioned in the Bible, the Christian perspective is guided by two primary biblical principles: Stewardship and the Image of God.
The Dominion Mandate: Where Science is Supported
God placed humanity on Earth with a mandate to "subdue" it and "have dominion" over it (Genesis 1:28). Many Christians interpret this as a call to scientific inquiry, wise management, and the use of intelligence to improve life and alleviate suffering—a concept often referred to as Common Grace.
This mandate explains why certain forms of genetic technology are generally accepted by Christian ethicists:
Acceptance for Therapy (Somatic Cell Editing): Most Christian thought supports genetic intervention focused on therapy. This means fixing a faulty gene to cure a disease in an already-born person (like treating sickle cell anemia). This aligns with the biblical call to heal the sick and reverse the effects of the Fall (sin and brokenness). In this context, science is viewed as a gift from God used to repair what is broken.
Support for Agriculture (GMOs): The genetic modification of plants and animals (GMOs) to be more productive, disease-resistant, or nutritious is largely seen as an appropriate exercise of stewardship. Christians have always used science, through selective breeding, to improve crops; this technology is simply a highly efficient form of that process.
In these cases, the goal is always to restore health or improve creation's capacity, not to redesign the essence of life.
The Image of God: The Line of Moral Caution
The primary moral boundary for Christians is crossed when genetic technology moves from therapy (fixing a broken system) to enhancement (trying to improve a healthy system). This concern is rooted in the doctrine that every human being is created in the Image of God (Genesis 1:27).
Opposing Enhancement and "Designer Babies": Using genetic editing to "enhance" a person—such as boosting intelligence, choosing eye color, or perfecting physical traits—is strongly opposed by most Christian bodies. This practice is seen as suggesting that human value is conditional upon desired traits, which is a direct assault on the doctrine that all people, regardless of ability or appearance, are created equally and possess inherent dignity.
The Risk of Germline Editing: Germline editing is the most ethically fraught issue. This involves changing the genes in an embryo or reproductive cells, meaning the change is passed down to all future generations. This is criticized because it:
Introduces massive, uncontrollable risks into the human gene pool.
Allows the current generation to exercise unjust dominion over the nature of future persons.
The Sanctity of the Embryo: Many of the most advanced genetic procedures require In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF), which often involves the creation and subsequent destruction of human embryos. Since many Christians believe that human life begins at conception (Psalm 139:13), they oppose any procedure that requires the destruction of early human life.
Conclusion: Reverence and Discernment
A Christian approach to genetic technology is marked by reverence and discernment.
We embrace technology for healing and responsible stewardship, using our God-given intelligence to alleviate suffering and fix what has been broken by sin. However, we urge extreme moral restraint against using this power for non-therapeutic enhancement (trying to "perfect" humanity).
Ultimately, the Christian faith teaches that the goal is not to create a genetically perfect human being, but to receive the broken human as a gift from God and to trust in Christ for the ultimate, spiritual, and physical perfection promised in the resurrection. Our identity is in Christ, not in our genes.
