Perusing through various embryo adoption group forums, it is rather common to see evidences of adopting couples commodifying children.
The reality is that within the embryo adoption community, most view embryo adoption as primarily a means of family building. Given the relatively affordable costs, the ability to experience pregnancy, and the ability to control the prenatal environment, many view embryo adoption as a favorable path to build their families. If family building is the primary motivator for pursuing embryo adoption, it is consequently concerning that a couple is potentially embracing the unbiblical view of children as commodities.
The commodification of children in couples utilizing IVF-ET is obvious through their creation and freezing of more children than they plan to transfer, through their grading and genetically testing of all embryos, and through them choosing to transfer only those without anomalies or of high-quality grade and only the number of children they desire.
The commodification of children in couples pursuing embryo adoption is not quite as obvious, however, it manifests in the lack of concern over the death of children not surviving the thawing process, failing to implant, or eventually miscarrying, as the ultimate goal for these couples is family building and thus any sorrow experienced is sorrow only relating to an unfilled desire remaining unfilled and is void of any concern over the death of these children. In addition, through the adoption process, many decisions are made based upon the preference of the couple with little consideration of the children themselves. Ultimately, the commodification of children manifests clearly in the unambiguous self-stated motivations couples give as to why they pursued embryo adoption – for most, they view embryo adoption as a means to build their family and desiring the unique benefits that adopting children in their embryonic stage of development has over other forms of adoption. It is, in the end, ultimately about them. They do not view their adoption journey as a rescue mission relating to the Gospel of Jesus Christ – rescuing frozen children placed for adoption by their biological parents1 as a response to God’s love2. The reality is that embryo adoption exists because of sinful IVF practices however most do not view it that way. Their language seemingly glorifies the biological parents as if they are noble or virtuous for having placed their own children for adoption.3
Having been closely involved in many embryo adoption groups, it is evident that the predominant and prevailing view is one that commodifies children seeing them primarily as a means to fulfill a desire for family building4 rather than a brokenness over the evidence of sin and the ungodly practices of IVF-ET that have become normative and common.
Notes
1I am referring specifically to professing Christian families in the embryo adoption program. It has surprised me how many Christian families do not speak about the problem of why these children even exist (namely practicing unbiblical uses of IVF-ET) nor do they speak much about how adopting these children is like any other form of adoption, and yet would speak highly of biological parents (donor parents as commonly referred to) in their act of placing their children for adoption.
2Adoption is possible because we as Christians were adopted ourselves into God’s own family. The one who rescues these children is God Himself who sovereignly elects, justifies, and adopts His own people. He then places the conviction and desire to bring other children in need of families into some of His people’s hearts. Lastly, He providentially provides through the adoption process to bring children into certain families. Just as it would be inaccurate to say the water saved a family from a burning home as we would all accept that it was the firefighter using the means of water to save the family; in the same way, adoptive families are not so much the rescuers of these children as the means by which God Himself uses to rescue children from a life void of the family structure unit and as a means to bring His gospel to these children.
3I should note that there are certain situations in which biological parents placing their children for embryo adoption is the most loving action. Such situations may result from maternal health conditions amongst other reasons. While this should be noted, anecdotally, it certainly does not represent why most parents choose to place their own children for embryo adoption.
4What I am not saying is that couples struggling with infertility and pursuing embryo adoption are commodifying children. Majority of families adopting embryos are couples who have struggled with infertility. God has sovereignly used infertility to lead many couples onto the adoption path, and there is certainly a beauty in the workings of God in that way. What I am more specifically referring to is the general observation amongst many adopting families in the embryo adoption community who primarily and often times solely see embryo adoption as a means to build a family without recognition and celebration of the spiritual realities that are evident in the motivations of other families pursuing other types of adoption.
Foreknown and Created 