Is Surrogacy a Sin?

What is Surrogacy?

Surrogacy is the act of a couple making another woman deliver a baby(normally for compensation), only to receive the child afterwards. In short, it is like buying a baby from someone. There are two types of surrogacy: traditional and in vitro fertilization (IVF). Traditional surrogacy consists of a man impregnating a woman, only to take the child to raise with another woman. IVF is a procedure in which an ovum is removed from a woman's ovary and combined with sperm outside the body to form an embryo. This embryo is then placed into the surrogate to be carried to term.

Is Traditional Surrogacy a Sin?

As this type is simply fornication, which is most certainly a sin, we can confidently say this is a sin. In the book of Galatians. It says, "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness," (Galatians 5:19 KJV). Another passage that speaks to the sinfulness of fornication is found in the book of Ephesians. It says: "But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints," (Ephesians 5:3 KJV). Here, the apostle Paul is instructing the believers in Ephesus to abstain from any form of sexual immorality, including fornication, because it is improper for those who are followers of God. "But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood," (Acts 15:20 KJV). As Luke too writes, a person should abstain from fornication.

Is In Vitro Fertilization a Sin?

As such a procedure is far after the Bible, it truly is a challenge to figure out if it is truly incorrect. Many denominations will forbid IVF for it almost forces another to be in the marriage and can cause grief from the surrogate. As these procedures are harming another in this manner, it seems wise to choose other methods such as adoption to obtain a child if one is unable.

Work Cited:

Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "surrogate motherhood". Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 Apr. 2023, https://www.britannica.com/topic/surrogate-motherhood. Accessed 14 June 2023.