Question from a reader:

I was challenged to explain why prolife people can be for war that kills some innocents (for the good of the situation and others lives) and not see the parallels in embryonic stem cell research for those whose lives would be protected and health cured. I would love to know your take on this.

Answer from Randy Alcorn:

Genesis 9 institutes capital punishment for murder. Scripture demonstrates there's such a thing as just war by God commanding Israel to go to battle. If to kill in battle is inherently wrong, always wrong, God would not have commanded it. Self defense is implied as legitimate in that protection of human life is something we're called on to do (e.g. Proverbs 24), and not only our neighbors, but we are created in his image.

We don't enter a war with the intent of killing the innocent as the objective and purpose of the war. A just cause for war may be to intervene on behalf of an innocent third party, to punish an evil or aggressor nation, or to defend one's own nation against aggression or overthrow. Christian Research Institute has some great information on war at this site: http://www.equip.org/

Embryonic stem cell research involves using cells from five-day-old living human embryos. These tiny humans are cut open and stem cells are extracted from him or her. Obtaining and using embryonic stem cells is unethical, as it requires the direct killing of an innocent human. And there are still major problems with embryonic stem cell research done on animals that have not been solved.

The use of adult stem cells (obtained from bone marrow, cord blood and many other organs) is ethical and beneficial. Research dollars are precious and few and need to be directed to the most hopeful and ethical avenue for advancement and that is adult stem cell research.

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