Last week, headlines hailed a new world record: A 74-year-old Indian woman gave birth to twins.

Days later, she and her husband were both in intensive care. Having the babies has nearly killed them.

After years of struggling to conceive, the couple opted for in vitro fertilization. As the Washington Post reported, the medical reviews were mixed: Some ethicists criticized their decision as irresponsible, while others defended their “right” to have children.

What the couple has probably succeeded in doing, God have mercy, is bringing orphans into the world.

In vitro fertilization is fraught with ethical challenges. Separating procreation from sex carries a host of moral, legal, and practical consequences. In our culture, the technology’s success has outpaced our ethics, often turning children into a “right,” or even worse, a product.

Churches must start counseling Christian couples on reproductive ethics. And, Christian couples, please do not embrace these technologies without wrestling with the serious ethical issues at stake.

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