I am not convinced that a vasectomie, which is a reversable procedure, is on par with killing an unborn child or cutting off a perfectly healthy leg. Neither of those can be undone.

I assure you I didn’t come to scoff. I came here because I enjoyed meeting you last week and talking with you about ancient Christian traditions. And I like your blog. It’s thoughtful, intelligent, well-written and funny. I felt compelled to comment because this story touches on a very serious moral issue that I think, sadly, has been overlooked by many Christians. Rereading my comment, I realize I stated my case a little too aggressively and may have sounded a bit inflammatory. I apologize. Please allow me to try again. I completely agreed with your analysis and I wanted to draw a logical inference from it. My point was that, like voluntary amputation, direct sterilization disregards the Hippocratic admonition to “do no harm.” It does violence to our bodily integrity and is rightly considered mutilation in that it renders an otherwise healthy organ inoperative. Is it not reasonable to ask why we consider maiming one part of our body morally impermissible and another permissible? Also, is it not a Biblical principle that our bodies belong to God and that we are to offer every part to Him as an instrument of righteousness? And shouldn’t St Paul’s warning about destroying our bodies give us serious pause in this matter? Shouldn’t we fear to offend a holy God who exalts our humble physical nature with His glorious presence?

Please understand I am not making a blanket condemnation of everyone who has been sterilized (there are many, I know). I think most simply don’t realize what they are doing. That’s why this poor sinner prays for their conversion.

Peace, Russ

““How long, O naive ones, will you love being simple-minded? Scoffers delight themselves in scoffing And fools hate knowledge?”