Later today I am flying Southwest out of Nashville to Albuquerque. By late this evening I should be somewhere near Taos and some of the best flyfishing on the planet. It has become an annual tradition for seven former Catacombs hallmates to gather together for fun and fellowship. We typically end up in a cabin somewhere within a two hour radius of our alma mater. This is our most ambitious trip yet. I have been so busy at work lately to think about this weekend, but now that the time is here the excitement is building. I am very thankful for our friendships and the fact that we have remained so tight over the years. I hope you all have a relaxing Labor Day weekend, too.

Last week the biotech industry announced with great fanfare that they had finally found a way to extract and reproduce stem cells without destroying the human embryo from which they came. While this was great news to some — breaking the barriers placed by the Bush administration — the debate over the commodification of human life is far from over. In recent years the biotechnology industry has been gaining attention in the national media. Some of this news is prompted by advances in technology. However, part of the “progress” is not anything new at all, but instead has simply come about because of a conscious decision to go against long held ethical beliefs regarding research on human embryos (i.e., using the same methods employed in the fertility treatment industry). In a world were the ends are increasingly justifying the means, it should come as no surprise that this moral shift has gone largely unnoticed.* In fact, many people, including the Church to a large degree, lag far behind in terms of addressing the ethical issues that are rapidly rising in our “brave new world.”

The following quote (including an embedded quote in italics) comes from an article in the most recent Covenant magazine, Why the Biotech Future Needs the Church by Dr. C. Ben Mitchell. You can access the full article by downloading the Fall 2006 issue from Covenant Seminary’s website.

Mitchell writes:

…in his most recent book, The Singularity Is Near, inventor Ray Kurzweil argues in more than 650 pages why he thinks humans will one day transcend their biology. Actually, Kurzweil says that humans will reach “the Singularity” in 2045.

The Singularity will represent the culmination of the merger of our biological thinking and existence with our technology, resulting in a world that is still human but transcends our biological roots. There will be no distinction, post-Singularity, between human and machine or between physical and virtual reality.

The melding of the human and the machine will mean a disembodied existence in the realm of the nonbiological. That is, humans will merge with computers and the vast network of other computer minds. ‘The principal assumption,’ maintains Kurzweil, ‘underlying the expectation of the Singularity is that non-biological mediums will be able to emulate the richness, subtlety, and depth of human thinking.

The questions these ideas raise for Christians are numerous. How does Kurzweil’s vision correspond or otherwise relate to the Biblical vision of the New Heavens and New Earth and of the resurrected and glorified body? How does the biotech revolution relate to the vision of God to “restore all things to their rightful and more glorious place and function in Jesus Christ” and, derivitively, to the Commission of the Church? How does the biological/technological convergence/revolution relate to the call to “make disciples of Jesus Christ” (i.e. people whose lives conform more and more to the restored image of God’s perfections and righteousness in Jesus Christ)?

The article is intriguing on a number of levels, not the least by its exposure of another gap in evangelical thinking: just as we are waking up to the environmental aspects of our Commission, we continue to be deaf and blind to the technological aspects of our Commission. Of course, we all rejoice at the potentials for evangelism and publication that are afforded by the technological boom; but on a deeper, more profound level the question is, “In what ways does God-given skill in the areas of computer programming, artificial intelligence and biotech research factor into God’s grand, redemptive scheme in Jesus Christ?”

As we debate these questions I think we need to avoid extremely superficial responses of “use those skills to create evangelism software; evangelizing robots; and cross-shaped kidneys,” as well as the extremely post-mil positivism and triumphalism of “let us find and/or create the ‘holiness’ gene and genetically engineer a race of holiness!” Instead, at the outset we ought to understand and admit that God’s Commission in Christ drives us to a work much more profound than “mere evangelism” (the gospel, after all, was first ‘enfleshed’ before it was announced) and one much more refined than gross genetic engineering (after all, Christ as the “seed” of God’s restorative agenda is merely the New Testament’s starting point for understanding and living life as God’s new creations).

* Based on the new news, this post has been edited. The striken text is original; the italic text was added 8/31/06. See this comment for more information.

Jesus Christ, upon whose shoulders the government rests, whose name is called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace; of the increase of whose government and peace there shall be no end; who sits upon the throne of David, and upon His kingdom to order it and to establish it with judgment and justice from henceforth, even forever (Isaiah 9:6-7); having all power given unto Him in heaven and in earth by the Father, who raised Him from the dead and set Him at His own right hand, far above all principality and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come, and has put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the Head over all things to the Church, which is His body, the fullness of Him that filleth all in all (Ephesians 1:20-23); He, being ascended up far above all heavens, that He might fill all things, received gifts for His Church, and gave all offices necessary for the edification of His Church and the perfecting of His saints (Ephesians 4:10-13).

Jesus, the Mediator, the sole Priest, Prophet, King, Saviour, and Head of the Church, contains in Himself, by way of eminency, all the offices in His Church, and has many of their names attributed to Him in the Scriptures. He is Apostle, Teacher, Pastor, Minister, Bishop and the only Lawgiver in Zion.

It belongs to His Majesty from His throne of glory to rule and teach the Church through His Word and Spirit by the ministry of men; thus mediately exercising His own authority and enforcing His own laws, unto the edification and establishment of His Kingdom.

Christ, as King, has given to His Church officers, oracles and ordinances; and especially has He ordained therein His system of doctrine, government, discipline and worship, all of which are either expressly set down in Scripture, or by good and necessary inference may be deduced therefrom; and to which things He commands that nothing be added, and that from them naught be taken away.

Since the ascension of Jesus Christ to heaven, He is present with the Church by His Word and Spirit, and the benefits of all His offices are effectually applied by the Holy Ghost.

Preface to the P.C.A.’s The Book of Church Order, I. THE KING AND HEAD OF THE CHURCH

I have watched with amusement both my own behavior and others over the process of adding and removing links from blogrolls. Should you ask first? Are you endorsing the linked sites content? Is there an optimum length for your blogroll? What would cause you to remove a link and should I/you be offended? Now that I have a comment policy, do I need a blogrolling one, too?

…changed my life?
Understanding the Times: The Religious Worldviews of Our Day and the Search for Truth, by David A. Noebel. I read this book in college as the basis for a class taught by of the toughest profs on campus. In true hedonistic fashion I signed up for two of his classes in the same semester! On top of that I got mono. While my other studies lagged, I put all my energy into soaking up this book (while resting in bed of course).

…I’ve read more than once?
The Lord of the Rings, by J.R.R. Tolkien. In seventh grade my brother gave me a boxed set (including The Hobbit). I have read these three times and can hopefully read them to my sons in a few years.

…I would want with me on a deserted island?
The 1928 Book of Common Prayer. I know, you thought I was going to say The Bible. However, I recall having this while sequestered on jury duty for six weeks and I appreciated the liturgy and the rich prayers. A close second for this question was SAS Survival Handbook: How to Survive in the Wild, in Any Climate, on Land or at Sea, by John “Lofty” Wiseman.

…made me laugh?
A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail, by Bill Bryson. Ever since that February 1987 issue of National Geographic magazine I have had a yearning to hike the Appalachain Trail. Bryson’s account is immensely entertaining and informative.

…made me cry?
The Giving Tree, by Shel Silverstein. I am actually not the type to cry when reading a book (you should see me at the movies). However, I have a hard time keeping the eyes from misting up when reading to my kids about the love of a tree for a boy. Of course, a quick remedy for that is to flip the book over and look at the picture of Silverstein on the back.

…I wish had been written?
The Silmarillion, by J.R.R. Tolkien. It is not that this book was never “written,” but rather it was never “finished.” It was edited and published posthumously by Tolkien’s son Christopher, along with the help of Guy Gavriel Kay. I find it both rich and severely lacking, which is sad when you consider that Tolkien reportedly considered it to be his most important literary work.

…I wish had never been written?
When Bad Things Happen to Good People, by Harold Kushner. You cannot deny the suffering and anger that Kushner experienced when his son died of a degenerative disease. However, in coping with the loss Rabbi Kushner denies the sovereignty and omnipotence of God. Over four million copies sold.

…I am currently reading?
Ministries of Mercy: The Call of the Jericho Road, by Tim Keller. I have actually not started reading it yet, but tomorrow morning I will pick up a copy at our men’s breakfast. After a summer hiatus, we are picking up where our church’s discipleship program left off.

…I’ve been meaning to read?
Habits of the High-Tech Heart: Living Virtuously in the Information Age, by Quentin J. Schultze. My wife read this for one of the classes she took to maintain her teaching certification. I keep telling myself that I need to read it. So many books; so little time.

It was Willa who tagged me, so apparently I am supposed to do this to five other bloggers. My initial reaction was “Aw…,” but after posting I feel like the effort has been worth it. Below are the chosen (Note: I had to pick folks that might actually read this post, as I am not going to go off and bug people).

• Batch
• Baus
• Ben
• mrscrumley
• stelmodad