Misconceiving IVF

In this carefully researched and very accessible volume, Dr. Josh Holler writes with biblical conviction, pastoral sensitivity, and ethical clarity about in vitro fertilization. He describes his own journey of discovery as his eyes were opened to the dilemmas involved in supporting IVF and being pro-life. Anyone considering IVF should read this book. Pastors and counselors should read this book. Family and friends of infertile couples should read this book. Unborn human lives hang in the balance.

Misconceiving IVF is a necessary call for the church to confront ethical questions it has too often avoided. Written with sensitivity to the pain of infertility, this book urges Christians to slow down and thoughtfully examine the ethical and moral realities of IVF. As reproductive technologies advance and expand, Christians can no longer afford to ignore the ethical implications of IVF and the fertility industry as a whole. Misconceiving IVF challenges readers to engage these issues with greater moral seriousness and theological reflection. Even where conclusions may be contested, the church must engage these technologies with theological depth and moral reflection. This book provides a clear, compelling, meaningful starting point for that work. Kallie Fell, MS, BSN, RN CBC, Executive Director Paul Ramsey Institute, Program Director

Josh writes with sensitivity and conviction toward those considering, engaged in, or having concluded IVF. This issue is personal and complex for couples who are unable to conceive a child naturally. While technology continues to advance and even expensive processes become more affordable through insurance coverage or government subsidies, the ethical and moral challenges remain. In Misconceiving IVF, Josh urges couples to tap the brakes and consider the implications of frozen embryos. Those frozen embryos need a family, and Josh articulates a path forward for families wanting to adopt children in danger of being discarded. Misconceiving IVF is not a light read. The issues are weighty—and that's why this book is so valuable.

Since children are a blessing, IVF may seem at first like a great thing. Yet a closer look reveals serious problems. This closer look is important and timely and can be found in this book. While I may not find all the arguments equally convincing, I do think that Misconceiving IVF gives a helpful overview of the topic and the various problems and concerns with the practice of IVF. Josh Holler not only provides an ethical evaluation of IVF, but he also writes with pastoral attentiveness to those who might be considering IVF or who have already used it, helping them to navigate their situation and the decisions they may face.

“If you are Pro-life, if you are Pro-Babies, if you are Pro-family, how can you not be Pro-IVF?” Doesn’t this question sound right, wholesome, and true? In this book, Josh Holler flips the script and instead asks, “If you are Pro-IVF, can you even call yourself Pro-life?” What many don’t realize, and what Holler exposes, is that IVF, while promising hope, destroys far more life than it creates. It is the forbidden fruit of the serpent, turning a godly desire for children into a gravely sinful idolatry. Holler’s book is a valuable resource for our time, shining a light upon the dark underbelly of a boundary-crossing practice while also offering wisdom and guidance to infertile couples seeking to honor God in the midst of their tragic plight.

Misconceiving IVF is a thoughtful, compassionate, and carefully reasoned treatment of one of the most difficult ethical questions facing the modern church. Josh writes with pastoral warmth, moral gravity, and intellectual honesty as he carefully explains the ethical concerns surrounding IVF while remaining deeply sensitive to the real grief and longing experienced by couples facing infertility. What makes this book especially helpful is its sensitivity to the different stages couples may find themselves in—whether considering IVF, in the midst of it, or reflecting on past decisions. Accessible to lay readers yet academically honest, this is an important and timely resource for pastors, couples, and churches seeking to think faithfully about life, marriage, and the gift of children.

Far too many Christians assume that if something “works” that it must be “good.” The rapidly growing use and unquestioning acceptance of IVF in even the most conservative and pro-life Christian communities in America demonstrates this shortsighted approach to reasoning through what are literally matters of life and death. Difficult ethical questions always demand careful biblical answers. And when those questions pertain to the life of vulnerable pre-born humans, and intersect with the sensitive subject of infertility, the stakes could not be higher! Thankfully, Dr. Holler rises to the occasion in this must-read book examining the morality of IVF through a comprehensive, scientifically informed, and scripturally sound worldview. This isn’t just a book for Christian couples considering IVF—it’s necessary reading for every pastor in America right now. And whether you agree with Dr. Holler’s conclusions or not (and I do), you will be challenged, edified, and blessed by the wisdom and careful reasoning contained within.