Father Paul


		Sunday, Nov. 21, 2004

What do you think of this story?

Click here to send a message to the editor.

Bad Links?
Other glitches?
Notify Webmaster

Dear Father Paul

Father Paul Massey is Vicar of Church Of The Holy Cross, Charismatic Episcopal Church. Services (including prayer for healing) at 6 p.m. at the Historic Train Depot 250 Lanier Ave. East in downtown Fayetteville. Visitors welcome.

Dear Father Paul: Some of my friends and I were talking in school a few days ago. We argued on whether we think human cloning is right. What does the Bible say, and what are your views? — James Brown, South Africa (via The Citizen’s Web site).

Dear James: Thanks for your excellent question. I believe that producing human beings through the cloning process is wrong and ought not be done under any circumstances. Aside from the very obvious commercial interests (greed?) of the scientists who are promoting human cloning to either create a race of supermen, by cloning only the very brightest and best (the idea of a man named Adolf Hitler around 60 years ago) or producing "sub-humans" so that their body parts can be "mined" for transplantation, human cloning is wrong from a Biblical standpoint.

The simple fact is that the scientists who are proposing the cloning of humans are trying to "play God." That is they are wanting to do things, namely make a human, which God reserved for Himself alone. This human desire of man to elevate himself to the level of God is the basis of humanism. It had its beginning in Genesis 3:2-5 when Satan told Adam & Eve that they could "be like God." Interestingly, his lies haven't changed much over all the years, but lots of people still fall into his trap.

Psalm 119:73 and Psalm 139 (all) with emphasis on verses 13-16 are really good answers to your question. Also, Jeremiah 1:4-5 clearly indicates that God reserves the making of a man or a woman for Himself.

Really, when you stop and think about it, "man creating human life" is man's next logical step in his downward spiral. After all, we have been playing God through "ending life," i.e. murder, wars and now abortion since Cain killed Abel; why not try to create life? Having said all of this, I will not be at all surprised when the first human baby is cloned, probably in this decade.

Dear Father Paul: Will the recent death of Arafat bring about peace in the Middle East? — Dana, Fayetteville.

Dear Dana: No, at least not a permanent or long lasting peace. The Bible clearly teaches that there will be no more than short periods of peace until The Prince of Peace returns to the earth. Christians can (and should) pray for peace, but we should pray even harder for Christ's return.

Dear Father Paul: I saw you at the Post Office recently and notice that you wear a white clerical collar. Why? — Jerry, Fayetteville.

Dear Jerry: It is a symbol and symbols are very powerful things. I wear a wedding ring too. It's a symbol of my lifelong commitment to Judy, my wife. It's just a piece of metal, but it has a deep meaning. The American flag is a symbol as well. It is just a piece of cloth, but it has deep meaning to all of us who love America. When it goes by in a parade, we even place our hand over our heart in respect. Lots of soldiers have even died "defending the flag." The collar I wear represents a slave collar worn be Roman slaves in Biblical times, and through it I am saying that I am a slave to Christ. It is a lot like wearing a cross or a "fish symbol" except that the collar is generally reserved for ministers. A growing number of ministers are wearing the collar, but many do not which is perfectly OK. Another neat thing is that the collar lets people know that God has not abandoned them; He's here through me! Total strangers often walk up to me and ask for a blessing or a question about God. Wow!

Father Massey will answer your questions. Write to him at paulmassey@earthlink.net or P. O. Box 510, Fayetteville, GA 30214.