The fire siren sounded in the calm of the evening and two huge fire-tankers rumbled along the road. An alarm system had been installed in the community and somebody had the sense to push the alarm button at the first sign of trouble. Much later we learned that a major disaster had been avoided because the alarm button had been pushed.
One day a boat-builder pushed an alarm button but nobody took him seriously. In the end his was the only boat that could sail and he was safe when a flood destroyed his whole world.
Earlier even than that God created a range of creatures, and a food bowl, and put the alarm button in place right from the beginning. He said, ‘Be fruitful and increase,’ and then he added ‘Let the earth bring forth living creatures, according to their various kinds; cattle, creeping things, and wild animals, all according to their various kinds.’ Everything must breed after its own kind and when somebody begins to mess with genetics and cross-mixes the various kinds of creatures and foods, it is time to push the alarm button.
But it gets even more serious than that. God made mankind in his own image, ‘In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.’ He celebrated the event with a garden wedding, blessing them and saying, ‘Be fruitful and increase, fill the earth and subdue it, have dominion over the fish in the sea, the birds of the air, and every thing that moves on the earth.’ (Genesis 1:24,27,28).
Crossing the genetic structure of human beings with animal genes defaces the likeness of God in man. The commandment is defied and God is mocked because man alters the image of God.
God said don’t do it because ‘I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God,’ and when God’s jealousy is unlocked it is unstoppable for generations.” (Exodus 20:4,5).
It is time to get the fire-tankers rumbling down the road and I am guilty of pushing the alarm button on genetic engineering. My prayer is that it will prevent a major disaster.
Elizabeth Price
By Just a Minute team writer Elizabeth Price. You can contact Elizabeth direct at mailto:reprice@dragnet.com.au