Should we fear Genealogy-based DNA testing?

Many of my own family and friends have expressed suspicion, anxiety, and/or fear regarding genealogy-based DNA testing that has become available over the last decade. Americans in particular have a great deal of lingering animosity toward what is perceived as "Big Brother" or fascist statism that is ever-growing around the world. Whether or not those fears of Big Brother are truly legitimate at this time, is a question we all have to come to terms with individually. Granted, it wasn't long ago that Hitler and his regime (one of the ugliest Big Brothers the world has ever known) used "science" (eugenics) as a confirming justification to exterminate millions of Jews, Slavs, and Romani (Gypsies) peoples. There is no denying the reality... that legitimate and horrible dangers from even a "civilized" people can explode onto the world scene.

...but (and you likely knew a but was coming) we must also understand another reality... a reality which did not exist to the Nazis 70 years ago (and apparently didn't need to exist). Now, all it takes is a sneeze... or a cup of your own spit to determine your genetic make-up...  your genetic identity. If Big Brother or Wall Street or Insurance companies or Obama's health and science czars... truly want your DNA in order to categorize you in some hostile or discriminatory fashion, it will not take much for them to do it (they don't need a blood sample). Of course some fear 'they' are already doing it (privately), but publicly we know some parts of the world, such as the U.K., are collecting large DNA data-banks, primarily for known-criminals.

The real crux of the matter is this (irrespective of tyrannical regimes and fears). Your DNA belongs to YOU! My DNA belongs to me! And you (and I) have an unalienable right to know what our DNA says. Why should Federal, State, County, or City law enforcement know something about YOU that you don't even know about you? If they are going to know, and they likely do or will soon... then why allow fear to keep you from ever knowing what your own DNA says? If it is so easy for them to obtain, then why not use that ease to find out for yourself?

Your DNA and my DNA tells a fascinating and beautiful story. The complexity of design in our DNA is likely one of the greatest threats to Darwinism, thus our DNA provides another mechanism or reason to give esteem to the Creator of the Universe.

Our DNA also provides fascinating evidence that the promises gives to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and Ephraim... promises that their seed would become a great multitude in the earth... have LITERALLY come to pass.

But do you personally need to be tested to know those promises were fulfilled or to give Him esteem? No, you do not. And most believers will likely not ever get tested, and that is okay. Yet, I've seen first hand that people who take the step of being tested, are the ones who begin to understand how they fit into the big picture. It is truly a fascinating study... and an intriguing journey! Indeed, Yah put a story in our DNA... and I believe He did it for multiple reasons.

Many won't get tested out of caution or fear of the government. Many won't get tested because of the money factor. Many won't get tested simply because they don't care. And many won't get tested because they are concerned about some genetic-disease that may be uncovered and possibly reported to insurance companies.

Even so, some will get tested... or eventually will... and to those I pray will use the understanding and beauty of their genetic identity as a means to bring honor and esteem to Yah, their Maker!

Hoping many more will allow their genetic story to be told.

Shalom mishpacha,
Hanok

P.S. I've personally been tested by FamilyTreeDNA, 23andMe, and SMGF. I still prefer and find FamilyTreeDNA the most useful and valuable (with the largest volunteer database, among many other things), however it may seem my recommendation of FamilyTreeDNA is due solely on the affiliate link commission I receive if you order via my link, but actually, if any of the other companies out there were better, I would try to affiliate with them and refer you to them instead, but the others are simply not better for genealogy purposes. That is a fact... which may change in the future, but it is the current reality because FamilyTreeDNA has a huge jump on the others.