Jehovah's Witnesses; Why do you refuse blood transfusions?

Question

I ask because there is no Biblical evidence to suggest that blood transfusions are a sin against God. Yes I am aware of sciptures that you keep quoting such has:
Acts 15:20
Leviticus 17:10 – 12
Leviticus 17:13 - 14
But all those scriptures seem to talk about is the eating of blood.
So I can understand that Jehovah's Witnesses will not eat things like Black Pudding or strangled game. But I cannot understand how they can:
A) Let themselves die
B) Let a loved one die
and
C) Let a child die
Please, only sensible answers.

Answer 1

PLEASE READ ME



The why has been covered in other posts. But this should clear up some misconceptions.



When I gave birth to my first daughter, I had an episiotomy and they used forceps. Due to the manner the forceps were used I was torn all the way down my birthing canal on both sides, plus my episiotomy tore.



Needless to say, the doctors wanted to give me blood. I am one of Jehovah's Witnesses, so I will not take blood. What most people don't know, is that we take this issue very seriously. We research ALL options. We discuss with our doctors in advance, JUST IN CASE. I filled out a Medical Directive, indicating what alternatives I would have no issues with. (I believe I gave 3 or 4 options).



My doctor refused to look at the directive, and told the nurse I could go home with Iron Tablets since I didn't care if I lived or died. My husband called one of our local elders, who is on the Medical Liason Committee. He brought research articles from both JW's and non JW's. My doctor refused to look at those things, as well. We had to get another doctor on board before I could then stay and get treatment. I was not sent home for 5 days. All the while, I was receiving one of the four options I had in place in my medical directive before I ever went into labor. By the way, my daughter was fine. The most beautiful thing I've ever seen (and worth all the trouble.)



Life is just as precious to us as to anyone else, we choose to live our lives, to the best of our ability, in a manner that pleases God.

Answer 2

It states, His birth parents, Lindberg Sr. and Rachel Wherry, who do not have custody and flew from Boise, Idaho, to be at the hearing, believed their son should have had the transfusion and suggested he had been unduly influenced by his legal guardian, his aunt Dianna Mincin, who is also a Jehovah's Witness. After reading his I wondered why all this time the boy was sick and his parents never came until he went to court. As for him being unduly influenced The judge made his point: The judge said his decision was based strictly on facts. "I don't believe Dennis' decision is the result of any coercion. He is mature and understands the consequences of his decision," With the transfusions and other treatment, the boy had been give a 70 percent chance of surviving the next five years. If a person follows what they believe in right, and that belief is in the Bible, why should he not follow it. Just to live a few extra years. God tells us if we follow his laws he will bring us back to life. The boy decided to follow the Bible and God has not forgotten him.

Answer 3

God's word forbids it: Genesis 9:3, 4; Leviticus 3:17; 7:26, 27; 17:10, Deuteronomy 12:16, 23; 1 Samuel 14:32; Acts 15:28, 29.

Answer 4

Hi there,

you can find a free download of Blood 2 The Chosen here: http://bit.ly/1pnRLqM



Finally the full version is avaiable!

This game is based on the 'Shoot first, ask questions later' philosophy. How you play it depends on the character that you choose, as each of them has different abilities and magic powers.

For me, it's the best game ever.

Answer 5

Im not a Jehovah's witness per se but I would not let the government put a needle in me for any amount of money in the world after what I have learned.

too much coincidence with the outbreak of AIDS in Africa occuring at the same exact time that they were vaccinated. The native American peoples told the white man that eventually your government will do to you what it has done to us. This is now coming true. Look at the poor, white, black or native american.

Life and death is a process of God's choosing and they choose to embrace death and trust God to handle it. As I would. Sure we are scared for we do not know, but Jesus went first to show us the way. Our ultimate goal is freedom from being trapped on Earth (satan's domain) and freed from flesh. To know ultimate love in the arms of our Father finally.

I just pray my end will be peaceful and not a long drawn out painful death such as AIDS. Vaccinnes have also messed people up bad, autism, adhd and so on. To try to live no matter what is useless because we all die eventually.

Answer 6

First, you should know that only 10% of those refusing blood transfusions are JWs. Hasidic Jews and Japanese Buddhists, as well as many others don't. Both of which also believe the soul as being in the blood.



Transfusion have always been unsafe to some extent, but it has gotten worse of late. In Birtain, anyone under age 18 can only receive blood donated in America due to contamination by Mad Cow Disease. There was a conference here in Kansas City of people from donation centers all over the world. Britain is considering shutting down their programs all together and use only imported blood. I've faced that decision twice, having been in two semi truck wrecks.



There are a lot of things the Bible clearly doesn't say not to do. When your children do something they know they shouldn't be doing, but of which you never clearly spelled out, is it okay?



There are a growing number of hospitals going bloodless. UCLA is now doing bloodless transplants.

Answer 7

Jehovah's Witnesses do not consume, donate or transfuse blood, because God Himself consistently made it clear for humans to "abstain from blood". God began with commanding Noah and his family to abstain from blood. (Gen. 9:4) He repeated this through the Mosaic law (Lev. 7:26, 27; 17:10, 11, 13, 14) and He continued to remind us through the pages of the New Testament. (Acts 15:28, 29; Acts 15:19, 20) This is because God has obviously attached a highly important moral principle to blood. (Lev. 17:11)



Because this command went as far back as Noah, Andrew Fuller, viewed by some as "perhaps the most eminent and influential of Baptist theologians," wrote:



"This, being forbidden to Noah, appears also to have been forbidden to all mankind; nor ought this prohibition to be treated as belonging to the ceremonies of the Jewish dispensation. It was not only enjoined before that dispensation existed, but was enforced upon the Gentile Christians by the decrees of the apostles, Acts XV. 20. . . . Blood is the life, and God seems to claim it as sacred to himself." - The Complete Works of the Rev. Andrew Fuller (1836), p. 751.



How Important is it to "Abstain From Blood"?



A close examination of the wording used at Acts 15:28, 29 shows how important it is for Christians to "abstain from blood":



"For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these ESSENTIALS ['these necessary things' - RSV]: that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication; if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well. Farewell." - Acts 15:28, 29 (NASB)



The wording of the Scriptures here does not indicate that this is a relatively unimportant commandment. It says it is "ESSENTIAL".



"Don't Jehovah's Witnesses Want to Live?"



The fact that Jehovah's Witnesses want to live is evidenced by their closely following the advances made in the field of bloodless medicine and surgery. There are endless examples and much documentation of their utilization of this.



Some critics of Jehovah's Witnesses have made false accusations concerning Jehovah's Witnesses' motivations in abstaining from blood. But would Jehovah's Witnesses REALLY be so eager to find quality, medical alternatives to blood transfusions for themselves and their children whom they deeply love if their refusal of blood was tantamount to a form of suicide or a "right to die" as some opposers falsely claim?



Christians who truly follow God's command to "abstain from blood" do not decline all therapies. They reject just one therapy, which even many experts admit come with dangers.



Also see:



Why don’t Jehovah’s Witnesses accept blood transfusions?

http://www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/faq/jehovahs-witnesses-why-no-blood-transfusions/

Answer 8

yes eating blood is condemned by God,

and Jesus said very clearly if you save your life you will lose it, but i fyou lose your life for the sake of the gospel you will gain it a hundredfold.

i think the epistle of philipines says that it is better to die and go to be with god than to live and suffer. therefore letting someone die of natural causes is a mercy killing. *er uhm, Cough, choke, Cough. the bible also says that all murders are the cause of the church of satan. if a child dies because of some conspiracy or intent, than it is not the judgment of God upon the parents but upon those that have chosen to poison a child. If a child is saved it is the will of the Father God and the faiths of the parents and the child.



But partaking of blood is condemned 3 different ways, eating black pudding if it is made with blood should be refused but even paul said if it is done without knowledge how can there be a sin?



Remember blood transfusions Killed many people before they understood blood types. and therefore blood does kill. it is also an abomination to drink blood like a vampire! but the practice was to drink blood in the hunt and get the strenghth from the victim. Life is in the blood. But the spirit is the life of God. and therefore the spirit is what blesses God.

Answer 9

Seems as though I've come to this question kind of late and the question has been answered thoroughly, despite persons who are not JWs attempting to disparage our conscientious stand. Jehovah's Witnesses have no desire to become martyrs. We love life and do all that we can to preserve our lives without resorting to disobedience to God. At Matthew 16:25 Jesus said "For whoever wants to save his soul will lose it; but whoever loses his soul for my sake will find it." We firmly believe that obedience to God results in our everlasting welfare, whereas if we are disobedient in order to save our present life, it will only be temporary.

Answer 10

acts 15:29

i am a Jehovah's witnesses and it says in that scripture to abstain from blood so we refuse blood transfusions. it is hard refusing knowing that u might die but it says in the bible to abstain from it so we do. and about the children dying if u had a child and were a Jehovah's witness yes it would be hard to refuse one because u know if the child does not have one they will die but we listen to what god said in the bible.

in acts 15:29 it says to abstain from blood and at the end of that scripture it says that if you abstain from it u will prosper and it also says good health to you. so we do not take blood transfusions .

in the bible they also have other scriptures about blood. so i hope you understand now.

Answer 11

well sometimes in many religions they take what you have in the bible and kinda of make apply to more things. It's the interpretation of the bible. In those days blood transfusion werent frequent so it's hard to say that god was speaking about that. I mean it that was the case jesus said that a divorce woman will always be adulterous so why after a divorce people still get married. I think that some parts arent as up to date with the things that we face and the reasons we face them.

Answer 12

I am not a Jehova's witness .... But even I think that it is a good idea .... Just think about all the people that have been given Aids thought blood transfusions.... And CJD in the UK etc........ You would have to be mad to even go to hospital these days let alone have someone elses blood put inside of you.......

Answer 13

Just think about it logically.



If your doctor said you needed to abstain from alcohol would you assume he meant it was ok for you to skip drinking it and just injectit directly into your veins. That doesn't even make sence abstain means abstain not don't eat.

Answer 14

BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS DO NOT ALWAYS SAVE LIVES. I HAD A NEPHEW THAT WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT, THE DOCTORS TOLD HIS PARENTS HE NEEDED A TRANSFUSION OR HE WOULD DIE, THE WIFE, ONE OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES DECLINED BECAUSE OF HER BELIEFS, THE HUSBAND, NOT A WITNESS ACCEPTED THE TRANSFUSION FOR HIS SON. THE SON DIED WITHIN HOURS. MANY PEOPLE DIE AS A RESULT OF TRANSFUSIONS. IT IS A VERY RISKY BUSINESS THAT NOT EVEN MOST DOCTORS WANT TO DEAL WITH. IT IS BECAUSE OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES THAT MEDICAL SCIENCE HAS FOUND WAYS TO PERFORM BLOODLESS SURGERY, BLOOD SALVATION MACHINES HAVE BEEN INVENTED WHICH ALLOWS THE PATIENTS BLOOD TO FLOW THROUGH ARTIFICIAL ARTERIES RATHER THAN BE STORED AND RISK CONTAMINATION. I PERSONALLY THANK THEM. REMEMBER, IT WASN'T ALL THAT LONG AGO THAT BLOOD LETTING WAS CONSIDERED NECESSARY TO SAVE LIVES. HOW BARBARIC ARE BOTH IDEA'S.

Answer 15

Only since 1945 did JW leaders call blood transfusions 'pagan and God-dishonouring'. One JW elder said on BBC Radio 4 that 'perhaps 1,000 Witnesses or more die per year' (in 1998). from 1961 disfellowshipping became the punishment for those accepting 'disallowed' blood fractions and whole blood. JW sincerity is not in doubt! But there are intriguing anomalies in the reasons given for their stance.



From their own literature we read repeatedly things like: "Thus the determination of JWs to abstain from blood is based on God's Word the Bible... The fundamental reason why they do not accept blood transfusions is what the Bible says. Theirs is basically a religious objection, not a medical one." If that is true, why is the vast bulk of their literature on the subject all about MEDICAL reasons for abstaining? Why do they never acknowledge how lives are saved by blood? Millions of people have lived because of receiving blood!



The bottom line is this: even if there was not one single medical reason for refusing blood, JWs would still refuse it, even if that meant dying. So let's sweep all the medical reasons aside, for they are only window dressing. Prior to 1945 no JWs thought about the subject. Then their leaders printed articles explaining their interpretation of scriptures that mentioned blood; later their leaders used disfellowshipping to help 'encourage' members to comply. But in the last 20 years or so, there has been a huge change of policy, so much so that the goal-posts are so far apart now that myriad blood fractions that werre once 'disapproved' are now 'allowed'. The only real hurdle now is whole blood. In other words, JWs can have just about any blood fraction (or combination) as long as all the 'allowed' components are not held together in the 'skin' of whole blood. They are also backing down on the disfellowshipping matter. That's great for current JWs faced with the dilemma, but heartbreaking for relatives of JWs who died due to toeing the older JW line.



When about 12 men in Brooklyn hold such control over millions of people to the extent of life or death, the question must be faced - is this really God's doctrine, or is it the doctrine of men? Yes, the Bible has much to say about the sanctity of life and blood, but when the symbol for life becomes more important than life itself, someone is wrong - and it's not God. If JWs think they can please God by dying for choosing to refuse life-saving blood, they have completely misunderstood the grace of God, and the freedom for which Christ shed his blood. He sets Christians FREE from man-made regulations!

Answer 16

My stupid Mother-in-Law refused a transfusion incase it was Blood from a Black person!

Answer 17

We abstain from blood in ANY FORM because of what blood means for us. It is the source of life and the means by which we have salvation (Jesus' sacrifice). It belongs to our creator and he told us that it is to be poured out into the ground, not used.



Blood is sacred.



Whoever said that we donate our own blood for storage for our own use in case of an accident is mistaken or misinformed. As a group, Jehovah's Witnesses do not do this.

Answer 18

why would you want some strangers blood.. the mayority of people who donate blood need the money (yes blood is sold) now how many people that you know of have died because they didnt recieve a blood transfusion? and how many poeple die because they recieve a blood transfusion? the number is greater when the transfusion is given.. as a JW i have soooo many alternatives that are much more safer then a transfusion of blood. another thing is that doctors are not god. they cant tell you how long your going to live. no one can. So dont throw stones at us if you dont know us.

Answer 19

Throughout their history, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society has had changing views on many medical issues, such as organ transplants,vaccinations, and of course blood transfusions.Jehovah's Witnesses place their lives on not the word of God, but on a group of men from Brooklyn New York. Although the mistreatment of blood itself is mentioned within the Holy Bible and the New World Translation, Jehovah's Witnesses abuse these particular scriptures to support their bizarre medical beliefs. After careful examination, is there really anything within the scriptures they use to indicate a prohibition against blood transfusions? Clearly not. The practice of blood transfusions was not developed until more than a thousand years after the New Testament was completed. This is transparent example of the Society twisting the verses from their original context to support their shaky and ever changing doctrine on blood. Humans abstaining from blood "transfusions" is not at all mentioned within the Holy Bible nor The New World Translation. The Watchtower Organization has also gone "too far" in suggesting it is a violation of God's law for animals to receive a blood transfusion as well. The Organization has also gone "too far" by suggesting to not purchase pet food, fertilizer or plywood containing blood. This everchanging and erroneous doctrine has cost thousands of lives and will continue to do so until the "faithful and discreet slave" sheds new light on the subject.

Answer 20

What are you willing to die for?



Your country? Your love ones?



If you die for your country you are a hero.



If you die for your family you are a hero.



If you are willing to die for your God, you are a fanatic.



Yet the number one or greatest commandment is to Love your God with your whole heart, mind, strength.



So if God is our loved one, shouldn't we be willing to die for him?



Jehovah's Witnesses do not desire to become martyrs for God.



My nephew is in the hospital with tears in his stomach, which have to heal on their own, 2-4 weeks, of not being able to eat anything.



How is he getting the nourishment he needs?



by intravenous feeding, the same as a person getting blood.



Abstain from blood is very simple to understand and obey.

Answer 21

I'm not JW - but I used to know one. Ithink it's something to do with the drawing of blood (from a human not an animal)

Answer 22

Jehovah's witnesses do not refuse blood transfusions. They just revuse to receive blood donated by someone else.



Most JWs will go in and donate blood ehrn they know they are going to have to have surgery, and may need blood during or after the surgery. I know this because Norma; a JW, and one of my former neighbors would donate blood in case she needed it during surgery.



I don't see why they couldn't donate blood every now and then and keep it at the blood bank in case there was an accident and they needed a transfusuion.

Answer 23

Yea I know, and if only 35,000 of yall are going to heaven any way you might want to pro-long your life, and not bank on the after life. And don't waste so much time stopping by my house.

Answer 24

Here are some reasons why Jehovah's Witnesses do not accept blood.

Acts 15:20 - but to write them to abstain from things polluted by idols and from fornication and from what is strangled and from blood.

Acts 15:29 - to keep abstaining from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication



Please notice that those verses do not say "abstain from eating/drinking blood", it is unqualified, and more general compared to the instructions about blood in the Hebrew scriptures where is states "do not EAT blood". See Gen 9:4.Why do you think Acts 15:29 has become a “general” instruction instead of being “specific” instruction?



If you are allergic to nuts or penicillin, the doctor will only say, “abstain from nuts or penicillin”, that covers everything, that is, nothing to be taken orally and to be transfused.



That the instructions in Acts 15 are permanent can also be seen in other scriptures, like Rev 2:14 for example, where Jesus has something AGAINST Pergamum, i.e., to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit fornication, which reflects the original instructions in Acts 15:29.



Making also an implication that it is okay to disobey Gods law when life is involved or if you are in serious bad health is wrong. Question for you, is it okay to worship Satan if you know that someone will kill you if you don’t?





Early Christians died and were thrown in the lion’s den and killed because of their faith. Some have seen even their own love ones died , their children, husband, wife, relatives, and other kins because of having faith in Jesus. Were they wrong to choose death because of their Christian faith? Were they wrong to die because they chose not to show even a little sign of worship to the Roman emperor or eat blood sausage?



Some people will send their kids to war and unfortunately their kids die. They died because they believe they have a noble cause. Christians believe we have a noble cause to die for, that is to remain faithful to Jesus and his Father, and show that Satan is a liar.





If someone died because of wrong blood type transfused OR got AIDS and died because of blood transfusion, who will be accounted for the cause of death? The one who transfused the blood, the who one gave his blood or the one who accepted it?





Is there any Bible account of a true Christian eating and drinking blood and using it for health purposes?



Did the early Christians eat blood sausage, or drink blood to cure any of their diseases or for nourishment as some people thought?



Is the instruction in Acts 15 only for consuming animal blood? I don't think so. Have you seen any Christian or God's people in the Bible that drank human blood for example? Drinking human blood was common in the old days for example to formally establish a covenant between alliances. So the instruction of "abstain from blood" is all encompassing. Notice it doesn't also states "abstain from blood of animals".



How important is obedience regarding the sanctity of blood? Lev 17:10 states that those who eat blood (which is the life) were cut off. How much more will the people who knowingly disobey Acts 15 (Abstain from blood) which is ordered by the holy spirit be cutoff by God?



10 “‘As for any man of the house of Israel or some alien resident who is residing as an alien in YOUR midst who eats any sort of blood, I shall certainly set my face against the soul that is eating the blood, and I shall indeed cut him off from among his people. 11 For the soul of the flesh is in the blood, and I myself have put it upon the altar for YOU to make atonement for YOUR souls, because it is the blood that makes atonement by the soul [in it]. 12 That is why I have said to the sons of Israel: “No soul of YOU must eat blood and no alien resident who is residing as an alien in YOUR midst should eat blood.”



If someone disrespects the blood of Christ, are you not really against Jesus and his Father? You can't show your love to God and Christ if you are not following their commandments and one of those commandments is to "abstain from blood". You can't be faithful in big things if you are not faithful in small things.



And besides, JWs want alternatives for blood transfusion. It doesn't mean that we just want to die. We want to live of course, but we want to live staying faithful to God and the instruction of the holy spirit in Acts 15. A lot of doctors are learning other alternatives to blood transfusion, and some hospitals are now offering what is called bloodless medicine. You might want to check it out.

Answer 25

i cant believe they would let their loved ones die, by refusing a blood transfusion!!! especially in this day and age!! its all done so clinically!!!

so i agree its a strange faith!!

Answer 26

They deny their kids blood transfusions as well, putting their religion before their kids. Barbaric.



I think it's so that it's "pure" or some other twaddle.

Answer 27

Hi there.



There is absolutely no Biblical justification for the refusal of blood transfusions. The prohibitions regarding blood in both the Old and New Testaments quite clearly refer to consuming animal's blood. Quite clearly, that is, to those who are able to look at the Bible objectively rather than under the unquestioning influence of the Watchtower's governing body.



As a born - again Christian, I am quite prepared (in principle) to be a passive martyr for what I believe to be the truth as clearly delineated in God's word. That may appear to be fanatical to some. However, the refusal of Shadrach, Meshach & Abed - Nego to commit the sin of idolatry and their subsequent rescue and honouring by God (Daniel chapter 3) shows that there are certain justifiable circumstances for putting one's life on the line according to one's Christian conscience. The three men in this account were faced with two possibilties - Violate a clear command of God (Exodus 20:3 - 5) or die. The J.W. situation is not comparable, because as I've already mentioned, the blood prohibitions are in regard to the consuming of animal's blood. Of course, in the indoctrinated, distorted thinking of the J.W. they believe that black is white and vice - versa if that is what they are told to believe. For instance, in regard to Christ's second coming, the Bible clearly says, "Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him..." (Revelation 1:7), yet the J.W. continues to believe that Christ's presence (parousia) is only an invisible one, not a literal, physical return. Why, when the Bible is so clear that is not the case ? It's all part of the cult mentality. "Authority" must not be questioned...



It's interesting to note that on page 100 of the Watchtower publication, "You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth", there is a photograph of a little girl being wheeled into an operating theatre with the caption, "With good reason, a parent will permit a beloved child to undergo a painful operation". Kind of ironic, considering how much blood of various dead children is on the hands of the Watchtower. Would that same parent still permit an operation where a blood transfusion from another source is required ? How beloved is the child then ?



J.W's like to parade their "unity" on doctrinal matters as evidence (in their eyes) that they are indeed the true Christian religious organisation. However, in regard to the matter of blood transfusions, that is actually not the case. Apparently there are dissenting voices among the Watchtower people and they even have their own website - www.ajwrb.org.



The J.W. teaching on blood is only one of many false doctrines which these (apparently) sincere but misguided people adhere to. The worst of all is their pseudo - Christian doctrine of salvation by works instead of the free gift of God to all who truly believe in Jesus Christ, His death & resurrection. Christians, can you find it in your hearts to pray for these "blind guides of the blind" who have no real hope, no peace and no salvation ?



May God bless you.



PS Interesting that Papa Bear is using the common beliefs of Christ - rejecting Jews & Buddhists to justify the Watchtower teaching on blood...



PPS Trustdell1's argument regarding Acts 15:29 is poor. The command to Gentile believers to abstain from blood is obviously given in the specific context of dietary restrictions, sandwiched between the instructions for abstention from food sacrificed to idols and from things strangled. Therefore, the command to abstain from blood is not a "general" one as suggested & does not cover blood transfusions.



Also... the general argument that many people contract AIDS or die from blood transfusions to support their stance is poor. Many lives are also saved by receiving them.

Answer 28

Jehovah's Witnesses believe in getting the best medical care available for themselves and their families. Many individuals among Jehovah's Witnesses are themselves physicians and other health care professionals.



It is sad when those who have theological differences with the Witnesses actively work to spread misinformation about their beliefs. The fact is that Jehovah's Witnesses have hundreds of hospital liaison committees around the globe to help advance nonblood medical management technologies and awareness in the medical community.



Jehovah's Witnesses believe that the scriptures demonstrate a clear pattern indicating the sacredness with which Jehovah God (and thus god-fearing humankind) views all creature blood.





Predates Mosaic Law.

For example, over a thousand years before the birth of Moses, the pre-Israel, pre-Jewish, pre-Hebrew man Noah received what the scriptures record as only the second restrictive command on humans (after Garden of Eden's tree):



"Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you; and as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything. Only you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood. For your lifeblood I will surely require a reckoning; of every beast I will require it [that is, lifeblood] and of man" (Genesis 9:3-5)





Jewish Law.

Later, God's feeling regarding blood was codified into the Mosaic Law. This part of the Law dealing with blood was unique in that it applied, not just to Israel, but also to non-Jewish foreigners among them. It's also interesting that besides forbidding the consumption of blood, the Law also mandated that it be 'poured out on the ground', not used for any purpose.



"No person among you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger who sojourns among you eat blood. Any man also of the people of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among them, who takes in hunting any beast or bird that may be eaten shall pour out its blood and cover it with dust." (Lev 17:12,13)



By comparison, it's significant that the Law also forbid the consumption of ceremonial animal fat, but that didn't apply to non-Jewish foreigners and it DID allow the fat to be used for other purposes.



"The LORD said to Moses, "Say to the people of Israel, You shall eat no fat, of ox, or sheep, or goat. The fat of an animal that dies of itself, and the fat of one that is torn by beasts, may be put to any other use" (Lev 7:22-24)





Early Christian era.

The Christian era ended the validity of the Mosaic Law, but remember that the restriction on eating blood preceded the Mosaic Law by over a thousand years. Still, does the New Testament indicate that Jehovah God changed his view of blood's sacredness?



"[God] freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses" (Eph 1:6,7)



"[God's] beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins... and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood" (Colossians 1:13-20)



"we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, but should write to them to abstain from the pollutions of idols and from unchastity and from what is strangled and from blood." (Acts 15:19,20)



"For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from unchastity." Acts 15:28,29





Modern times

Some will claim that the bible's command to "abstain" from blood only applies to eating it, and does not apply to the use of blood for other purpose. If that form of respect for blood were common among Christendom, one might wonder then why so many (who ostensibly follow the book of Acts) so happily eat their blood sausage and blood pudding if they truly respect blood according to some limited understanding of Acts 15:20,29. In fact, respect for blood and for Acts and for the Scriptures themselves is too rare among even supposedly god-fearing persons.



An honest review of the Scriptural pattern over the millenia from Noah to the Apostle Paul teaches humans that blood is to be used for a single purpose: acknowledging the Almighty. Otherwise, for centuries the instruction was to simply dispose of it; 'poor it upon the ground'. When Jehovah's Witnesses pursue non-blood medical management, they are working to honor and obey their Creator.





Learn more:

http://watchtower.org/e/hb/

http://watchtower.org/library/vcnb/article_01.htm

Answer 29

this proves why religion is impractical, insensible and downright dangerous. they couldn't possibly have a good enough reason for belonging to this cult, except that they feel forced or something.

Answer 30

Thy do have some strange beliefs.

Answer 31

it is their belief and decision-i personally dont agree with it .

Answer 32

they are not christian