Does the Bible say blood transfusion is against God's law?

[Justin108]

Jehovah's Witnesses believe blood transfusions are against God's law. The usual supporting scriptures for this are Genesis 9:4, Leviticus 17:14 and Acts 15:20. However, reading these verses, it's pretty clear that eating blood is prohibited. So why do Jehovah's Witnesses object to blood transfusions?

[postroad]

[Replying to post 4 by onewithhim]

The requirements placed on the Gentile believers included meat sacrificed to idols. Mostly these animals were strangled and contained the blood. Paul makes an astounding statement indicating that there is nothing inherently wrong with eating such meat and doing so does not distance a person from God. But for those of weaker faith it does cause their conscience to be bothered and for them it becomes a sin and for this reason also the stronger person of faith should abstain in concideration for his weaker brother.

1 Corinthians 8New International Version (NIV)

Concerning Food Sacrificed to Idols

8 Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that We all possess knowledge. But knowledge puffs up while love builds up. 2 Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know. 3 But whoever loves God is known by God.[a]

4 So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that An idol is nothing at all in the world and that There is no God but one. 5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many gods and many lords), 6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.

7 But not everyone possesses this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat sacrificial food they think of it as having been sacrificed to a god, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. 8 But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.

9 Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idols temple, wont that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols? 11 So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. 12 When you sin against them in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.

[onewithhim]

[Replying to post 4 by onewithhim]

The requirements placed on the Gentile believers included meat sacrificed to idols. Mostly these animals were strangled and contained the blood. Paul makes an astounding statement indicating that there is nothing inherently wrong with eating such meat and doing so does not distance a person from God. But for those of weaker faith it does cause their conscience to be bothered and for them it becomes a sin and for this reason also the stronger person of faith should abstain in concideration for his weaker brother.

1 Corinthians 8New International Version (NIV)

Concerning Food Sacrificed to Idols

8 Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that We all possess knowledge. But knowledge puffs up while love builds up. 2 Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know. 3 But whoever loves God is known by God.[a]

4 So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that An idol is nothing at all in the world and that There is no God but one. 5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many gods and many lords), 6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.

7 But not everyone possesses this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat sacrificial food they think of it as having been sacrificed to a god, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. 8 But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.

9 Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idols temple, wont that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols? 11 So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. 12 When you sin against them in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.

I don't get the same meaning as you do. Where in the passage above does Paul say that the meat sacrificed to idols is STRANGLED?



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[postroad]

[Replying to post 12 by onewithhim] I am going on biblical commentary that pagan sacrificial animals were sometimes strangled as opposed to being bled. For the sake of debate I will withdraw it. This still leaves meat sacrificed to pagan gods. Still part of prohibited items for the Gentile believers. Paul insists that the prohibition on this meat is only to prevent offence to the Jewish believers in their midst who being of weaker faith still clung to the dietary And ceremonial Law. These he believed had been completely nullified on the cross but in deference to the Jews he recommended discretion.

1 Corinthians 10:23-33New International Version (NIV)

The Believers Freedom

23 I have the right to do anything, you say"but not everything is beneficial. I have the right to do anything"but not everything is constructive. 24 No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.

25 Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, 26 for, The earth is the Lords, and everything in it.[a]

27 If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, This has been offered in sacrifice, then do not eat it, both for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience. 29 I am referring to the other persons conscience, not yours. For why is my freedom being judged by anothers conscience? 30 If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for?

31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32 Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God" 33 even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.

[Justin108]

So when you eat something what happens? It is first put into your body then your body uses it by digesting it. So what you're trying to look for is a legal way to put something illegal into your body. Is that correct?

No because the Bible does not say it is illegal to "put blood in your body", it says it is illegal to "eat blood".

No that is not the verb that is used, the verb is ABSTAIN and abstain doesn't only mean "don't eat" (see dictionary)

I was referring to Genesis 9:4 and Leviticus 17:14, both of which clearly use the verb "eat"

[JehovahsWitness]

I was referring to Genesis 9:4 and Leviticus 17:14, both of which clearly use the verb "eat"

Yes, but Jehovah's Witnesses are Christians and Christians are Under Christian law which undisputedly uses a verb which covers any means of getting the substance into the body, that inclusive verb is "ABSTAIN". So regardless of what the Mosaic law, the law that presently stands is of Acts 15.

[postroad]

[Replying to post 15 by JehovahsWitness]
But they were told to abstain from meat sacrificed to idols as well. And I have pointed out that Paul explains that these dietary prohibitions were in place simply on account of
their weaker brothers in faith.

[Justin108]

Yes, but Jehovah's Witnesses are Christians and Christians are Under Christian law which undisputedly uses a verb which covers any means of getting the substance into the body, that inclusive verb is "ABSTAIN". So regardless of what the Mosaic law, the law that presently stands is of Acts 15.

Undisputedly? So you find your interpretation to be "abstain" beyond dispute but in another debate, you gave me a whole list of different interpretations to Genesis 1 stating "God made the stars on day 4"?

http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 617#836617

So "made" is open to interpretation but "abstain" is indisputable?

As explained in post 5, there are other possible valid interpretations of the word "abstain".

[JehovahsWitness]

Undisputedly? So you find your interpretation to be "abstain" beyond dispute

I'm not dealing with "interpretation" I'm dealing with definition. What is offered as dictionary definitions of the verb is not disputable. Or you disputing what the dictionary definition of "abstain" is?

Feel free if you so wish to link to the dictionary of your choice.

[onewithhim]

If a doctor told you not to eat rat poison, would you pump it into your veins?

No but if my doctor told me "you desperately need blood" then I'm not going to suddenly drink a pint of blood. Common sense. There's a huge difference between eating something and injecting yourself with something. Do you even have the slightest understanding of biology?

and I like to add my dictionary's definition of ABSTAIN:

"To keep from; to voluntarily do without; refrain."

See post 5

How much clearer could God be than to say to the ancients, "Don't eat blood"? He couldn't say "Don't put it in your veins" because they wouldn't have had the slightest idea what he was talking about.....they didn't do such things then. The idea was clear enough to them---don't eat it, and if we can't eat it why would we force it into the body any other way? Then we have the command in Acts. ABSTAIN from blood. That is even clearer.

You apparently don't understand what the ancients needed to hear and could understand. And to say "ABSTAIN" is totally clear on what God wants.


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[JehovahsWitness]

[Replying to post 15 by JehovahsWitness]
But they were told to abstain from meat sacrificed to idols as well.

Yes, they are told to abstain from meat sacrificed to idols as well. The are told to abstain from fornication as well. And they are told to Abstain from blood.

This discussion is about the part that says "ABSTAIN from .... blood."