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Points to
Ponder
How Can Blood
Transfusions Be Against God's Law If Organ Transplants Are Not?
It is a well-known fact that
Jehovah's Witnesses are not allowed to receive blood transfusions. See
Jehovah's Witnesses and the Apostolic
Decree. The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society makes this rule based on Acts
15:29 "That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from
things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye
shall do well. Fare ye well". Based on this scripture the Watchtower Bible and
Tract Society has made the rule that none of its followers may take blood into
their body in any way. Jehovah's Witnesses may not eat blood or receive blood
transfusions. Many Jehovah's Witnesses have died over the years in order not to
break this Watchtower Bible and Tract Society rule. See
Watchtower
Victims Memorial. The Watchtower Bible and
Tract Society has held some of these people up as modern day martyrs in their publications.
Many others have been disfellowshipped because they chose not to die and
received a life-saving blood transfusion. Others have been disfellowshipped for
letting their children receive a life saving blood transfusion rather than let
them die. The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society teaches their followers that if
they receive a blood transfusion or allow their minor children to receive a
blood transfusion God will cut them off and they will die at Armageddon. What a
dilemma this must cause many. Give up your life now and hope the Watchtower
Bible and Tract Society has interpreted the Bible correctly when making this
rule. The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society has been wrong so many times, and
changed their rules so frequently it is hard to understand why anyone would die
in the hopes that they are right this time, but many do.
With such harsh rules against blood transfusions it is hard to understand
how the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society can rationalize that blood transfusions are against God's law but organ
transplants are not. Common sense would tell anyone that all of the donor's
blood couldn't be removed from any body organ. Blood from the person donating
the organ is therefore received into the body of the patient. Why is it against
God's law, in the view of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, to receive
blood via a transfusion but not against God's law to receive blood via an organ
transplant. Two very confusing and conflicting rules to say the least. One has to ask,
"what
scripture or Bible principle does the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society see
that allows them to make this distinction?".
Many have asked this question of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. The
best answer they have come up with is, and we are paraphrasing not quoting,
we
realize that all of the blood cannot be removed from any body organ any more
than all of the blood can be remove from the meat we eat. But God is not
unreasonable and does not expected us to go to extreme means to follow his laws.
What a powerful word "but". The word "but" tends to negate what we said prior
to using the word. We follow God's laws but.... I love you but.... You are
doing a good job but.... And consider the thought "God does not expect us
to go to extreme means to follow His laws". I don't follow the thinking here!
It's OK to break God's law if we have to go to extreme measures to keep it?
Who decides what is extreme?
Consider the dilemma of
the Jehovah's Witness who wants to remain faithful to the Watchtower
Organization. The Watchtower says they do not have to worry about taking blood
into their bodies via an organ transplant because the leaders of the Watchtower
have determined that getting all of the blood out of an organ is extreme so it
is OK to break God's law. If however, that same person needs a blood transfusion
to save their life the leaders of the Watchtower have determined that the fact
that they will die without the transfusion is not extreme so it is not OK, and
they must die to remain faithful to the Watchtower Organization. If the Witness
decides to have a life saving blood transfusion they will be disfellowshipped
and therefore, according to Watchtower teachings destroyed at Armageddon. What a
horrible dilemma.
At one time the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society did not allow it's followers
to receive organ transplants, claiming it was Cannibalism and therefore against God's law. During that
period of time a number of Jehovah's Witnesses died in order to remain faithful
to the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society's rule. The rule against organ
transplants was repealed several years ago.
The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society is now under great pressure to repeal the
rule they have against blood transfusions and they are allowing their followers
to receive more and more
blood components that were not allowed just a few years ago. They're even allowing Jehovah's Witnesses to receive highly
purified cow's blood. See
New Light
on Blood. It
would seem they are getting closer and closer to repealing this rule. One has to
wonder how those who have lost children, family or friends because of the
Watchtower Bible and Tract Society's prohibition of blood transfusions will feel
should they ever repeal this rule.
Oh what a tangled web we
weave, when first we practice to deceive!
By Cal Lehman
TowerWatch Ministries
Email Cal Lehman
Blood
Components
As you may know the
Watchtower Bible and Tract Society in the past has forbidden its followers to
receive vaccinations, accept organ transplants or accept blood transfusions.
Over the last few years the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society has lifted it’s
restrictions on both vaccinations and organ transplants. Blood transfusions are
still forbidden but the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society has allowed its
followers to accept a constantly increasing number of blood components over the
last few years.
Have you ever wondered what scriptures the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society
uses to decide which blood components it’s followers may accept and which ones
they may not accept? Since there is absolutely no guidance from God's word on
this matter how are they making these decisions that effect the lives of their
six million followers?
Of course they claim their
decisions are guided by God. If that is the case why do their rules constantly
change while God remains the same for all eternity?
Why would God tell the
leaders of the Watchtower that vaccinations and organ transplants were against
his laws if they never were?
When was the Watchtower
wrong, when they forbid vaccinations and organ transplants or now that they
allow them?
When are they right?
Since the Watchtower has
been wrong in the past we have to ask "Which issues are they wrong about today"?
How can we really test any
rule that is not based on God's word, isn't any rule not backed up by scripture
just man's opinion?
How many Jehovah's
Witnesses will give up their lives today for a man made rule that is repealed
tomorrow?
Some interesting "Points
to Ponder"
By Cal Lehman
TowerWatch Ministries
Email Cal Lehman
YOU WANT "TRUE
RELIGION"?
Religion is a "specific
form of worship," is of the flesh and is opposed to the Spirit. (Gal. 5;17) The
Watchtower Society made up the issue of true religion versus false religion and
claims to be the only true religion. The fact is that there is no issue of true
religion versus false religion in the entire New Testament. James said that if
we want true religion, religion which is acceptable to God, go take care of the
orphans and widows! (James 1:27)
On the cover of the June
1, 1997 Watchtower, they ask: "Who Will Care for the Elderly?" On the May 1,
2001 Watchtower, they ask: "Who Will Care for the Widows?"
Their answer to both of
these questions: "NOT US, BABY!" Both magazines outline how the family, the
government, the congregation, and those in the congregation are to take care of
the elderly, the orphans, and the widows. The Watchtower Society has no orphans
and widows fund, and never has and never will give one penny to any orphan or
widow. They don't even have one aspect of "true religion."
What is the only issue in
the New Testament? ARE WE GOING TO BELIEVE AND RECEIVE JESUS CHRIST AS OUR LORD
AND SAVIOR?
Reproduced from the January
2003 Revealer with permission
More Points to
come
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