Awake magazine, August 22, WT magazines 15th of June 2000 & October 15th 2000 - In Questions from readers as sections covered on this page.
In Awake magazine dated August 22, 1999 on the last page
there is this item which tells us that BLOOD TRANSFUSION is ONLY
an organ transplant
Talk about back flip on policy change, that is - IF you are NOT a JW you can see that blood transfusion is only an organ transplant - but if you are JW then you may choose not to see it this way, as that would send shivers down your spine.
That is, if you read the article with JW eyes then there is no change, a JW would probably say "yes now blood transfusions are considered organ transplants BUT this does not mean that God allows them to sustain oneself by eating blood as that is always against God's law" - But, Transfusion is not eating blood.
Here's hoping that this change as well as WT item in Watch Tower magazine dated June 15th 2000 will help to save lives of so many JW's do die quietly in so many hospital bed world wide for refusing to accept God given gift of blood transfusion.
"The fundamental answer is that Jehovah's Witnesses do not [emphasis
mine] accept blood. We firmly believe that God's law on blood is not
open to reform to fit shifting opinion. Still, new issues arise
because blood can now be processed into four primary components and fractions
of those components. In deciding whether to accept such, a Christian should
look beyond possible medical benefits and risks. His concern should be
what the Bible says and the potential effect on this relationship with
Almighty God."
Please note that according to WT article JW's do "NOT" accept blood except When NEW ISSUES ARISE."The Key issues are quiet simple. As an aid to seeing why that is so, consider some Biblical, historical, and medical background"How can that be? Either God's law is upheld 100% or not! If it is upheld 100% then there are NO new issues to ponder or even consider. Thing is this: Most if not all JW's eat meat which is NOT Kosher meat i.e.. properly bled like the law requires - that alone tells us that JW's who eat meat DO take in blood through their mouths. Levitical law states that taking in blood is forbidden BY MOUTH & NOT by needle infusion - lets face it back then there was no knowledge of such medicine - was there?
About ones relationship with the Almighty God - In Leviticus 17: 14 - 16 Almighty God clearly tells us that ANYONE who does eat flesh with blood in it [that is, eating meat from animal that was not bled properly] - All that one had to do is 'WASH their garments & bathe themselves in water & BE UNCLEAN "UNTIL next morning only" - after that all is forgiven by Almighty God. Unlike the GB & the WT all is not forgiven if one partakes in having the blood transfusion. That one is disfellowshipped, shunned etc. etc. That to me is NOT what God Almighty tells us that we should do - how about you? Lets read on.
What has historical or medical background got to do with Teachings of God Almighty? - There is nothing found in Bible about that."Jehovah God told our common ancestor Noah that blood must be treated as something special. {Genesis 9:3,4} Later, God's Laws to Israel reflected the sacrifices of blood: "As for any man of the house of Israel or some alien resident ... who eats any sort of blood, I shall certainly set my face against the soul that is eating the blood.: BY rejecting God's law, an Israelite could contaminate others; thus, God added: "I shall indeed cut him off from among his people." [Leviticus 17: 10} :Later, at a meeting in Jerusalem, the apostles and older men decreed that we must 'abstain from blood.' DOing so is as vital as abstaining from sexual immorality and idolatry. Acts 15: 28, 29"
First of, Genesis 9: 3-4 instructs Noah for the first time HOW to eat animal flesh, Up until before the flood Noah ate ONLY Seeds, fruit, grains etc. & NOT meat. After the flood ALL vegetation was destroyed by water which left Noah with only one alternative for food - which was ANIMALS that he brought with him on the ark. God taught Noah HOW to Kill & Bleed the animal so NOT to eat flesh while animal was still alive."What would "abstaining" have meant back then? Christians did not consume blood, whether fresh or coagulated; nor did they eat meat from an unbled animal. Also ruled out would be foods which blood was added, such as blood sausages. Taking in blood in any way of those ways would violate God's law. - 1 Samuel 14: 32, 33."It's interesting to note that the WTS does not mention that in Genesis 9 God gives TWO instructions:
1 Be fruitful and fill the earth.
2 Do not eat meat with it's blood.If the instruction not to eat meat with blood is valid today then so should be the instruction to "be fruitful and fill the earth".
But according to the WTS this last instruction is not valid today **** w88 3/1 25-6 Responsible Childbearing in This time of the End ****
There have been times when the bearing of children formed part of the work that Jehovah assigned to his servants on earth. This was the case with Adam and Eve. (Genesis 1:28) It was true of the Flood survivors. (Genesis 9:1) Jehovah willed that the sons of Israel should become numerous through childbearing.— Genesis 46:1-3; Exodus 1:7, 20; Deuteronomy 1:10. 13 Today, childbearing is not specifically a part of the work Jehovah has committed to his people. Nevertheless, it is still a privilege that he grants to married people if they desire it. Christian couples who decide to start a family should not, therefore, be criticized; neither should couples who refrain from having children. 14 So the matter of childbearing in this time of the end is a personal one that each couple must decide for itself. However, since “the time left is reduced,” married couples would do well to weigh carefully and prayerfully the pros and cons of childbearing in these times. (1 Corinthians 7:29) Those who do choose to have children should be fully aware not only of the joys childbearing can bring but also of the responsibilities involved and the problems that can arise for them and the children they bring into the world.
Now if God's instruction to "be fruitful and fill the earth" is not valid for us today (Note: in 1988 the WTS claimed are living in "the time of the end"!!) ,as the above article mentions, then how can the WTS claim, without being inconsistent, that the command to not eat meat with blood is still valid as the two instructions were given to Noah and his family at the same time? If today the decision to have children or not is a personal decision every couple can make, logically it should be the same thing with regards eating meat with blood !!
As you point out it is interesting to note that the above mentioned scripture is about eating the blood of a slaughtered animal, as the blood SYMBOLIZED the life of the animal. I too see no mention here of accepting blood transfusion or accepting blood fractions the WTS refuses JW to accept!!!! Killing people or animals is not the way blood is obtained for medical use.
Rather, such blood is donated voluntarily. There is a fundamental difference between taking blood by killing, and accepting blood from donation. That fundamental difference is magnified here because in the case of donated blood life can be saved with no loss of life whatsoever. The instructions given to Noah only prohibited humans from eating blood from flesh that they
had purposely killed to eat. The question of whether transfused blood provides nourishment, i.e., is it "food?" becomes a non - issue because blood transfused to save human life is not obtained by taking life, that is, by killing.Regards Leviticus 17: 10 - please note the 3 ... above - words that are missing I will write in red below - Passage in full reads like this: "As for any man of the house of Israel or some alien resident who is 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 shut him off from among his people."
Please note that this passage is telling JEWS that IF any alien who IS LIVING / RESIDING with them {JEWS} & if that person eats blood that God will punish that person only & NOT anyone else. It was up to resident Jews to TEACH ALIENS how to kill & Bleed animals that they kill for food.
Lets read verses 12 & 13: " That is why I have said to the sons of Israel; "No soul of YOU [Israelites] must eat blood and no alien resident who is residing as an alien in YOUR midst should eat blood" 13 "As for any an of the sons of Israel or some alien resident who is residing as an alien in Your midst who IS HUNTING catches a wild beast or a fowl that may be eaten, HE MUST in that case pour its blood out and cover it with dust."
As I have stated above = This is a teaching for Jews on HOW to instruct aliens who are residing with them ON HOW to Kill & Bleed the animal for eating. Reason WHY WT leaves out "who is is residing as an alien in YOUR * midst" is this: It makes mockery of their BLOOD TEACHING. By omitting those words WT leaves out the FULL meaning of that passage & hence they make NEW teaching out of it. Please refer to verses 15-16 also that I comment on above. Acts 15 passage refers to my comments above as well as the idea on circumcision that was discussed at the Council of Jerusalem. Where Jews wanted aliens to be circumcised if they wanted to be followers of Jesus & hence Apostles told them that ONLY FAITH is needed [verses 7-9] & to abstain from eating animals that were NOT bled properly - NO More No Less!! We read on.
Just as I have stated above "abstaining" from blood did NOT mean EATING / CONSUMING blood VIA MOUTH & NOT via transfusion - which is NOT done by eating through mouth."Most people in ancient times would not have been troubled over the consuming of blood, as we can see from writings of Tertullian (second & third centuries C.E.). Responding to false charges that Christians consumed blood, Tertullian mentioned tribes that sealed treaties by tasting blood. He also noted that "when a show is given in the arena, [some] with greedy thirst have caught the fresh blood of the guilty ... as a cure for their epilepsy."I think here you mean "Just as I have stated above "abstaining" from blood meant EATING / CONSUMING blood VIA MOUTH & NOT via transfusion - which is NOT done by eating through mouth."
MY question then is: WHY are individual JW's' eating meat that is NOT bled properly. Most if not ALL meat that is bought in meat shops is slaughtered in modern way where animal is NOT bled in accordance with Bible teaching. Yet, so many JW's eat / consume that meat without any condemnation from the the GB or the WT :-(
But, life saving blood transfusion which is ORGAN TRANSPLANT - as the Awake magazine article above tells us - is refused to ALL JW's! SO sad, hey!! We read on.
1 Sam 14: 32, 33 - talks about Israelites who broke their faith by eating animals that were not bled properly, hence eating blood."And the people began darting greedily at the spoil and taking sheep and cattle and calves and slaughtering them on the earth, and the people fell to eating along with the blood. 33 So they told Saul, saying: "Look! The people are sinning against Jehovah by eating along with the blood." At this he said: "You dealt treacherously. First of all, roll a great stone to me." 1 Sam 14: 32 - 33.
Please note that Tertullian objected to CONSUMING blood & NOT Transfusing blood. My 2c worth here - Tertullian believed in Trinity - why didn't the GB say that?"Those practices (even if some Romans did them for health reasons) were wrong for Christians: "We do not include even animals' blood in our natural diet," wrote Tertullian. The Romans used food containing blood as a test of the integrity of real Christians. Tertullian added: "Now I ask you, what sort of a thing is it, that when you are confident [that Christians] will turn with horror from animals' blood, you should suppose them greedy for human blood?"
Also - Please note that there are 3 ... again - omitted parts refer to GUILTY people who were killed & NOT animals. The blood that was caught here for consumption was human blood that they drank - yuk!! WT article confirms this point below - I have underlined it for you.Transfused blood is voluntarily given for medical ORGAN TRANSPLANT to SAVE LIVES of other human beings & NOT to quench thirst or some other quackery.
Today, few people would think that the laws of Almighty God are at issue if a physician suggested their taking blood. While Jehovah's Witness certainly want to keep living, we are committed to obey Jehovah's law on blood. What does this mean in the light of current medical practice??
Ok - Please note the underlined item again. JW's do want to OBEY Jehovah's Law! HMMMMM!! So why don't they do it? If JW's obeyed Jehovah's law then all they would have to do is - have the necessary transfusion to sustain life & then WASH themselves with water [ as Leviticus 17: 15-16 states & they would be acceptable to Jehovah. Wouldn't they?"AS transfusions of whole blood common after World War II, Jehovah's Witness saw that this was contrary to God's law - and we still believe that. Yet, medicine has changed over time. Today, most transfusions are not of whole blood but of one of its primary components: (1) red cells; (2) white cells; (3) platelets; (4) plasma {serum}, the fluid part. depending on the condition of the patient, physicians might prescribe red cells, white cells, platelets, or plasma. Transfusing these major components allows a single unit if blood to be divided among more patients. Jehovah's Witnesses hold that accepting whole blood or any of these four primary components violates the God's law. Significantly, keeping to this Bible - based position has protected them from many risks, including such diseases as hepatitis & AIDS that can be contracted from blood.Sustaining ones life is MORE important to jehovah then sacrificing once life in Jehovah's name just because some man of WT say so. Sacrificing human life is FORBIDDEN BY Almighty God & IT NEVER even entered His mind that ANYONE would do such a heinous thing & then say that it was HIs command. He also commanded Israelites NOT TO EAT FAT also - See Lev 3:17; 7: 23. Do JW's eat ANY ANIMAL FAT?
In Lev. 18: 21 NIV text as NWT twists this scripture badly we read this: " Do NOT give any of your children to be sacrificed to Molech, for you must not profane the name of your God. I am the Lord."
In Tanakh we read this passage like this: "Do not allow any of your offspring to be offered up to Molech, and do not profane the name of of your God; I am the Lord."
NWT renders it like this: "And you must not allow the devoting of any of your offspring to Mol'ech. You must not profane the name of your God that way. I am Jehovah."
Molech was the god of the Ammonites [see 20: 2- 5; 1 Kings 11: 5 etc.} The detestable practice of sacrificing / offering up children to Molech was common in Phoenicia & other surrounding countries - see 1 Kings 3: 26 - 27. King Manasseh evidently sacrificed his son to Molech {2 Chr. 33: 6; 2 Kings 23: 10} - Jeremiah 32: 35 protests the practice.
In Jeremiah 19: 5 we also read that such offering / sacrificing is forbidden. Make your own choices.
In Matthew 12: 7 & Mark 3: 4 Jesus tells us that HE Desires MERCY & NOT Sacrifice! Who do you want to believe the GB or Jesus? We read on.
Please note that here the GB is talking about TRANSFUSING blood & NOT CONSUMING it - hmmmmmm. Another interesting thing is that the GB has ONLY protected the JW's from many risks, including such diseases as hepatitis & AIDS & NOT from God's Law. Another HMMMMMMHowever, since blood can be processed beyond those primary components, questions arise about fractions derived from the primary blood components. How are such fractions used, and what should a Christian consider when deciding on them?The way I see it -the WT & the GB are ONLY protecting the JW's from some diseases & NOT from any God's law. Their own words - OK - Lets read on.
This another of the WTS lies, as the above mentioned diseases can be transmitted through the blood components that the WTS ALLOWS JW's to accept!!!
A result of the revised blood policy is that because all parts of blood, in one form or another, can be used by JW's there can be no argument made that they are protected from blood - borne diseases. Given that God's word does not change and that "all scripture ... is beneficial..." (2 Tim. 3:16) it is somewhat ridiculous that the current status of our understanding of the
Apostolic Decree to "abstain from blood" is determined more by medical science than by the scriptures!!!!Health considerations are irrelevant in deciding whether blood transfusions are acceptable for Christians. According to the Society's current policy, accepting derivatives prepared from blood or from its four "primary" components is a matter of conscience. Those who conscientiously do accept such derivatives will, therefore, not be protected from any health risks
associated with the medical use of blood. As with all medical procedures, the risks from accepting blood derivatives can include significant health problems and even death. On the other hand, comparable risks may also be associated with rejecting such medical treatments. Another WTS inconsistency!!
Now for the twist! It's like saying Scotch when diluted or separated by Coca cola - water - etc. etc. is NOT Scotch so you can drink it all you want. HMMMMMM - Me think not - how about you? Lets go see what can the JW's have!"Blood is complex. Even the plasma - which is 90% water - carries scores of hormones, in-organic salts, enzymes, and nutrients, including minerals & sugar. Plasma also carries such proteins as albumin, clothing factor, and antibodies too fight diseases. Technicians isolate and use many plasma proteins. For example, clothing factor VIII has been given to hemophiliacs, who bleed easily. Or if someone is exposed to certain diseases, doctors might prescribe injections of gamma globulin, extracted from the blood plasma of people who already had immunity. Other plasma proteins are used medically, but the above mentioned illustrate how a primary blood component {plasma} may be processed to obtain fractions. * {star refers to" Question From Readers" in the WT June 15th 1978, and October 1, 1994. Pharmaceutical firms have developed recombinant products that are not taken from blood and that may be prescribed in place of some blood fractions used in the past.}
Just as blood plasma can be a source of various fractions, the other
primary components {red cells, white cells, platelets} can be processed
to isolate smaller parts. For example, white blood cells may be
a source of interferon's and interleukins, used to treat some
viral infections and cancers. Platelets can be processed to extract
a wound - healing factor. And other medicines are coming along that involve
{at least initially} extracts from blood components. Such therapies
are not transfusions of those primary components; they usually involve
parts or fractions thereof. Should Christians accept these fractions in
medical treatment? We cannot say. The Bible does not give details, so Christians
must make his own conscientious decision before God."
In short - JW's who are hemophiliac can & do take factor VIII - That is BLOOD Item that is taken IN to the body & is allowed among many other particle- by the WT & GB. Since other parts are NOT transfusions are they allowed to be taken in? That we will see below. This information was obtained from Western Journal of Medicine written by Dr. Osamu Muramoto - he writes many such articles for AJWRB - or Liberal Elder - I was given permission by Dr. Muramoto to publish these facts when he sent me the Journal in 1999.
|
|
| Prohibited Blood Components and Procedures | Acceptable Blood Components and Procedures |
| Whole blood | Plasma proteins (albumin, globulin, fibrin) |
| Red Blood cells | Clotting factors |
| Platelets | Stem cells |
| Plasma | Hemodilution, cell saver |
| Haemoglobin solution | Bone marrow transplants |
| Stored autologous blood | Extra corporeal circulation (heart lung machine, dialysis, plasmapheresis) |
| Blood donation | Use of donated blood (to take acceptable components) |
|
|
| JW's May Not Accept | JW's May Accept | |
| Whole blood 2 | IF taken as "blood transfusion" # | IF taken as contained in bone marrow transplants 3 |
| Plasma proteins 2 | IF taken together as "plasma" # | IF taken separately as individual blood component (albumin, globulin, clotting factors, fibrin) |
| White blood cells 2 | IF taken as "white blood cells" # | IF taken as "peripheral stem cells" 4,5 |
| Autologous blood 2 | IF tube connection to the patient's body is interrupted # --- IF it is stored # | IF tube connection to the patient's body is maintained (Hemodilution, cell saver) ------ If taken as peripheral stem cells {even if it is stored} |
| Stem cells 6 | IF taken from umbilical cord blood 7 | IF taken from peripheral blood or bone marrow 3,4 |
| Major protein from prohibited component | IF taken from red blood cells (haemoglobin) 6 # | IF taken from plasma (albumin) 2 |
| Heart lung machine 2 | IF patient's blood is used to prime the
machine # |
IF patient's blood is used to circulate in
the machine |
| Epidural blood patch 8 | IF blood is removed from vein and injected | IF injecting syringe is connected to veinvia tube |
| Blood donation 9 | IF donated by JW's for use of JW's and
others # |
IF donated by non - JW's for use of JW's and others |
Conditions marked by # are observed by JW's without exception. Other conditions are observed by many JW's but with exceptions. For e.g.., JW's never accept a heart - lung machine primed with blood, but must, if not all, JW's accept the machine as long as it is circulated with own blood. This has just changed - in WT dated October 15th 2000 I will point out below how the GB make this NEW LIGHT come true. Arghhhhhhh! These facts have prompted the WTS to form the "Hospital Information Service" {HIS} in its headquarters, a public relations office for blood policy. The above table tells it like this - JW's can take in ALL Blood Particles / Fractions on the proviso that you take one fraction at a time. Imagine this - there is a JW lying in the hospital bed with 8 different bags of blood fractions above his / hers head - tubes from these 8 bags are plugged in to 8 different veins of JW. HMMMMMM Lets face it - that way JW is NOT taking in Full Blood from ONE bag - but IS taking in ALL components / fractions of it via different tubes.
That's like saying - you can have the whole stew on the proviso that you eat its fractions [recipe items] from different plates. :-)
We read on in WT article!
"Some would refuse anything derived from blood {even fractions intended to provide temporary passive immunity}. That is how they understand God's command to 'abstain from blood.' They reason that his law to Israel required that blood removed from a creature be 'poured out on the ground.' {Deuteronomy 12: 22 - 24} Why is that relevant? Well, to prepare gamma globulin, blood - based clothing factors, and so on, requires that blood be collected & processed. Hence, some Christians reject such products, just as they reject transfusion of whole blood or of its four primary components. Their sincere, conscientious stand should be respected."
Please note that only SOME choose to obey WT & NOT all - But more to the point: This article states that the blood removed from a "creature be poured out" - HMMMMM What creature are they talking about?"Other Christians decided differently. They too refuse transfusion of whole blood, red cells, white cells, platelets, or plasma. Yet, they might allow a physician to treat them with a fraction extracted from the primary components. even here there may be difference. One Christian may accept a gamma globulin injection, but he may or may not agree to injection containing something extracted from red or white cells. Overall, though, what might lead some Christians to conclude that they could accept blood fractions?Levitical law talks about ANIMAL blood to be poured out before the flesh is eaten. Lets see if Deuteronomy 12 article confirms that - we read: "Only in the way that the gazelle and stag may be eaten so you may eat it: the unclean one & the clean one together may eat it. 23 Simply be firmly resolved not to eat the blood, because the blood is the soul and you must not eat the soul with the flesh. 24 You must not eat it. You should pour it out upon the ground as water."
Please read verse 21 also & you will find that it does talk about ANIMALS Slaughtered fro food!
Transfusion of HUMAN Blood is not ever mentioned anywhere in the Bible let least here.
Just a question - Did Jews of Deuteronomy time "STORE" animal blood by means of pouring it on the ground so that we today could use it, that is, separate it into fractions for human use? Hmmmmmm!! I think not - how about you?
I ask this question as WT article clearly says "blood removed from a creature be 'poured out on the ground.' {Deuteronomy 12: 22 - 24} Why is that relevant? Well, to prepare gamma globulin, blood - based clothing factors, and so on, requires that blood be collected & processed." We read on!
This is NEW LIGHT - NEVER Before were JW's allowed this FREE Choice on their own. There was always some one else who said yes or no - but now they can say YES themselves - if they choose to, that is.
My question - where in the BIble does God say that ANIMAL Blood could be used in such a way - that is - to break in down into fractions & then to be transfused into human body? - I can not find one!! Nor can I find one passage that forbids Human Blood being used in medicine like transfusions to save human lives ! We read on on WHAT QUESTIONS to ask!As you read the following suggestions - please think of your self being in a car accident where paramedics are desperately trying to save your life & you are to hinder them by asking these questions = Then think how those who are trying to help you save your life would feel by your hindrance.
| SUGGESTED QUESTIONS FOR THE DOCTOR |
| If you face surgery or a treatment that require a blood product, ask: |
| Do all the medical personnel involved know that, as one of Jehovah's
Witness, I direct that no blood transfusions {whole blood, red cells, white
cells, platelets, or blood plasma} be given to me under any circumstances?
If any medicine to be prescribed may be made from blood plasma , red or white cells, or platelets, ask: Has the medicine been made from one of the four primary blood components? If so, would you explain its make up? How much of this blood - derived medicine might be administered, and in what way? If my conscience permits me to accept this fraction, what medical risks are there? If my conscience moves me to decline this fraction, what other therapy might be used? After I have considered this matter further, when may I inform you of my decision? |
This really upsets me - medical staff are there to HELP all those who come to them & here JW's are instructed to interfere with God give treatments by nursing staff - all because few men of the GB say so.Why did JW's go to the hospital in the first place if they didn't want FULL treatment in the first place? Why waste precious time of these practitioners who could be helping some else who wants to save their life?
If you are one of JW's reading this - then consider the matter fully before you go to doctors - hospitals & DO NOT waste their time if you do not want full treatment - STOP WASTING PUBLIC MONEY on the say so of FEW Men in Brooklyn! Yes, I am extremely angry that people do NOT consider the FULL cost to public purse.
WT has NO hospitals, nursing homes etc. from all the MILLIONS of $$$$ that they collect from JW's - they deny JW's to partake in DONATIONS to hospitals & other government & private bodies that provide nursing & caring facilities for all - including JW's. Yet JW's only course of action for help wen it comes to nursing care is to rely on public purse & then they have the audacity to FORCE their views on how & what type of treatments are offered to them. The emotional torment that JW's place on nursing staff with their tantrums is beyond belief.
If you want what secular services offer - then accept it as they offer it - OR ELSE FORCE WT TO BUILD YOU PEOPLE HOSPITALS, NURSING HOES etc. so that secular people do NOT have to face up to & go through the emotional torments & Lies of WT forces upon them!!!!
One more thing - JW's refuse to give ANY kind of blood donations - yet they gladly will take some one else's blood - oops - fractions of blood. That is hypocrisy at its best. This is really a disgusting and egotistical thing to do! What a lack of love :-((
That is my opinion & I am entitled to it just as WT & JW's are entailed theirs & who place so many great caring people whose jobs are hard enough all ready without further strain that WT places on them with their false Bible teachings. If you think that they do NOT teach false - then I will ask you to show me from the Bible - WHERE IS THERE ONE PASSAGE THAT REFUSES TRANSFUSIONS OF HUMAN BLOOD from one person to another. Where is there ONE passage in the bible that allows JEWS to eat FRACTIONS OF ANIMAL BLOOD? If you can not find one - then you need to reconsider your views on what BIBLE IS ACTUALLY TEACHING ON THE BLOOD ISSUE. Lets read on
""Questions From Readers" in The Watch Tower of June 1, 1990, noted that Plasma proteins [fractions] move from a pregnant women's blood to the separate blood system of her foetus. Thus a mother passes immunoglobulins to her child, proving valuable immunity. Separately, as foetus red cells complete their normal life span, their oxygen - carrying portion is processed. Some of it becomes bilirubin, which crosses the placenta to the mother and is eliminated with her body wastes. Some Christians may conclude that since blood fractions can pass to another person in this natural setting, they could accept a blood fraction derived from blood plasma or cells."
Why not just accept the fact that BIble teaches that we humans are NOT to take in [eat by mouth] ANIMAL BLOOD & there would be NO problems about any JW refusing Blood Transfusion of another human being. Hospitals do NOT Transfuse animal blood into any human being - they only transfuse HUMAN Blood & only in extreme emergencies. Other times they give only fractions anyway."Does the fact that opinions & conscientious decisions may differ mean that issue is inconsequential? No. It is serious. Yet, there is a basic simplicity. The above material shows that Jehovah's WItness refuse transfusions of both whole blood & it's primary blood components. The Bible directs Christians to 'abstain from things sacrificed to idols & from blood and from fornication.' {Acts 15: 29} beyond that, when it comes to fractions of any of the primary components, each Christian, after careful and prayerful mediation, must conscientiously decide for himself."
May I ask - whose opinions are important here? What God says & that is NOT TO EAT ANIMALS Blood or Gb's who say that JW's cannot transfuse HUMAN Blood?"Many people would be willing to accept any therapy that seems to offer immediate benefit, even a therapy having known health risks, as is true of blood products. The sincere Christian endeavours to have a broader, more physical aspects. Jehovah's Witness appreciate efforts to provide quality medical care, and and they weigh the risk / benefit ratio of any treatment. However, when it comes to products derived from blood, they carefully weigh what God says and their personal relationship with our Life Giver. Psalm 36: 9"Defiantly NOT God's as He doesn't Need any Human Sacrifice - He is the posses of everything - He is the Life giver etc. - Acts 17: 25 - That only leaves the GB who are responsible for JW's who sacrifice their lives in the name of Jehovah & NOT Jehovah Himself.
As the final statement of this paragraph states "each Christian, after careful and prayerful mediation, must conscientiously decide for himself" -- So lets leave the WT & the GB out of individual choices - what do you say? We read on.
Lets face it - there are health risks walking out of ones home - a bus may come along & there is NO more of you. So, life itself has may elements of risk so to speak, but when individual is said to have PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP with God that is another matter.'What a blessing for a Christian to have such confidence as the psalmist who wrote: "Jehovah God is a sun and shield; favour and glory are what he gives. Jehovah himself will NOT hold back anything good from those walking in fault-less-ness. O Jehovah ..., happy is the man that is trusting in you"! -Psalm 84: 11. 12.
Many medical therapies that the WTS accept have risks too: Organ transplants, mutations even a simple appendectomy!! (spelling??) any of these could go wrong causing the patient to die. So their reasoning does not make sense!!
NO JW has personal relationship with God as God does NOT LIVE IN THEIR HEART - where Father & His Son reside in every believer with the aid of Holy SPirit who teaches us ALL Things - John 14: 23, 26 & 1 John 2: 27.
ALL JW's rely on WT mags to teach them ALL things or should I say - restrict them from having personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I beg of you if you are JW to do what Jesus says in John 14: 23 - 26 & 1 John 2: 27 - rest is up to you
Since JW's appreciate efforts of secular medicine to proved quality medical treatment - WHy don't they ALLOW secular practitioners to do their job in the way they know best & in the way God has allowed them to save lives? Apart from the fact that the GB does not allow it - I can not find any other reason. Lets read on
What blessing? To die in hospital bed or on the side of the road when refusing blood transfusion when God does not desire it. That is NOT a blessing - but sad state of affairs! Such loss of life MUST be stopped!"In the light of Bible commands about the proper use of blood, how do Jehovah's Witness view medical procedures using one's own blood?"
Lets see Psalm 84: 11 - 12 in full & see what 3 ... represent."For Jehovah God is sun & a shield; favour and glory are what he gives. Jehovah himself will not hold back anything good from those walking in fault-less-ness. 12 Jehovah of armies, happy is the man that is trusting in you."
I wonder why the GB left out the words "of armies," - HMMMM !! May be it has something to do with the fact that Jehovah used ARMIES in OT to do His work - YET, the WT & the GB say that individual JW's are NOT allowed to go to army & wars etc. This is against God's commands anyway - just read Romans 13: 1- 3, please read 1st 7 verses. 1 Peter 2: 13 - 18 is also a great read on this subject. Another point of God's Law that the GB & WT make them selves superior to Jehovah God.
NIV has an interesting rendition of those 2 verses : "For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord BESTOWS favour and honour; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. 12 Lord Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you."
The ALmighty BESTOWS ALL Things good - would that mean that He would want anyone to sacrifice his / hers life in His name? I think not - how about you?
I leave it up to you to decide if accepting BLOOD FRACTIONS is or is not discussed anywhere in the bible or whether it is a that MAN MADE rule invented by the GB!!!!
NOW for the latest NEW LIGHT if you may - this section is found in WT magazine dated 15th of October 2000 in the section titled * Questions From Readers * pages 30 & 31-- This, I believe is a direct response by the WT & GB to AJWRB work on blood issue.
JW's were never allowed to use their own blood - they were only allowed to use * fractions of blood * that were donated by some one else."Rather than deciding solely on the basis of personal preference or some medical recommendation, each Christian ought to consider seriously what the Bible says. It is a matter between him & Jehovah."
There you have it again - it is a matter between Jehovah & YOU!!!!!"Jehovah, to whom we owe our lives, decreed that blood should not be consumed. {Genesis 9: 3-4}. (see last statement) In the Law for ancient Israel, God limited the use of blood because it represented life. He decreed: "The soul [or life] of the flesh is in the blood, and I myself have put it upon the alter for you to make atonement for your souls.""I have all ready stated above that Jehovah does NOT require SACRIFICE of any human being [Leviticus 18: 21; Jeremiah 19: 5 & 32: 35. What God does require is found in Matthew 12: 7]. Also, in Leviticus 17 Jehovah Forbids EATING of animal's blood & there is NOTHING about transfusing of human blood between one person & another person etc.
Please note that God LIMITED the use of blood as food - yet, even if Jews did eat it - all they had to do is wash their cloths & themselves & they would be clean THE NEXT MORNING - only 12 hours they would be unclean. They didn't have to sacrifice their life for Jehovah if they ate it - did they??"What if a man killed an animal for food? God said: "He must in that case pour its blood out and cover it with dust." * [Leviticus 17: 11, 13] Jehovah repeated this command again & again. [Deuteronomy 12: 16:, 24: 15: 23]
The * refers to bottom of page & cites this:"Professor Frank H. Gorman writes: "The pouring out of the blood is best understood as an act of reverence that demonstrates respect for the life of the animal and, thus, respect for God, who created & continues to care for that life.""
Please note that when MAN KILLED AN ANIMAL for food - then that man had to pour out the blood from that animal. There is nothing here about killing a human being & pouring his blood out & covering it. Does it? NO!! Killing a human being for consumption is forbidden - Killing another human is only allowed in self defence other wise it would be murder & punishable by stoning when perpetrator was caught. Please do NOT eat animal blood that was killed for food & you have nothing to worry about as far as Jehovah is concerned. He has all ready died for you & has spilt His own blood for you on the Cross - so enjoy freedom In HIM."The Jewish Soncion Chumash notes: "The blood must not be stored but rendered unfit for consumption by pouring it out on the ground." No Israelite was to appropriate, store, and use the blood of another creature whose life belonged to God."
Please do NOT eat animal blood that was killed for food & you have nothing to worry about as far as Jehovah is concerned. He has all ready died for you & has spilt His own blood for you on the Cross - so enjoy freedom In HIM. I know, I know, I am repeating my self :-) DO YOU GET THE POINT though??????????"The obligation to keep the Mosaic Law ended when Messiah died. yet, God's view of the sacredness of blood remains."
WOW, what a statement!! Of course God's view of the sacredness of the blood remains - After all - he spilled His own blood on the cross. His blood is sacred & it should be respected as such - that's why we have freedom & Free Gift od Salvation through the spilling of HIS OWN BLOOD. Again though - the blood that the Gb is referring to is ANIMAL blood & NOT Human blood."Moved by God's holy spirit, the apostles directed to 'abstain from blood.' That command was not to be taken lightly. It was as important morally as abstaining from sexual immorality or idolatry. [Acts 15: 28, 29; 29: 21: 25]
Please do NOT eat animal blood that was killed for food & you have nothing to worry about as far as Jehovah is concerned. He has all ready died for you & has spilt His own blood for you on the Cross - so enjoy freedom In HIM. I know, I know, I am repeating my self :-) DO YOU GET THE POINT though?????????? Just a thought: I wonder if JW's abstain from sexual immorality?? I know of few that do not - does anyone else know of such practices by JW's?"When donating and transfusing blood became common in the 20th century, Jehovah's Witness understood that this practice conflicted with God's Word. * [Here * refers to another comment at the bottom of page 30 & reads like this: 'The Watchtower of July 1, 1951, answered key questions about this subject, showing why transfusions of donated blood are not appropriate.']
Occasionally, a doctor will urge a patient to deposit his own blood weeks before surgery (preoperative autologous blood donation, or PAD) so that if the need arises, he could transfuse the patient with his own blood."
JW's were not allowed this procedure until the publication of WT magazine 15th of October 2000. This was considered as - Blood leaving human body & hence it had to be poured out. Not any more, though!"However, such collecting, storing, and transfusing of blood directly contradicts what is said in Leviticus and Deuteronomy. Blood is not to be stored; it is to be poured out - returned to God, as it were."
Hang on here, when did Israelites have this machine in OT? When did they attach it to the animal so that they could return the blood back in to it? They had to poor animals blood out so that they could eat it! HMMMMM I do not know about you - but I can not find even one verse where Israelites used this technique that the GB is talking about - can any of you??? Sounds susssss to me!!!Granted, the Mosaic Law is not in force now. {praise God for that} Never - the - less, Jehovah's Witness respect the principles God included in it, and they are determined to 'abstain from blood'. Hence, we do not donate blood, nor do we store for transfusions our blood that should be 'poured out.'"
Yet they do ACCEPT free donations from others - as long as the blood is in FRACTIONS & Not Whole. HMMMMM"Other procedures or tests involving an individual's own blood are not so clearly in conflict with God's stated principles. For instance, many Christians have allowed some of their blood to be withdrawn from testing or analysis, after which the sample is discarded. Other more complex procedures involving one's blood may also be recommended."
Ok - when did Israelites perform those techniques in OT or early NT? I can not find even one verse. What other complex procedures may JW's partake in? WHOLE blood is WHOLE blood - anything else that is derived from it is still blood. Next section from WT says what parts of fractions that can be used. :-)"For example, during certain surgical procedures, some blood may be derived from the body in a process called hemodilution."
Just a thought that cam to mind on some of the above :-) --- Whose blood though? Please remember that JW's don't donate any of their own blood - so it MUST be someone else's blood. ARGHHHHHHH! So, someone else's blood is OK in small fractions - yet JW's own blood is NOT!! HMMMMM - Mind bogglllleeessss now :-("The blood remaining in the patient diluted. later his {what about hers) blood in the external circuit is directed back into him, thus bringing his blood count closer to normal. Similarly, blood that flows into a wound may be captured & filtered so that the red cells can be returned to the patient; this is called cell salvage. In different process, blood may be directed to a machine that temporarily carries on a function normally handled by body organs (for example, the heart, lungs, or kidneys).
It seems to me that the GB are trying extremely hard to confuse the mind here. Genesis, Leviticus, Acts etc. talks about EATING ANIMAL BLOOD - yet in the item above the GB are talking about an OPERATION ON A HUMAN BEING - HMMMMMM!! Do you smell a rat also?? Just curious me again! May be there is something NEW on the horizon again?? Lets read on"The blood from the machine is then returned to the patient. In other procedures, blood is diverted to a separator (centrifuge) so that damaging of defective portions of it can be eliminated. Or the goal may be to isolate some of a blood component and apply that elsewhere on the body. There are also tests in which a quantity of the blood is withdrawn in order to tag it or to mix it with medicine, where upon it is put back into the patient.
The details may vary, and new procedures, treatments, and tests will certainly be developed."
I'm butting in again - I just can not understand why God didn't tell Israelites back in Levitical time or to Noah for that matter, that there would be NEW procedures, treatments of how they are to kill the animals & pour the blood out in fractions & NOT whole blood - hmmmmmm -"It is not our place to analyze each variation and render decision."
WOW _ WOW _ the GB will NOT analyze Scripture in future on the blood issue!!!! YEEEEEPPPPPPPEEEEE!!"A Christian must decide for himself how his own blood will be handled in the course of a surgical procedure, medical test, or current therapy. Ahead of time, he should obtain from the doctor or technician the facts about what might be done with his blood during the procedure. Then he must decide according to what his conscience permits. (See Box.)"
There YOU have it again - YOU as a JW MUST DECIDE FOR YOUR SELF how your operation should be treated & NOT any HLC member or an ELDER!! I am some what concerned about JW women though. This entire article ONLY refers who He is to handle the blood problem - but SHE [JW lady} is not mentioned anywhere.
In the Box we read this:
|
If some of my blood will be diverted outside my body and the flow might even be interrupted for a time, will my conscience allow me to view this blood as still part of me, thus not requiring that it will be 'poured out on the ground'? Would my Bible - trained conscience be troubled if during a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure some of my own blood was withdrawn, modified, and directed back into (or onto} my body) |
Just a thought again: Can you imagine an animal that was about to be killed for food / consumption in OT time asking a Israelite that was just about to perform an operation on it's neck the above question - that is "Would my Bible - trained conscience be troubled if during a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure that you are about to perform on me & some of my own blood was withdrawn, modified, and/or directed back into (or onto} my body)" What would an Israelite say? May be something like this - hang on there - you are FOOD for me so just keep quiet! HMMMMM - Me think not - how about you??"Christians should bear in mind their dedication to God and obligation 'to love him with their whole heart, whole soul, whole strength, and whole mind.' (Luke 10: 27) Unlike most in the world, jehovah's Witness highly treasure their good relationship with God. The Life - Giver urges all to trust in Jesus' shed blood. We read; "By means of him [Jesus Christ] we have the release by ransom through the blood of that one, yes, the forgiveness of our trespasses." - Ephesians 1: 7"That's how sad this all is. Bible talks about NOT eating ANIMAL blood & the GB & WT take that so far out of context to mean NOT having blood transfusions. :-(
More to the point though!! Now JW's can use their own mind & NOT believe the GB when they are going through or about to go through a "during a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure" & tell that doctor what he or she is to do & how they are to operate & NOT HLC person can interfere.
Sad to say - that will be tested in many hospitals as HLC members will still have to SEE WT article for what it really is. Same old stuff re worded to avoid being sued. After all - it is all written above & NO GB member can be sued now - they will just point to the article where it says that each JW should have used his or her own mind to decide & NOT to come back on the GB at all. We read on.
There YOU HAVE IT!! Guilt, Guilt & MORE Guilt.AS I said above few times :"Please do NOT eat animal blood that was killed for food & you have nothing to worry about as far as Jehovah is concerned. He has all ready died for you & has spilt His own blood for you on the Cross - so enjoy freedom In HIM. I know, I know, I am repeating my self :-) DO YOU GET THE POINT though??????????"
Jehovah's does NOT want YOU to sacrifice your life for Him as He is the Life GIver & Possessor of everything. [Acts 17: 25] All that He asks for is MERCY [Matthew 12: 7] & NOT GB's Rules, lies, & misrepresentations of the Scriptures - His Word!!!
Posted by John H Milton [John H Milton] on September 10, 2000 at 01:42:08 {RQVpyWb7lQRne0RQ2ZSEaYo91MF/EE}:
The Watchtower has once more backed away from
its strict stand on the blood doctrine! They still have a long way to go,
but the latest
Watchtower out (October 15, 2000 pp 30 &
31) undeniably backs off from the WTS stance against using one's OWN blood.
Aside from all the
usual WT rambling and ambiguous statements,
there are 3, count them THREE statements by the WTS to ease up their stance.
WT Questions from Reader: "In the light of
Bible commands about the proper use of blood, how do Jehovah's Witnesses
view medical procedures
using one's own blood?"
WT Answer #1 comes as a complete sentence, the SECOND sentence in the Answer:
"It is a matter between him and Jehovah."
WT Answer #2 is in another complete sentence at almost the last paragraph of the answer:
"A Christian must decide for himself how his own blood will be handled in the course of a surgical procedure, medical test, or current therapy."
WT Answer #3 is also another complete sentence close to the final paragraph of the answer:
"Then he must decide according to what his conscience permits."
Again, count them-- three times the WT says that it is a matter for the Christian to decide as it is between him and Jehovah.
Granted, many will charge that this is taken
out of context. But, that is not an issue as it is a fact that the Watchtower
writers WRITE out of
context. It is their literary style and a
long-standing tradition. (Please don't expect them to give that up, too!)
Also granted, the average publisher will still
be more confused than Satan's lap-dog in a circular abyss, but how many
more hints can they give
the rank & file without actually coming
right out and saying what they are trying to say?
Congratulations Governors! You are moving ahead almost perceptibly!
John H. Milton
Very interesting hey!!
Take a look at this URL http://www.watchtowernews.org/questionsave.jpg
Then take a look at this http://www.thenews.co.uk/cgi-bin/W3Vfile/MO=3/UI=80775683737570547033/TF=news1?RI=78000352s
If you don't want to go there - here is what you will find - except that I do not have the picture :-(
SECT DONATION HELPS HOSPITALS
PATIENTS having surgery in
Portsmouth are to be offered the
chance to have their own blood
used in operations.
A new £14,000 machine can now
collect blood lost during surgery,
filter it and then return it to the
patient in a continuous circuit.
ThE machine known as a Cellsaver 5 has been presented to
Portsmouth hospitals from funds raised by Jehovah's
Witnesses in the area.
Jehovah's Witnesses are known for their refusal of
transfusions of other people's blood for scriptural reasons.
Gavin Hussell, an orthopedic consultant at Portsmouth
hospitals, said the equipment would be used during operations
in which patients lost a lot of blood - like hip replacement,
artery and vein surgery.
Portsmouth hospitals previously rented a Cellsaver from
Southampton General Hospital but it cost £800 a time. But now
Mr. Hussell hopes more machines can be bought.
He said: 'Jehovah's Witnesses are willing to accept it because
the blood is kept in constant circulation with their own body.'
Transmitted at 17:03:54 08/09/00
I suppose that's why WT writes in their own
publications - Insight in to the Scriptures Vol. 2 under the title "Mediator"
That Jesus Christ died for the 144, 000 ONLY - GRRRRRRRRRRR
Don't believe me - take a read there on page
362 of volume 2. under this section "Those for Whom Christ Is Mediator"
last sentence is the crunch point.
