Come Let Us Reason: Jehovah’s Witnesses And Blood

An article was published on Ghanaweb titled “Jehovah Witness Couple disown four-year-old son for receiving blood” Ghanaweb 4th May 2010. As unfortunate as the story may seem, one may ask if the Bible really prohibits blood transfusion.

Based on the divine prohibition that we should “abstain from the pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from what is strangled and from blood”(Acts 15:20), Jehovah’s Witnesses conclude that blood transfusions must be rejected. The Apostle James reference to blood is based on Genesis 9:4 which states: “But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is , its blood”. The prohibition was incorporated into the Law of Moses. Leviticus 7:25-26(3rd book of Moses) says:” Moreover you shall not eat any blood in any of your dwellings, whether of birds or beasts. Whoever eats any blood, that person shall be cut off from his people”. God explained the reason for the prohibition in Leviticus 17:11 which says:” For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul”. For the Hebrew(Jew),the blood of his animal was to be used only for sacrificial purposes. Why?. Because God said so. Since much disease is blood born, by thoroughly bleeding their animals to be eaten, they avoided many of the diseases common among their neighbors. Thus God promised them “If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD your God ----and keep all his statues, I will put none of the diseases upon thee, which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you.( Exodus 15:26).

To understand why the Apostles insisted on that the Gentiles must abstain from blood, we must understand that among the Gentile nations, eating or drinking blood was a common thing. It was commonly done as a religious rite as they offered their sacrifices to their pagan gods. It was also extremely offensive to Jews because of their law and upbringing. If Gentiles were to enter the Church, they would need to abstain from fornication, pollutions of idols and the eating of blood.

What has this to do with blood transfusions?. A blood transfusion is a medical procedure, just as is surgery, administering of medicines through the blood etc. The recipient is not eating blood. He is not participating in an idolatrous rite. Those religious leaders who made this law against blood transfusions did so upon a fallacious understanding of the Scripture. It was first forbidden to Jehovah’s Witnesses in 1945 under the regime of President Nathan Knorr. In 1961 the reception of transfusions of blood products was declared to be a matter for disfellowship. Those consenting to blood transfusions, even in the face of death were said to do so at the cost of eternal life. The tragedy is that many innocent people have died unnecessary because of this human doctrine. It reminds us of the Judaizers who Paul described as trying to impose “a yoke of bondage “ on the Gentile converts.(Gal 5:1). People focus on their teachings and practice and use it to belittle and speak evil of the cause of Christ.

(Excerpt from the Voice of Truth, a journal of the Churches of Christ)

By: Obourba Asante Taado.