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Portland, Oregon Church - Affiliated with the Intercontinental Church of God and the Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association |
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SUBJECT: Blood Transfusions and Organ transplants
QUESTION: What does the ICG feel about blood transfusions and organ transplants?
ANSWER:
We do not have any literature on this subject and I could not readily find any such literature among other organizations in the Church of God. The Jehovah's Witnesses have extensive writings on the subject.
I talked to Mr. Armstrong at some length on this subject and he wanted to make it clear that Christians need to make choices based on God's Word and their best judgment coupled with the unction of the Holy Spirit (1 John 2:20). Regarding this subject, each Christian must formulate his or her own "matter of faith" [Personal Elements of Belief] based on the scriptures and their own personal level of faith.
It is Mr. Armstrong's feeling that the church cannot publish a booklet on every possible subject, but rather teach the Bible which contains all the principles we need to aid us in making all these decisions. Of course, there is always personal counsel. Having said that, let's take a closer look at this question.
Let us take a look at some of the arguments regarding these two subjects.
BLOOD ARGUMENT
Genesis 9:4 But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.
Leviticus 17:11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.
Leviticus 17:14 For it is the life of all flesh; the blood of it is for the life thereof: therefore I said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh: for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof: whosoever eateth it shall be cut off.
Leviticus 19:16 Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I am the LORD.
Deuteronomy 12:23 Only be sure that thou eat not the blood: for the blood is the life; and thou mayest not eat the life with the flesh.
Note: The word "eat" here has the following meaning:
398 'akal (aw-kal');
a primitive root; to eat (literally or figuratively):
KJV-- X at all, burn up, consume, devour (-er, up), dine, eat (-er, up), feed (with), food, X freely, X in ... wise (-deed, plenty), (lay) meat, X quite.
It would seem that the devouring of blood by any means would be wrong. The actual eating of blood, aside from the Spiritual impact, would have physical impact on our bodies in that we are taking in the substance of that blood. Would this process not be the same if that blood were injected directly into our bloodstream. The whole idea of eating is to transfer the substance of the food into the bloodstream.
RESURRECTIONS BY CHRIST ARGUMENT
Throughout the Gospels we read of several people being resurrected. Can you imagine the situation if their organs had been given away. Psychologically it does not set well with the mind. Now we know there will be a general resurrection of people that have had organs removed and even been vaporized in atom bomb blasts but the principle seems to be clear that one should not interfere with bodies under the control of Jesus Christ and God the Father.
THE TEMPLE ARGUMENT
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
Note: These verses say it all:
1) Our body is a Temple in which resides the Holy Spirit. 2) We are NOT our own...we belong bone, organ, mind and blood to God. 3) We are bought with a price; again, we are not our own. 4) We are to glorify God with the use of our body. 5) Restatement: Body and Spirit are God's.
The tabernacle in the wilderness and later the temples that were made were but a pattern of the human body. Each implement, each room and court represented a part of the body. If you would like to study this yourself, look up all the uses of the word "pattern". You will see that most of them speak of a Temple pattern and correlate directly to the human body. Clearly, we would not take part of the physical tabernacle or Temple and use it elsewhere in some other building. The correlation must be complete, which is to say that we should treat this temple, the human body, the same way we would have treated God's physical Temple when it was here.
THE IMAGE ARGUMENT
Genesis 1:26-28 26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28 And God blessed them...
Note: We are made in the image of God. The image belongs to God. He blessed that creation; that image. Do we not tamper with that image with the blood and organ transfers?
THE HOLY SPIRIT ARGUMENT
2 Corinthians 3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
Romans 8:10 1And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
Note: These verses state that the Spirit of God is life; life in us. Couple this with the verse above (Lev 17:11) which says that the life of the flesh is in the blood. The correlation is that the Spirit of God is in our blood. I say this both figuratively and actually. The Spirit of God resides in the forefront of our brain, an organ full of life-giving blood.
THE SHED BLOOD ARGUMENT
Notice the rest of Lev 17:11...
Leviticus 17:11
Notice the commentary
Leviticus 17:10-14 And whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, that eateth any manner of blood; I will even set my face against that soul that eateth blood, and will cut him off from among his people.
[That eateth any manner of blood]. Neither the Hebrew nor the resident foreigner was to eat any manner of blood. The reasons are given in <Lev 17:11>. The first was that it was the fluid which carried life through the body, and thus it represented the life or soul ([nepesh]) of the animal. The second was actually the primary reason, with the first simply forming the foundation for the second: Atonement for sins was made by the sacrifice of animals, by offering the life of the animal as a substitution for one's own life; the shedding of blood as the fluid of life was the offering of that portion which most clearly set forth the atonement picture. 13. He shall even pour out the blood thereof. The blood of all edible game which was slain was to be shed on the ground and not to be eaten. ~from Wycliffe Commentary
Note: The blood carried life in the animal. This blood was shed in sacrifice for man...a substitution for man's blood. It was, of course, the foundation for the blood of Jesus. The connection between these bloods is unmistakable. With a connection like this how can man justify mixing them. It does not seem to make Spiritual sense.
THE HEALING ARGUMENT
James 5:13-15 13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. 14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: 15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
Note: This argument is clearly one of personal faith but the instruction is clear and so is the promise. The prayer of faith shall save the sick. God will forgive our sins.
THE GOOD REPORT ARGUMENT
Philippians 4:6-8 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Note: As you will see in the PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE section below, these issues of blood and organ transplants are NOT of good report and seem far from pure. Based on the above arguments so far, they do not seem true or just. Be sure to go through that section below then reread this argument. We hear reports of tainted blood, full of all kinds of diseases and viruses such as hepatitis and HIV. We see organs going to the rich or put up on the auction block. None of this can be right with God.
THE CHRIST EXAMPLE ARGUMENT
Philippians 4:9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
1 Peter 2:21-25 21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: 24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
John 13:15
1 Timothy 4:12 (speaking to ministers but clearly applying to all brethren) Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
Note: We have no example, instruction or admonition to do such a thing to our bodies or with blood or organs.
SUPPORTING COMMENTARY
Blood (definition from Bible Encylopaedia)
1. Hebrew and Old Testament Customs: Notwithstanding the ignorance and superstition surrounding this suggestively beautiful idea, it grew to have more than a merely human significance and application. For this crude practice of inter-transference of human blood there came to be a symbolic substitution of animal blood in sprinkling or anointing. The first reference in the Old Testament to blood <Gen 4:10> is figurative, but highly illustrative of the reverential fear manifested upon the shedding of blood and the first teaching regarding it.
The rite of circumcision is an Old Testament form of blood ceremony. Apart from the probable sanitary importance of the act is the deeper meaning in the establishment of a bond of friendship between the one upon whom the act is performed and Yahweh Himself. In order that Abraham might become "the friend of God" he was commanded that he should be circumcised as a token of the covenant between him and God (<Gen 17:10-11>; see CIRCUMCISION). It is significant that the eating of blood was prohibited in earliest Bible times <Gen 9:4>. The custom probably prevailed among heathen nations as a religious rite (compare <Ps 16:4>). This and its unhygienic influence together doubtless led to its becoming taboo. The same prohibition was made under the Mosaic code (<Lev 7:26>; see SACRIFICE). Blood was commanded to be used also for purification or for ceremonial cleansing <Lev 14:5-7. 51-52; Num 19:4>, provided, however, that it be taken from a clean animal (see PURIFICATION).
In all probability there is no trace of the superstitious use of blood in the Old Testament, unless perchance in <1 Kin 22:38> (see BATHING); but everywhere it is vested with cleansing, expiatory, and reverently symbolic qualities.
2. New Testament Teachings: As in the transition from ancient to Hebrew practice, so from the Old Testament to the New Testament we see an exaltation of the conception of blood and blood ceremonies. In Abraham's covenant his own blood had to be shed. Later an expiatory animal was to shed blood (<Lev 5:6>; see ATONEMENT), but there must always be a shedding of blood. "Apart from shedding of blood there is no remission" <Heb 9:22>. The exaltation and dignifying of this idea finds its highest development then in the vicarious shedding of blood by Christ Himself <1 Jn 1:7>. As in the Old Testament "blood" was also used to signify the juice of grapes, the most natural substitute for the drinking of blood would be the use of wine. Jesus takes advantage of this, and introduces the beautiful and significant custom <Mt 26:28> of drinking wine and eating bread as symbolic of the primitive intertransfusion of blood and flesh in a pledge of eternal friendship (compare <Exo 24:6-7; Jn 6:53-56>). This is the climactic observance of blood rites recorded in the Bible. ~from International Standard Bible Encylopaedia
PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE
Below are some web sites that look at the practical pitfalls of engaging in blood and organ transplants:
http://home3.inet.tele.dk/omni/hippocrates_hcv.htm Hepatitis C: The Hidden Epidemic
http://www.urban75.com/Health/hiv_infec.html Preventing HIV infection
A WORD ABOUT DOCTORS
This counsel would not be complete without saying something about what the Bible says about them and in doing so show some of the things that doctors can do based on scripture.
Physician A person skilled in the art of healing the sick. Both the Old and New Testaments frequently mention the curing of ailments, but specific details about how this was done are few.
In the ancient world, primitive medical practices were performed by magicians or priests. This was especially true in ancient Egypt, where even elementary brain surgery was attempted. Some of the Egyptian procedures were adopted by the Hebrews. These included embalming <Gen. 50:2,3, 26> or obstetrics, as with the midwives Shiphrah and Puah <Ex. 1:15>.
Specific medical remedies are often recorded in the Bible. These include the application of bandages <Is. 1:6>, oil <James 5:14>, roots and leaves <Ezek. 47:12>, wine <1 Tim. 5:23>, and salves-- particularly the BALM OF GILEAD <Jer. 8:22>.
In the New Testament, the Good Samaritan treated the wounded traveler's injuries with oil and wine <Luke 10:34>. Luke, one of the twelve disciples of Jesus and author of the Gospel of Luke, is called "the beloved physician" by the apostle Paul <Col. 4:14>. ~from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary
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What some members have done is to save up their own blood for an
intended operation. |
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Portland, Oregon Church - Affiliated with the Intercontinental Church of God and the Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association |