JWs and blood transfusions

Originally posted by RJHinds
My point is that there was never any law from God prohibiting blood transfusions. That idea and prohibition came from the Watchtower society in order to gain more control over their members.

Originally posted by galveston75
You and others are just playing with the word abstain and making it fit your needs.

If you were told to abstain from meat, what does that mean?
If you were told to abstain from penicillin, what does that mean
If you were told to abstain from tobacco, what does that mean?
If you were told to abstain from the sun, what does that mean?
If you we ...[text shortened]... ve the same lack of faith that Adam and Eve had but which was demonstrated perfectly by Abraham.

Originally posted by galveston75
You and others are just playing with the word abstain and making it fit your needs.

If you were told to abstain from meat, what does that mean?
If you were told to abstain from penicillin, what does that mean
If you were told to abstain from tobacco, what does that mean?
If you were told to abstain from the sun, what does that mean?
If you we ...[text shortened]... ve the same lack of faith that Adam and Eve had but which was demonstrated perfectly by Abraham.

"Aided by God’s spirit, the apostles and older men concluded that obligatory circumcision ended with the Law. Still, certain divine requirements remained for Christians. In a letter to the congregations, the governing body wrote: “The holy spirit and we ourselves have favored adding no further burden to you, except these necessary things, to keep abstaining from things sacrificed to idols ((and from blood)) and from things strangled and from fornication. If you carefully keep yourselves from these things, you will prosper.”—Acts 15:28, 29.

Plainly, the governing body viewed ‘abstaining from blood’ to be as morally vital as abstaining from sexual immorality or idol worship. This proves that the prohibition about blood is serious. Christians who unrepentantly commit idolatry or sexual immorality cannot “inherit God’s kingdom”; “their portion will be . . . the second death.” (1 Corinthians 6:9, 10; Revelation 21:8; 22:15) Note the contrast: Disregarding God’s guidance concerning the sacredness of lifeblood can result in everlasting death. Showing respect for Jesus’ sacrifice can lead to everlasting life.

How did the early Christians understand and act on God’s guidance about blood? Recall Clarke’s comment: “Under the Gospel it should not be eaten, because it should ever be considered as representing the blood which has been shed for the remission of sins.” History confirms that the early Christians treated the matter seriously. Tertullian wrote: “Consider those who with greedy thirst, at a show in the arena, take the fresh blood of wicked criminals . . . and carry it off to heal their epilepsy.” Whereas pagans consumed blood, Tertullian said that Christians “do not even have the blood of animals at [their] meals . . . At the trials of Christians you offer them sausages filled with blood. You are convinced, of course, that [it] is unlawful for them.” Yes, despite threats of death, Christians would not consume blood. God’s guidance was that important to them.

Some may imagine that the governing body simply meant that Christians were not to eat or drink blood directly nor to eat unbled meat or food mixed with blood. Granted, that was the first import of God’s command to Noah. And the apostolic decree did tell Christians to ‘keep themselves from things strangled,’ meat with blood left in it. (Genesis 9:3, 4; Acts 21:25) However, the early Christians knew that more was involved. Sometimes blood was taken in for medical reasons. Tertullian noted that in an effort to cure epilepsy, some pagans consumed fresh blood. And there may have been other uses of blood to treat disease or supposedly improve health. Hence, for Christians, shunning blood included not taking it in for “medical” reasons. They maintained that stand even if it put their life at risk."

Originally posted by galveston75
"Aided by God’s spirit, the apostles and older men concluded that obligatory circumcision ended with the Law. Still, certain divine requirements remained for Christians. In a letter to the congregations, the governing body wrote: “The holy spirit and we ourselves have favored adding no further burden to you, except these necessary things, to keep abstain ...[text shortened]... king it in for “medical” reasons. They maintained that stand even if it put their life at risk."

Originally posted by galveston75
And to add to the issues of Adam and Eve and the Tree of Life and the fruit on it and listening to God's command to abstain from it and not even touch it, if this were the last fruit tree and you would die without eating of it, would you listen to God and abstain just as he commanded or would you eat?
The same command was given about blood was it not?

Originally posted by galveston75
And to add to the issues of Adam and Eve and the Tree of Life and the fruit on it and listening to God's command to abstain from it and not even touch it, if this were the last fruit tree and you would die without eating of it, would you listen to God and abstain just as he commanded or would you eat?
The same command was given about blood was it not?

Originally posted by Zahlanzi
so in this scenario you invented, god is a sadist that destroys all the food except a tree, allows you free access to its fruit but commands you not to eat it anyway.


does this sound like a benevolent god you should obey?

oh in case i wasn't making myself clear: yes. it is my duty to myself and to the real god (not the sadist one you invented) to f ...[text shortened]... i would make soup out of those fruits, then make a big fire and cook them so i have a full meal.

Could anyone here tell dive dude I'm abviously not going to answer any of his post no matter how many times he trys over and over and over? He seems to think it's funny or entertaining or shows off his brilliant personality but it really does nothing but show his lack of maturity, knowledge, spirituality or just plain ole commen sense.
He reminds me of a small child wanting his mothers attention and thinking that saying "mama, mama, mama, mama over and over will actually work. Lol.....

Originally posted by galveston75
Lol... Wow what a great comment.

Originally posted by galveston75
[divegeester] reminds me of a small child wanting his mothers attention and thinking that saying "mama, mama, mama, mama over and over will actually work. Lol.....

Originally posted by galveston75
You and others are just playing with the word abstain and making it fit your needs.

If you were told to abstain from meat, what does that mean?
If you were told to abstain from penicillin, what does that mean
If you were told to abstain from tobacco, what does that mean?
If you were told to abstain from the sun, what does that mean?
If you we ...[text shortened]... ve the same lack of faith that Adam and Eve had but which was demonstrated perfectly by Abraham.

"For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him."

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypovolemia ?

I honestly don't know why my dad's blood volume was low.... I asked my wife her recollection of what happened and she remembered specifically that blood volume was the main issue at that time. He needed the transfusions and I do recall that he was extremely tired but this may have partially been due to his cancer and they the medical personnel said his volume was very low and his life was at risk. However he was not in an accident and he did not lose a bunch of blood externally.......

Manny

Originally posted by galveston75
You and others are just playing with the word abstain and making it fit your needs.

If you were told to abstain from meat, what does that mean?
If you were told to abstain from penicillin, what does that mean
If you were told to abstain from tobacco, what does that mean?
If you were told to abstain from the sun, what does that mean?
If you we ...[text shortened]... ve the same lack of faith that Adam and Eve had but which was demonstrated perfectly by Abraham.

Originally posted by galveston75
1. If you were told to abstain from meat, what does that mean?
2. If you were told to abstain from the sun, what does that mean?
3. If you were told to abstain from gambling, what does that mean?
4. If you were told to abstain from alcohol, what does that mean?