Can You Explain This? (Blood)

by headisspinning 13 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

  • headisspinning
    headisspinning

    I don't understand why the WT puts so much time and effort into informing people about the intricacies of blood transfusions and fractions, but they don't really focus attention on the dietary side of not eating blood. Because it was clearly a DIETARY restriction in the Bible and maybe not so clearly in regard to blood transfusions (I'm still pondering this part).

    Is that ever discussed with Bible studies or prior to baptism? It seems to me that if the command to 'abstain from blood' is so important that people will put their life on the line over it, then shouldn't very clear direction be spelling out in detail about what foods are okay to eat and what foods aren't? Shouldn't there be a list that is published and given equal importance as the information on blood transfusions?

    I've never been able to get a satisfying answer. I remember in the past all JWs (in Canada at least) knew to check for by-products in meats such as hot dogs (weiners), pepperoni etc. But it seems like only old-school JWs do that now.

    I mean you either abstain from blood and take it seriously which means doing all the research that needs to be done and being experts on things like 'meat glue' and what does or does not contain it OR you just be like everyone else in the world who claims to be Christian and not worry about it.

    Can anyone explain this?

  • Mad Sweeney
    Mad Sweeney

    Because it really doesn't matter if you eat blood or not. The entire point of "NO BLOOD" is to set the JWs apart as unique in society (Us versus Them is important to cults) AND to weed out critical thinkers from submissive groupthink members.

  • headisspinning
    headisspinning

    This is a really hard subject for me to come to terms with. I had out of control OCD as a teen and a lot of my issues were related to abstaining from blood. Even now I have trouble being balanced.

    So, even though I am disfellowshipped, I really want to understand what God wants. I mean, if he really wants Christians to 'abstain from blood' I am willing to do it. But if that's the case I don't really know how to put it into practice.

    How do non-JWs who consider themselves Christian view that command?

  • pirata
    pirata

    headisspinning,

    Here's some homework for you. I studied this thorougly to see what the scriptures really say about this, and this helped me make up my mind on the matter:

    The use of blood in pre-christian times

    (Genesis 9:3-5)

    • What does blood represent?

    (Exodus 22:31)

    • Why shouldn't an animal found dead be eaten?

    (Leviticus 7:22-27)

    • What was the punishment for eating fat from an animal, either one killed or already found dead?
    • What was the punishment for eating blood?

    (Leviticus 11:39-40)

    • What was the punishment for eating flesh from an animal already found dead (which means it was not bled properly)

    (Leviticus 17:10-12)

    • Why was blood to be poured out?
    • What is an "atonement".
    • What is atoning for what?
    • If you took out some blood from a bull (but kept the bull alive), and poured out the blood on the altar, would this be considered an atonement?

    (Leviticus 17:13-16)

    • What is the consequences of eating an animal already dead?
    • How does this relate to Exodus 22:31?

    (Deuteronomy 14:21)

    • What could an Israelite do with an animal already dead?
    • Why was this okay?

    (2 Samuel 23:13-17)

    • Why did David pour out the water on the ground?
    • What insight does this give out as to the reason blood was to be poured out?

    (Ezekiel 4:14)

    • Why did Ezekiel emphasize that he had never eaten an animal found dead?

    The reason for the "necessary things"in the 1st Century

    Read Galatians Chapter 1 and 2, Acts Chapter 15, and Acts 21:17-32 then consider the following:

    • What issue threatened to causea schism in the 1st centure congregations?
    • How do the disciples of James in mentioned in Galatians fit in with Acts 15?
    • What conflict occurred between Peter and Paul? Why?
    • Why did some Jewish christians consider Paul an apostate?
    • Why were the "necessary things" necessary?

    READ 1 Corinthians Chapter 8

    NOTE: "Meat/Food sacrificed to idols" and "things sacrificed to idols" are both translated from the same Greek Word. This is not an attempted NWT cover-up, many translation have a similar rendering. If you check a interlinear and Biblical greek dictionary (such as Vine's Expository), you can verify this equivalency.

    • Is it wrong in itself to eat meat sacrificed to idols?
    • What is the main reason a christian in the 1st century would choose to abstain from eating meat sacrificed to idols?
    • What does this say about the reason that the "necessary things" were necessary?

    Compare Acts 15:28,29 and compare with Leviticus Chapters 17 and 18

    • Why were these "necessary things" chosen? Why not you must not murder, covet, etc? (Notice Leviticus mention of requirements for alien residents)
    • What do you notice about the order of requirements introduced in Leviticus 17/18 with the order in Acts 15:28,29?

    Read 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, Galatians 5:19-21

    • Considering the reason for the "necessary things", why do you think some of the "necessary things" are not listed in the above lists of things for Christans to avoid?

    Read 1 Timothy 4:3, 1 Peter 2:11

    • Is "abstain" used in thes scriptures in an absolute or relative sense?

    Summary

    By understanding WHY the Jews poured out blood, and the circumstances surrounding the council's decision to abstain from these "necessary things", we can better understand the spirit behind the law and it's relevance for Christians.

    Bonus: Blood Transfusions

    • Since no life is lost when blood is removed from another person to save the life of another, should it be considered a violation of the Mosaic Law (ask any orthodox Jew for their view)
    • What is more important, the symbol of life, or the life itself?

    PS. If you'd like to discuss any of this further, feel free to reply here or PM me.

  • headisspinning
    headisspinning

    Thanks Pirata. I am copying this into a Word document to research later. I appreciate it.

  • pirata
    pirata

    You're welcome! It'll take a few hours to wade through the scriptures, but a much clearer picture emerges (at least for me) after doing that.

  • Mad Sweeney
    Mad Sweeney

    Also the chapter in In Search of Christian Freedom that pertains to blood is extremely well reasoned and thorough.

    http://www.commentarypress.net/cpn-essays/English/4C648686-695D-48C7-ACA8-A52794ED6128_files/Search-Eng-Chap%209.2006.pdf

    And to answer your question about other Christians, I don't know of ANY who interpret it as the WT does and applies it to transfusion. Not even orthodox Jews apply the Mosaic blood laws to transfusion.

  • TD
    TD

    headisspinning:

    Do you think the context in which the Decree was clearly understood in the first century might have something to do with what it actually means?

    "You behold, brother, how many thousands of believers there are among the Jews; and they are all zealous for the Law. But they have heard it rumored about you that you have been teaching all the Jews among the nations an apostasy from Moses, telling them neither to circumcise their children nor to walk in the [solemn] customs. What, then, is to be done about it?...

    "Take these men along and cleanse yourself ceremonially with them and take care of their expenses, that they may have their heads shaved. And so everybody will know that there is nothing to the rumors they were told about you, but that you are walking orderly, you yourself also keeping the Law. As for the believers from among the nations, we have sent out, rendering our decision that they should keep themselves from what is sacrificed to idols as well as from blood and what is strangled and from fornication."

  • besty
    besty
  • Nathan Natas
    Nathan Natas

    Headisspinning, I would like to offer you an alternative viewpoint, which is this: Don't worry about pleasing an invisible imaginary character.

    There are cultures in the world in which blood is part of the normal diet, and these people show no evidence of suffering God's wrath for their dietary indescretions. Neither will you.

    Enjoy the freedom of the Sons of God that was your natural inheritance since the founding of the world.

    It is not what enters a man's mouth that condemns him, but what proceeds forth from it.

    What does that tell you?

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