New BLOOD Watchtower - June 15, 2004 Issue!

by UnDisfellowshipped 102 Replies latest watchtower bible

• 

  shamus

  Storing your own Blood directly contradicts the Mosaic Law on Blood, and Jehovah's Witnesses should not store their own Blood. Blood must not be stored. Blood must be poured out on the ground. Preoperative Autologous Donation (PAD) is against God's Law on Blood. Jehovah's Witnesses do not donate Blood for other people, and Jehovah's Witnesses do not store their own Blood before surgery.

  Now this burns me.... they take medications that are made from blood yet they will not donate blood, even if it's for the making of the medication that they take.

  Ummm... er um ok.
• 

  Will Power

  Another observation - no where do they remind the flock that their personality is in danger. (courtesy quotes. site)

  *** Watchtower 1961 September 15 pp.563-564 ***

  PERSONALITY INFLUENCED

  Yet it is acknowledged in the public press that organizations whose blood supply is considered reliable obtain blood for transfusion from criminals who are known to have such characteristics. Certainly no one who is trying to depart from the works of the flesh and use his life in the way that God directs through his Word is going to lay himself open to such a ruinous future.

  Well now, could this excuse be used in the event one was caught in a disfellowshipping offence? "It was the blood that I got - All in good conscience of course."

  *** Watchtower 1982 June 15 p.31 Questions from Readers ***

  Questions from Readers

  ? Would it be wrong for a Christian, under medical treatment, to allow leeches to be applied to him to draw off some blood?

  It would not be contrary to God's Word to permit the medical withdrawal and disposal of some blood. But to do this through the use of leeches would conflict with what the Bible says.

  [?]

  However, though leeches parasitically feed on blood in their natural state at present, it would not be proper for a Christian to permit leeches to draw his blood. (Proverbs 30:15)

  Just in case you were confused if blood tests are ok.....funny how there is no scripture quoted for that but there is for leeches???
• 

  BluesBrother

  I could not resist checking this out and I reproduce below the relevant parts of the WT 06/15/82 p31.. Note the comment also about blood tests, The missing bit gives medical history about the practice of bloodletting

  Questions from Readers

  · Would it be wrong for a Christian, under medical treatment, to allow leeches to be applied to him to draw off some blood?It would not be contrary to God?s Word to permit the medical withdrawal and disposal of some blood. But to do this through the use of leeches would conflict with what the Bible says. Admittedly, leeches are not commonly used today. Yet questions about using them do arise, particularly in Europe. Noting what the Bible says about blood can help us to evaluate such treatments....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... At times doctors may have medical grounds for advising that blood be removed (phlebotomy). For example, with the blood disease polycythemia vera a person has excessive red blood cells (the opposite of anemia). The blood, thick with red cells, may produce clots, increasing the threat of strokes or heart attacks. There are various ways of managing this, but sometimes the choice treatment is venesection, drawing off some blood from a vein. The counsel of God?s Word would not rule this out so long as the removed blood was disposed of. Similarly, many Christians have felt conscientiously able to permit small quantities of blood to be taken for medical tests, realizing that once the tests were completed the blood would be discarded.

  However, though leeches parasitically feed on blood in their natural state at present, it would not be proper for a Christian to permit leeches to draw his blood. (Proverbs 30:15) Even where this was urged for medical reasons and the leeches would later be disposed of, the use of leeches would involve deliberately feeding blood to these creatures. That would conflict with the Bible?s indication that blood, being sacred and representing life, should be disposed of if it is removed from a body.

  NB. Prov 30.15 "The leeches have two daughters that cry "Give! Give". there are three things that do not satisfied,four that have not said enough!
• 

  zen nudist

  A while back I remember reading something about the Acts 15 council.... there were four "laws" established that were binding on all, christian and jew alike and these were based on what was told NOAH as that covenent preceding the law of Moses was for all mankind, not just the jews.

  according to those laws given to Noah, it came out as follows:

  1. Do not eat meat from an animal which was not properly bled.

  2. Do not eat meat sacrificed to Idols

  3. Avoid immoral sex4. Abstain from blood [ shed], that is murder...not what Witnesses have misinterpreted....
• 

  Dawn

  Actually, the answer involved one of the most important teachings in the Bible. It is at the very core of the Christian message, though many churches choose to ignore it.

  The above WT quote just jumped out at me from the original message on this link. I find it so ironic that the JW's, while claiming to have the truth, are so lost. The blood issue is NOT the most important teaching - it is mentioned rarely in the new testament. It is clear from every book of the new testament that the core of the Christian message is faith and belief in the Lord as your savior. The entire old testament forshadows the messiah - the entire new testament proclaims the messaih - yet the organization has replaced the messiah with themselves. Telling their followers that to be saved they must go through the ORG rather than Jesus himself - even going so far as to say that Jesus was NOT the mediator for the average JW so the average JW must be saved through the ORG instead of through the Lord.

  Christian churches today DO get the very core of the christian message - it's the JW's who don't and are frightfully on the edge (perhaps even past that point) of representing the false messiah/anti-christ.
• 

  itsallgoodnow

  I haven't read all the replies, so I hope this hasn't already been said, but....

  Blood transfusions are defined as "consuming", as in eating, blood. This is because if a person was unable to eat they could be fed intravenously. But is this the way humans usually would eat? No.

  IMO they it's more like an organ transplant. Are organ transplants allowed? If so, their logic is way off.

  also bebe wrote:

  Someone commented on another blood thread recently--I think it was Mary's comment--that the blood in question was from a DEAD ANIMAL.

  Transfusions come from living people; there is no death (or sacrifice) involved in a blood transfusion!!... and so all their logic is absurd from the get-go.

  That's a good observation.

  When are they going to let go of this piece of the absurdity puzzle? My opinion is they can't or else there would be a stampede of lukewarmies running for the exit.
• 

  Nathan Natas

  I have said this before, and this seems to be a good place to bring it up again:

  Blood represents life the same way an idol represents a diety. Blood is a sacred thing - used in Jehovah's worship, as they explain in the first article.

  (A bag of blood is no more "a living thing" than an idol.)

  By venerating the blood and letting the imperilled life expire, JWs are guilty of idolatry - BLOOD WORSHIP.

  Agree? Disagree? What are your thoughts on this?
• 

  cyber-sista

  Interesting point Nathan. Blood worship--venerating blood--I think you have really said something there--I think you have really hit the nail on the head--I will remember this one..
  

  Lots of great points on this post. Thanks everyone!

  Actually, the answer involved one of the most important teachings in the Bible. It is at the very core of the Christian message, though many churches choose to ignore it.

  Yes, Dawn....I also agree that this is a strange statement...I thought the most important focus in Christianity was LOVE, forgiveness, kindness, etc. etc... Blood is not a value or attribute anymore than a liver or kidney...Taking it to the absurd saying that blood is one of the most important aspects of the whole Christian doctrine is like saying one of the most important things in Christianity is your bodily organs that sustain your life. The Org is losing it bad now. The old guys at the top are getting senile for sure.
• 

  XQsThaiPoes

  Storing your own Blood directly contradicts the Mosaic Law on Blood, and Jehovah's Witnesses should not store their own Blood.

  This article is explictly clear it is smoke and mirriors to control stupid JWs that are too lazy to care about understanding it

  "Storing your own Blood directly contradicts the Mosaic Law on Blood...."

  True this is a fact.

  "... and Jehovah's Witnesses should not store their own Blood."

  This as an oppinion but notice it is not a directive!

  Should

  Etymology: Middle English sholde, from Old English sceolde owed, was obliged to, ought to
  past of SHALL

  1 -- used in auxiliary function to express condition should
  leave his father, his father would die -- Gen 44:22 (Revised Standard Version)>
  2 -- used in auxiliary function to express obligation, propriety, or expediency <'tis commanded I should do so -- Shakespeare> should be -- H. L. Savage> should brush your teeth after each meal>
  3 -- used in auxiliary function to express futurity from a point of view in the past should have to do most of her farm work before sunrise -- Ellen Glasgow>
  4 -- used in auxiliary function to express what is probable or expected should be here by noon>
  5 -- used in auxiliary function to express a request in a polite manner or to soften direct statement should suggest that a guide... is the first essential -- L. D. Reddick>

  Okay so lets put this is speak for the brain dead.

  ...and Jehovah's Witnesses ought to not store their own Blood.

  ...and Jehovah's Witnesses was obliged to not store their own Blood.

  Anyone catch before I mentioned it how they are saying you can store your own blood now?
• 

  tazmaniac

  Apparently someone in the GB or high up the ladder accepted minor blood fractions. If they change too drastically on the blood issue they would open themselves up for a huge upheaval and lawsuits from the families of those who have died over this. I think so many resolved in themselves that taking a blood transfusion was bad when people were getting AIDS and such from transfusions. Now I wonder what the actual number is..when JW's take a transfusion when no one would find out. oh well....just my two cents !!!!