Acts 15:20.?

Question

so Jehovah's witnesses are right...
so why does everyone always pick fault when they obey the bible?

Answer 1

That Scripture reads as follows:
"Abstain from things polluted by idols and from fornication and from what is strangled and from blood" -Acts 15:20


In addition to this one verse, Jehovah's Witnesses believe that the ENTIRE scriptures demonstrate a clear pattern indicating the sacredness with which Jehovah God (and thus god-fearing humankind) views all creature blood.


Predates Mosaic Law.
For example, over a thousand years before the birth of Moses, the pre-Israel, pre-Jewish, pre-Hebrew man Noah received what the scriptures record as only the second restrictive command on humans (after Garden of Eden's tree):

"Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you; and as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything. Only you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood. For your lifeblood I will surely require a reckoning; of every beast I will require it [that is, lifeblood] and of man" (Genesis 9:3-5)


Jewish Law.
Later, God's feeling regarding blood was codified into the Mosaic Law. This part of the Law dealing with blood was unique in that it applied, not just to Israel, but also to non-Jewish foreigners among them. It's also interesting that besides forbidding the consumption of blood, the Law also mandated that it be 'poured out on the ground', not used for any purpose.

"No person among you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger who sojourns among you eat blood. Any man also of the people of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among them, who takes in hunting any beast or bird that may be eaten shall pour out its blood and cover it with dust." (Lev 17:12,13)

By comparison, it's significant that the Law also forbid the consumption of ceremonial animal fat, but that didn't apply to non-Jewish foreigners and it DID allow the fat to be used for other purposes.

"The LORD said to Moses, "Say to the people of Israel, You shall eat no fat, of ox, or sheep, or goat. The fat of an animal that dies of itself, and the fat of one that is torn by beasts, may be put to any other use" (Lev 7:22-24)


Early Christian era.
The Christian era ended the validity of the Mosaic Law, but remember that the restriction on eating blood preceded the Mosaic Law by over a thousand years. Still, does the New Testament indicate that Jehovah God changed his view of blood's sacredness?

"[God] freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses" (Eph 1:6,7)

"[God's] beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins... and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood" (Colossians 1:13-20)

"we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, but should write to them to abstain from the pollutions of idols and from unchastity and from what is strangled and from blood." (Acts 15:19,20)

"For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from unchastity." Acts 15:28,29


Modern times
Some will claim that the bible's command to "abstain" from blood only applies to eating it, and does not apply to the use of blood for other purpose. If that form of respect for blood were common among Christendom, one might wonder then why so many (who ostensibly follow the book of Acts) so happily eat their blood sausage and blood pudding if they truly respect blood according to some limited understanding of Acts 15:20,29. In fact, respect for blood and for Acts and for the Scriptures themselves is too rare among even supposedly god-fearing persons.

An honest review of the Scriptural pattern over the millenia from Noah to the Apostle Paul teaches humans that blood is to be used for a single purpose: acknowledging the Almighty. Otherwise, for centuries the instruction was to simply dispose of it; 'poor it upon the ground'. When Jehovah's Witnesses pursue non-blood medical management, they are working to honor and obey their Creator.


Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/library/hb/index.htm
http://watchtower.org/library/vcnb/article_01.htm

Answer 2

how many families have died because they took blood. Jehovah knows what he is talking about. how many people sleep around and they are married. Idols are silver and gold the work of earling man, a mouth the have but they cannot speak, eyes they have and they cannot see, ears they have but they cannot hear, a nose they have and they can not smell, hand are theirs but they cannot feel,feet they have but they cannot walk. those make them will become just like them. as far as the 144,000 going to heaven it is in the king James also. Jehovah did not change his mind about people living here on earth but of course not like it is today. it will be cleaned up, we are going to enjoy what Adam and eve lost. who are the meek that will inherit the earth. Jehovah did not blow up the earth in Noah's day either. why would Jehovah get rid of the earth when he made it. Jehovah does not change his mind. I am tired of people saying we are a cult, a cult worships man, we are in 235 lands. a cult lives in one state and we as Jehovah Witnesses worship Jehovah and is son Jesus Christ. a cult worships the man and does what he wants, they are a robot. Jehovah gave us free will. visit the kingdom hall and see what we are all about, the door is always open for anyone to come visit. www.watchtower.org

Answer 3

OK, my friend...I will attempt to answer this from my point of view, given limited theological knowledge. The bottom line is that when Jesus died on the cross, he died for our sins, washing them away with his blood. He said that all covenants that came before were no longer valid. This is the word of God, therefore it must be true, even though it might contradict previous teachings. It is my belief that when God gave instruction to different people, he was testing them each in their own way. There are many contradictory demands made by God to many different people in the Bible. This is no reason to dismiss any particular one, but it is also not reason to abide by them all.

Ex. - If God tells you to go and buy a package of fresh spinach at the grocery store every day from now on; then two days from now, He tells you not to anymore, that doesn't mean you're just supposed to pick one instruction and run with it. You're supposed to obey His will at the most recent instruction, because if you don't, you may die of e-coli. The point is, even God changes his mind.

When Jesus gave his life on the cross, he wiped the slate clean! Stop believing these goofball sects that pick a few of their favorite verses out of the Bible, and say "OK, this is what we choose to believe, because it's in the Bible, therefore, it must be what God wants us to do." You must read the WHOLE Book, and get the WHOLE message.

Have faith, and He will show you the way. Good Luck, and God Bless

Answer 4

I am a nurse and I feel that Jehovah's witnesses are right in most cases and medical technology can now be used alongside someones beliefs in order to give the best possible care without compromise on either side. However there is some sense in the fact that medicine continues to advance and the bible doesn't....... hope I'm on the right lines!!!

Answer 5

Colossians 2:16

Answer 6

JW's are another cult, just like all the rest
acts 15:20 is speaking about blood as related to dietary practices.

If you accept this, do you follow all the Kosher food guidelines, too?

Just a point of interest.....JW's have predicted the end of the world 3 times the last being in 1976 (if i recall the date correctly).
faithful JW's gave up their careerrs, sold their possesions and waited for the end...and waited...and waited......

Answer 7

Becasue they obey a badly translated, edited mishmash of old fables and myths! Factor in a particularly nasty interpretaion based on the ramblings of a wife-beating, alcoholic victorian loony and there's pretty good reason to pick on 'em!

Answer 8

Most Christians obey this passage. So what's the point?

I Corinthians 13;8a, Love never fails!!!!!
9-19-6

Answer 9

This was one of the subjects decided at the Jerusalem Council. As far as I know, JW's abstain from meat with blood. This is legalism and a work apart from grace. What we eat does not hold any bearing on our heavenly status.....our faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation does.

Answer 10

Do they obey all of the Bible?
They tried to tell me only 144,000 people would get to heaven, and wanted to know if I wanted to be one. I believe this is out of context, as this refers to the tribulation.

Answer 11

Read this, Mark 7:14-17

14) And he called the people to him again, and said to them, "Hear me, all of you, and understand: 15) there is nothing outside a man which by going into him can defile him; but the things which come out of a man are what defile him."