Very Important religious question. Jehovah's Wittnesses. Reciving blood transfusions?

Question

Just recently I had a baby. I'm not a baptized Jehovah's Witnesses but my family. I am close to my grandmother wha has been a witness all her life. I lost alot of blood during my c-section and I was told that I needed a transfusion right away or I could die. So here I am with my third child my new baby. My fiancee says that it is not open for discussion to refuse the blood that our family needs me. I give in and accept the blood. Was I wrong for giving in and accepting the blood? Should I tell me grandmother what I had done? She is 78 years old do you think it would kill her to tell her? Should I keep it to myslef?


Pls star this question.

My position on this situation at the time was that I was very scared. I belive in Jehovah. I don't think I agree on the transfusions. I think other people would have gave in to. What do you think? What would you do?

You all have been so wonderful on giving me your honest opinions, so I can't chose a best answer. So this question is going to end up being voted on for best answer.

Answer 1

The questioner does not mention what her own conscientious beliefs were and are. If she violated her conscience, then she did wrong by God.

(James 4:17) If one knows how to do what is right and yet does not do it, it is a sin for him.


Incidentally, it is not Jehovah's Witnesses who decide that blood is sacred, or who decide that other body parts are not specifically declared "sacred". It is Almighty God who declares it so, as the Divine Author of the Holy Bible!

As God's spokesman and as Head of the Christian congregation, Jesus Christ made certain that the early congregation reiterated, recorded, and communicated renewed Christian restrictions against the misuse of blood.

Jehovah's Witnesses are not anti-medicine or anti-technology, and they do not have superstitious ideas about some immortal "soul" literally encapsulated in blood. Instead, as Christians, the Witnesses seek to obey the very plain language of the bible regarding blood.

As Christians, they are bound by the bible's words in "the Apostolic Decree". Ironically, this decree was the first official decision communicated to the various congregations by the twelve faithful apostles (and a handful of other "older men" which the apostles had chosen to add to the first century Christian governing body in Jerusalem). God and Christ apparently felt (and feel) that respect for blood is quite important.

Here is what the "Apostolic Decree" said, which few self-described Christians obey or even respect:

(Acts 15:20) Write them [the various Christian congregations] to abstain from things polluted by idols and from fornication and from what is strangled and from blood.

(Acts 15:28-29) For the holy spirit and we ourselves have favored adding no further burden to you, except these necessary things, 29 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.


Quite explicitly, the Apostolic Decree plainly forbids the misuse of blood by Christians (despite the fact that nearly every other provision of former Jewish Mosaic Law was recognized as unnecessary). It seems odd therefore, that literally one Christian religion continues to teach that humans must not use blood for any purpose other than honoring Almighty God.

These Scriptures actually beg the question: How can other self-described Christian religions justify the fact that they don't even care if their adherents drink blood and eat blood products?


Jehovah's Witnesses recognize the repeated bible teaching that blood is specially "owned" by God, and must not be used for any human purpose. Witnesses do not have any superstitious aversion to testing or respectfully handling blood, and Witnesses believe these Scriptures apply to blood and the four primary components which approximate "blood". An individual Jehovah's Witness is likely to accept a targeted treatment for a targeted need, including a treatment which includes a minor fraction derived from plasma, platelets, and/or red/white blood cells.

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

Answer 2

Hello Dear, you have more then 1 Q here sooo....
1st; "Praise Jah You People!" for the healthy baby!

1) U aren't baptized, there's no guilt here.
Although YOU feel it, it's on ur conscience...apparently.
We're here answering ur Q.This is a good thing.

2) Were u wrong for giving in and accepting the blood?,
u ask.
That is between YOU & Jehovah,
not us humans to decide.

3) Should u tell her?; that's up 2 u.
You don't have to disclose this to her.
If it would help u to feel better--
then by all means go ahead,
and pray on the matter w/ her.
Praying & Asking for understanding
IS WHAT JEHOVAH WANTS,
Jesus too! ;~)
All u have to do is tell her something happened,
that's bothering ur conscience,
and that u'd like her to pray w/ you over the matter,
"emotions aside".
She will do her duty,
as 1 of Jehovah's special possessions,
His special property.
Lovingly and Gladly.
4) It won't kill her.
In fact, you coming to her
will more than likely fill her heart with Joy!
5) Why?
Why, would / should you, keep it 2 urself?
Find out God's thoughts and principles,
Love, Mercy and Graciousness.

Answer 3

There is nothing wrong with receiving blood or giving blood. This is our physical body, not our spiritual body.

What you really need is the Blood of Christ to wash away your sins.

John 3:16 - New King James Version
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Answer 4

Once one knows what the Bible teaches, then it's up to that individual to act in harmony with it (Acts 15:28, 29). If you don't, that's between you and Jehovah God, whether you're a baptised JW or not. It's now a conscience matter because there's nothing you can do about it now. You can't take the transfusion back. I would probably keep something like that to myself.

You yourself said that you don't agree with it. That being the case, take it to Jehovah in prayer. He is a very merciful, forgiving God, and He takes into account our circumstances.

Answer 5

I applaud Achtung heiss; that is correct. What does your conscious tell you? If the Holy Spirit dwells in you, the Holy Spirit will talk to you through your conscious. That is the kind of teaching I like to hear, it gives my heart joy to know that I am not alone to what I think are true and DOES make sense. Thank you Achtung for doing that to me today. God bless you.
The blood of a human and a animal are where there life force is. Yahweh/Jehovah God gave all our life force (breath of life). I am thinking about where blood stands with God is: Animals were used for sacrificial purposes in Biblical times and the blood belonged only to God. God takes the blood as sacred because of the life He gave us to run through us. If we take blood from another human or animal, we are crossing over to what only belongs to the Almighty; that is SACRED only for HIM.
God is a loving God and He knows our weaknesses and our faults. We are not perfect. There will be only a few that will follow the commandment "Love Jehovah will all your heart, all your might, and all your soul." Why all your soul? Because God owns it even beyond your death.
The Jews and the Jehovah Witnesses in WW2 did follow that commandment 100%. Those faithful will be with Jesus on the time of our judgment. Judgment is not ours, it belongs to God.
I pray somehow we will have that faith when the time comes, because in my heart I know that time of that commandment will come throughout this world.
May the grace of God be with us.

Answer 6

the only responsible of your decision it is you, your grandmother that have more experience than you will know the consequences that you could suffer, I met someone who did it (she wasn´t JW and after few months she developed AIDS) cause normally blood is keep it only one month and the analisys that detect AIDS cannot detect at early ages,
the point of blood transfusion is not about illness is having rejecting the sacrifice of Jesus which is the only blood the bible authorize to use it for saving life, but only God almighty knows if you sinned cause imperfection or cause you reject to accept God ´s word.
but the most important here is not the sin, cause fornication is also a sin listed in Acts 15:28-29 and we can comitted and recieve mercy of God of course the same with the blood we can suffer the consequences, pray to Jehovah to help you increase the faith in his word, it is a hard decision and

Answer 7

Many don't know that you don't need blood. When I was in my accident I made sure everyone in the hospital knew I wanted blood expander's. It's called Saline. Yes, Saline will expand your own blood so no one else's blood needs to be used. Many nurses came into my room after my 11 hour operation to tell me that they wish more people knew about Saline.

As for your telling your grandmother, just my way to look at it, if she doesn't ask, don't tell her. That's between you and Jehovah God. I take it you are not a baptized sister or you wouldn't have had a baby out of wedlock.

For the future, if your fiancee will supersede Jehovah God in this issue what else will he supersede when it comes to your spirituality?

Answer 8

You were at the hospital receiving the care you needed for your health and your baby's. You don't need to give details about the treatment you received. Not even to your grandma. You did what you thought was right, and at the end of the road, God will see the motives behind the actions...That's why He can judge and we can't. Some people say we will go to hell for a blood transfusion, others for drink a soda. Please God, not the religion.

Answer 9

What is good for you and good for your grandmother are two different things. You did the right thing- you need to be a strong and involved parent. I adored my grandparents, but we rarely if ever discussed medical procedures. But "the grandchildren" was a topic that we discussed a GREAT DEAL. So put your traumatic birth experience behind you and don't discuss the blood-receiving detail with those whom it may upset. Your medical history is really only your own business. Bring that adorable new baby to great- grandma's house and let her enjoy the newest family addition..

Answer 10

Tell her. It will not kill her. You are not a baptized JW. There is no guilt on you. I worry about the transfused blood. So many diseases can be transmitted that are not screened. There is so many other ways to go that you did not have to go that way. I would urge you to consider those now that you are not under pressure and see how you can improve your safety next time. This is the time for looking into this, not with your back to the wall.

Again there is no guilt on you.