BLOOD -- WTS Questions and Sound Answers 7
We know the WTS says that blood belongs to God as a sacred possession(1). But words are no more than lip-service unless actions speak likewise. So, does the WTS really (honestly!) teach that blood belongs to God as a sacred possession?
In 1997 the Watchtower Society taught:
?Such commercialization of placental blood is hardly tempting for true Christians, who guide their thinking by God?s perfect law. Our Creator views blood as sacred, representing God-given life. The only use of blood that he authorized was on the altar, in connection with sacrifices. (Leviticus 17:10-12; compare Romans 3:25; 5:8; Ephesians 1:7.) Otherwise, blood removed from a creature was to be poured out on the ground, disposed of.?Leviticus 17:13; Deuteronomy 12:15, 16.? (Anonymous, Questions From Readers, The Watchtower, Watchtower Bible & Tract Society, Inc. 1997 2/1: 29 ) (Underlining added)
According to the above quotation the WTS teaches JWs that the only use of blood that God authorized was on the alter, in connection with sacrifice. So, according to the WTS, since using blood to make therapeutic medical products (like hemoglobin solutions to act as oxygenation agents) is not a use of blood ?on the alter, in connection with sacrifice? then this use of blood is not authorized by God.
What of using someone else?s property without authorization? In 1964 the WTS wrote:
?Business firms, too, have regulations. A person may feel he would never steal money or merchandise from his employer, because that would be dishonest. But does he take company postage stamps, stationery and other goods for personal use? Yes, even taking a pencil or paper clips would be dishonest if it is not authorized by the company, since these things are company property.? (Anonymous, Be Honest in Everything, The Watchtower, Watchtower Bible & Tract Society, Inc. 1964 11/1: 669 ) (Underlining added)
If it is wrong/dishonest/stealing to take ?company property,? like pencils, for personal use without authorization from the company then it is wrong/dishonest/stealing to take ?Jehovah?s property? (i.e. blood) for personal use without authorization. We know the WTS says that ?The only use of blood that he authorized was on the altar, in connection with sacrifices.? We know the WTS condemns as stealing the personal use of property without authorization. The WTS teaches JWs to shun fellow JWs if they practice stealing (i.e. using property without authorization!). Yet we also know the WTS does not condemn using blood by extracting all the fractions from all its components for personal therapeutic medical use.(2) The WTS teaches JWs to respect fellow JWs if they practice this unauthorized use of blood.
So, does the WTS really (honestly!) teach that blood belongs to God as a sacred possession? No.
On this matter what the WTS says(1) is dishonest. If the WTS really believed that blood belongs to God and that it is wrong/stealing/dishonest to use someone?s property ?if it is not authorized? then the WTS would completely ban any and all uses of blood, including using blood to make medical therapies. But this they do not do. They say, but they do not do; dishonesty.
Amazingly, the WTS says it is stealing to use company pencils for personal use without authorization, yet it also teaches to respect JWs who use Jehovah?s sacred possession for personal use without authorization. One must wonder how on earth pencils became more sacred than blood!
In the end the Governing Body of JWs tells JWs that blood is God?s sacred possession. But from the teachings of this Governing Body we see they do not believe what comes out of their collective mouth.
Marvin Shilmer
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Reference:
1. ?Just as life is sacred, so, too, God has made blood sacred. It is something that belongs to him, to be used only in the manner he approves.? -- Anonymous, Life and Blood?Do You Treat Them as Sacred?, United in Worship of the Only True God, Watchtower Bible & Tract Society, Inc. 1983: 155. (Underlining added)
2. ?I accept all fractions derived from any primary component of blood.? -- Acceptable line item from Durable Power of Attorney provided by the Watchtower Bible & Tract Society for JWs, 2003