There is a BRAND-NEW Watchtower Magazine (June 15th, 2004 Issue) and both Study Articles are all about BLOOD and BLOOD FRACTIONS!
They also reprinted the June 15, 2000 "Questions From Readers" about Blood Fractions inside this Issue!
Below I am posting word-for-word Quotes from this Issue, and I am also going to make several comments.
The Watchtower, June 15, 2004 Issue, Pages 14-24:
The First Study Article: "Rightly Value Your Gift of Life"
5 After the Flood, mankind started anew with just eight souls. In a declaration applying to all humans, God revealed more about his evaluation of life and blood. He said that humans could eat animal flesh, but he set this restriction: "Every moving animal that is alive may serve as food for you. As in the case of green vegetation, I do give it all to you. Only flesh with its soul -- its blood -- you must not eat." (Genesis 9:3, 4) Some Jews interpret that to mean that humans were not to eat flesh or blood of an animal that was still alive. But time would clearly show that what God was here prohibiting was the consuming of blood to sustain life. [...] God views a man's blood as standing for his life. The Creator gives the person life, and no one should take that life, represented by blood.
[...] 7 By his declaration, God was directing humans not to misuse blood. Have you ever wondered why? Yes, what was behind God's view on blood? 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. What is that teaching, and how are your life, decisions, and actions involved?
Blood -- How Could It Be Used?
8 Jehovah provided more details about life and blood when he gave Israel the Law code. In the process, he took a further step in the outworking of his purpose. You probably know that the Law called for offerings to God, such as grain, oil, and wine. (Leviticus 2:1-4; 23:13; Numbers 15:1-5) There were also animal sacrifices. God said of these: "The soul of the flesh is in the blood, and I myself have put it upon the altar for you to make atonement for your souls, because it is the blood that makes atonement by the soul in it. That is why I have said to the sons of Israel: 'No soul of you must eat blood.' " Jehovah added that if someone, such as a hunter or a farmer killed an animal for food, he had to drain the blood and cover it with dust. The earth is God's footstool, and by pouring the blood on the earth, the person acknowledged that the life was being returned to the Life-Giver. -- Leviticus 17:11-13; Isaiah 66:1.
9 That law was not a mere religious ritual with no import for us. Did you notice why the Israelites were not to consume blood? God said: "That is why I have said to the sons of Israel: 'No soul of you must eat blood.' " What was the reason? "I myself have put [blood] upon the altar for you to make atonement for your souls." Do you see that this provides insight into why God told Noah that humans were not to eat blood? The Creator chose to view blood as having an elevated significance, reserving it for one special use that could save many lives. It was to play a vital role in covering sins (atonement). So under the Law, the only God-authorized use of blood was on the altar to make atonement for the lives of the Israelites, who were seeking Jehovah's forgiveness.
10 This concept is not remote from Christianity. Referring to this divinely arranged feature of the Law, the Christian apostle Paul wrote: "Nearly all things are cleansed with blood according to the Law, and unless blood is poured out no forgiveness takes place." (Hebrews 9:22)
[...] 12 In summary, recall that in Noah's day God decreed that humans could eat animal meat to sustain life, but they could not take in blood. In time, God stated that "the soul of the flesh is in the blood." Yes, he chose to view blood as standing for life and said: "I myself have put [blood] upon the altar for you to make atonement for your souls." There was to be, however, a wonderful further unfolding of God's purpose. The Law foreshadowed good things to come. What?
13 The reality centered on the death of Jesus Christ. [...]
16 [...] More was needed than a death, even the death of the perfect man Jesus. He brought to fulfillment what was foreshadowed in the Law, particularly on the Day of Atonement. [...]
17 [...] After being raised as a spirit, Jesus went to heaven itself. As a spirit, having no flesh-and-blood body, he could go before "the person of God for us." What did he present to God? Not something physical but something very meaningful. [...] Yes, Jesus presented to God the value of his lifeblood.
18 This divine truth allows us to grasp the wondrous scope of what the Bible says about blood -- why God views it as he does, what our view of it should be, and why we ought to respect the restrictions God set about the use of blood. [...] Each Christian should put faith "in his [Jesus'] blood." (Romans 3:25) Our gaining forgiveness and having peace with God is possible only "through the blood he [Jesus] shed." (Colossians 1:20) [...]
19 Clearly, blood has a special meaning in God's eyes. It should in ours too. The Creator, who is concerned about life, has a right to restrict what humans do with blood. In his great concern even about our life, he determined to reserve blood for use in one highly important way, the only way that makes everlasting life possible. That way involved Jesus' precious blood. How thankful we can be that Jehovah God acted for our good by using blood -- Jesus' blood -- in this lifesaving way! And how grateful we should be to Jesus for his sacrificially pouring out his blood for us! Truly, we can grasp the sentiments expressed by the apostle John: "To him that loved us and that loosed us from our sins by means of his own blood -- and he made us to be a kingdom, priests to his God and Father -- yes, to him be the glory and the might forever. Amen." -- Revelation 1:5, 6.
End of the First Study Article Quotes.
Quotes from the 2nd Study Article from the June 15th, 2004 Watchtower Issue:
Title of the Study Article: "Be Guided By The Living God"
[...] 3 God's interest in our life gives us reason to trust his guidance. (Psalm 147:8; Matthew 5:45) Some may react otherwise if they find a Bible directive that they do not understand or that seems restrictive. Still, trusting in Jehovah's guidance has proved to be wise. To illustrate: Even if an Israelite did not understand the law against touching a dead body, he benefited by obeying it. First, his obedience would draw him closer to the living God. Second, it would help him to avoid diseases. -- Leviticus 5:2; 11:24.
4 It is similar with God's guidance about blood. He told Noah that humans should not consume blood. Then in the Law, God revealed that the only approved use of blood was on the altar -- for forgiveness of sin. By those directives, God was laying the groundwork for the supreme use of blood -- the saving of lives by means of Jesus' ransom. (Hebrews 9:14) Yes, God's guidance was with our life and well-being in mind. Discussing Genesis 9:4, 19th-Century Bible scholar Adam Clarke wrote: "This command [to Noah] is still scrupulously obeyed by the Oriental Christians ... No blood was eaten under the Law, because it pointed out the blood that was to be shed for the sin of the world; and under the Gospel it should not be eaten, because it should ever be considered as representing the blood which has been shed for the remission of sins. [...]
6 You know that God gave the Israelites hundreds of regulations. Once Jesus died, his disciples were not obliged to keep all those laws. (Romans 7:4, 6; Colossians 2:13, 14, 17; Hebrews 8:6, 13) However, in time a question arose about one key obligation -- male circumcision. Would non-Jews who wanted to benefit from Christ's blood have to be circumcised, showing that they were still under the Law? In 49 C.E., the Christian governing body addressed that issue. (Acts, chapter 15) Aided by God's spirit, the apostles and older men concluded that obligatory circumcision ended with the Law. Still, certain divine requirements remained for Christians. In a letter to the congregations, the governing body wrote: "The holy spirit and we ourselves have favored adding no further burden to you, except these necessary things, 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." -- Acts 15:28, 29.
7 Plainly, the governing body viewed 'abstaining from blood' to be as morally vital as abstaining from sexual immorality or idol worship. This proves that the prohibition about blood is serious. Christians who unrepentantly commit idolatry or sexual immorality cannot "inherit God's kingdom"; "their portion will be ... the second death." (1 Corinthians 6:9, 10; Revelation 21:8; 22:15) Note the contrast: Disregarding God's guidance concerning the sacredness of lifeblood can result in everlasting death. Showing respect for Jesus' sacrifice can lead to everlasting life.
8 How did the early Christians understand and act on God's guidance about blood? Recall Clarke's comment: "Under the Gospel it should not be eaten, because it should ever be considered as representing the blood which has been shed for the remission of sins." History confirms that the early Christians treated the matter seriously. Tertullian wrote: "Consider those who with greedy thirst, at a show in the arena, take the fresh blood of wicked criminals ... and carry it off to heal their epilepsy." Whereas pagans consumed blood, Tertullian said that Christians "do not even have the blood of animals at [their] meals ... At the trials of Christians you offer them sausages filled with blood. You are convinced, of course, that [it] is unlawful for them." Yes, despite threats of death, Christians would not consume blood. God's guidance was that important to them.
9 Some may imagine that the governing body simply meant that Christians were not to eat or drink blood directly nor to eat unbled meat or food mixed with blood. Granted, that was the first import of God's command to Noah. And the apostolic decree did tell Christians to 'keep themselves from things strangled,' meat with blood left in it. (Genesis 9:3, 4; Acts 21:25) However, the early Christians knew that more was involved. Sometimes blood was taken in for medical reasons. Tertullian noted that in an effort to cure epilepsy, some pagans consumed fresh blood and there may have been other uses of blood to treat disease or supposedly improve health. Hence, for Christians, shunning blood included not taking it in for "medical" reasons. They maintained that stand even if it put their life at risk.
Blood as Medicine
10 Using blood medically is now common. Early transfusions were of whole blood -- removed from a donor, stored, and given to a patient, perhaps a battle casualty. In time, researchers learned to separate blood into primary components. By using component transfusions, physicians could spread donated blood to more patients, perhaps plasma to one injured man and red cells to another. Continued research showed that a component, such as blood plasma, could be processed to extract numerous fractions, which could be given to still more patients. Steps along this line continue, and new uses of fractions are being reported. How is the Christian to respond? He has firmly resolved never to accept a blood transfusion, but his physician urges him to accept one major component, maybe packed red cells. Or the therapy may consist of one small fraction extracted from a component. How can a servant of God decide on such questions, bearing in mind that blood is sacred and that Christ's blood is lifesaving in the greatest sense?
11 Decades ago Jehovah's Witnesses made their stand clear. For example, they supplied an article to The Journal of the American Medical Association (November 27, 1981; reprinted in How Can Blood Save Your Life? pages 27-9).* [Footnote: Published by Jehovah's Witnesses.] That article quoted from Genesis, Leviticus, and Acts. It said: "While these verses are not stated in medical terms, Witnesses view them as ruling out transfusion of whole blood, packed RBCs [red blood cells], and plasma as well as WBC [white blood cell] and platelet administration." The 2001 textbook Emergency Care, under "Composition of the Blood," stated: "The blood is made up of several components: plasma, red and white blood cells, and platelets." Thus, in line with medical facts, Witnesses refuse transfusions of whole blood or of any of its four primary components.
12 The medical article continued: "Witnesses' religious understanding does not absolutely prohibit the use of [fractions] such as albumin, immune globulins, and hemophiliac preparations; each Witness must decide individually if he can accept these." Since 1981, many fractions (breakdown elements derived from one of the four major components) have been isolated. Accordingly, The Watchtower of June 15, 2000, provided helpful information on the subject in the article "Questions From Readers." For the benefit of current readers, the answer is reprinted on pages 29-31 of this magazine. It provides details and reasoning, yet you will see that what it says agrees with the basics presented in 1981.
The Role of Your Conscience
13 Such information brings conscience to the fore. Why? Christians agree on the need to follow God's guidance, yet in some areas personal judgments must be made, and conscience comes into play. Conscience is the inherent ability to weigh and decide matters, often moral issues. (Romans 2:14, 15) You know, however, that consciences differ.* [Footnote: At one point, Paul and four other Christians went to the temple to cleanse themselves ceremonially. The Law was no longer valid, yet Paul acted on the advice of the older men in Jerusalem. (Acts 21:23-25) Still, some Christians may have felt that they would not go into the temple or go through such a procedure. Consciences differed back then, and they do today.] The Bible mentions that some have 'consciences that are weak,' implying that others' consciences are strong. (1 Corinthians 8:12) Christians differ in the extent to which they have made progress in learning what God says, in being sensitive to his thinking, and in applying such to his decisions. We can illustrate this with the Jews and the eating of meat.
14 The Bible is clear that a person obedient to God would not eat unbled meat. That was so important that even in an emergency when Israelite soldiers ate unbled meat, they were guilty of a grave wrong, or sin. (Deuteronomy 12:15, 16; 1 Samuel 14:31-35) Still, questions might have arisen. When an Israelite killed a sheep, how quickly did he have to drain its blood? Did he have to slit the animal's throat for drainage? Was it necessary to hang the sheep by its hind legs? For how long? What would he do with a large cow? Even after drainage, some blood might remain in the meat. Could he eat such meat? Who would decide?
15 Imagine a zealous Jew facing such issues. He might have thought it safest to avoid meat sold in a meat market, much as another would shun meat if there was a chance that it was once offered to an idol. Other Jews might have eaten meat only after following rituals to extract the blood.* [Footnote: The Encyclopedia Judaica outlines "complex and minute" rules about koshering meat. It covers how many minutes meat must stand in water, how to drain it on a board, the texture of salt to rub on it, and then how many times to wash in cold water.] (Matthew 23:23, 24) What do you think about such varied reactions? Furthermore, since God did not require such reactions, would it be best for Jews to send a multitude of questions to a council of Rabbis to get a ruling on each one? Though that custom developed in Judaism, we can be happy that Jehovah did not direct true worshipers to pursue decisions about blood in that way. God offered basic guidance on slaughtering clean animals and draining their blood, but he did not go beyond that. -- John 8:32.
16 As noted in paragraphs 11 and 12, Jehovah's Witnesses do not accept transfusions of whole blood or of its four primary components -- plasma, red cells, white cells, and platelets. What about small fractions extracted from a primary component, such as serums containing antibodies to fight a disease or to counteract snake venom? (See page 30, paragraph 4) Some have concluded that such minute fractions are, in effect, no longer blood and hence are not covered by the command 'to abstain from blood.' (Acts 15:29; 21:25; page 31, paragraph 1) That is their responsibility. The conscience of others moves them to reject everything obtained from blood (animal or human), even a tiny fraction of just one primary component.* [Footnote: Increasingly, the main or active ingredient in some injections is a recombinant product that is not from blood. But in some cases a small amount of a blood fraction, such as albumin, may be included. -- See "Questions From Readers" in The Watchtower of October 1, 1994.] Still others may accept injections of a plasma protein to fight disease or to counteract snake venom, yet they may reject other small fractions. Moreover, some products may be so similar to the function of the whole component and carry on such a life-sustaining role in the body that most Christians would find them objectionable.
17 What the Bible says about conscience is helpful when we make such decisions. The first step is to learn what God's Word says and to strive to mold your conscience by it. That will equip you to decide in line with God's guidance rather than ask someone else to make a ruling for you. (Psalm 25:4, 5) As to taking in blood fractions, some have thought, 'This is a matter of conscience, so it doesn't make any difference.' That is faulty reasoning. The fact that something is a matter of conscience does not mean that it is inconsequential. It can be very serious. One reason is that it can affect individuals whose conscience differs from ours. We see that from Paul's advice about meat that might have been presented to an idol and was later sold in a market. A Christian ought to be concerned about not 'wounding consciences that are weak.' If he stumbles others, he could 'ruin his brother for whose sake Christ died' and be sinning against Christ. Hence, while issues about blood fractions are for personal decision, those decisions should be taken very seriously. -- 1 Corinthians 8:8, 11-13; 10:25-31.
18 A related aspect underscores the seriousness of decisions concerning blood. This is the effect such decisions may have on you. If your taking a small blood fraction would trouble your Bible-trained conscience, you should not ignore it. Nor should you suppress your conscientious leaning just because someone tells you, "It's all right to take this; many have." Remember, millions of people today ignore their conscience, and that becomes deadened, allowing them to lie or do other wrong things with no remorse. Christians definitely want to avoid such a course. -- 2 Samuel 24:10; 1 Timothy 4:1, 2.
19 Near its conclusion, the reprinted answer on pages 29-31 says: "Does the fact that opinions and conscientious decisions may differ mean that the issue is inconsequential? No. It is serious." It is particularly so because your relationship with "the living God" is involved. That relationship is the only one that can lead to everlasting life based on the saving power of Jesus' shed blood. Cultivate a profound regard for blood because of what God is doing by means of it -- saving lives. Paul aptly wrote: "You had no hope and were without God in the world. But now in union with Christ Jesus you who were once far off have come to be near by the blood of the Christ." -- Ephesians 2:12, 13.
Box on Page 22:
Basic Stand on Blood:
Unacceptable: Whole Blood: Red Cells, White Cells, Platelets, Plasma
Christian To Decide: Fractions from Red Cells, Fractions from White Cells, Fractions from Platelets, Fractions from Plasma
Words next to the picture on Page 23:
"Do not ignore your conscience if you are faced with a decision about a blood fraction"
And, here is the reprinted "Questions From Readers" from the June 15, 2000 Issue:
Questions From Readers
Do Jehovah's Witnesses accept any medical products derived from blood?
The fundamental answer is that Jehovah's Witnesses do not accept blood. We firmly believe that God's law on blood is not open to reform to fit shifting opinions. Still, new issues arise be cause blood can now be processed into four primary components and fractions of those components. In deciding whether to accept such, a Christian should look beyond possible medical benefits and risks. His concern should be what the Bible says and the potential effect on his relationship with Almighty God.
The key issues are quite simple. As an aid to seeing why that is so, consider some Biblical, historical, and medical background.
Jehovah God told our common ancestor Noah that blood must be treated as something special. (Genesis 9:3, 4) Later, God's laws to Israel reflected the sacredness of blood: "As for any man of the house of Israel or some alien resident ... who eats any sort of blood, I shall certainly set my face against the soul that is eating the blood." By rejecting God's law, an Israelite could contaminate others; thus, God added: "I shall indeed cut him off from among his people." (Leviticus 17:10) Later, at a meeting in Jerusalem, the apostles and older men decreed that we must 'abstain from blood.' Doing so is as vital as abstaining from sexual immorality and idolatry. -- Acts 15:28, 29.
What would "abstaining" have meant back then? Christians did not consume blood, whether fresh or coagulated; nor did they eat meat from an unbled animal. Also ruled out would be foods to which blood was added, such as blood sausage. Taking in blood in any of those ways would violate God's law. -- 1 Samuel 14:32, 33.
Most people in ancient times would not have been troubled over the consuming of blood, as we can see from the writings of Tertullian (second and third centuries C.E.). Responding to false charges that Christians consumed blood, Tertullian mentioned tribes that sealed treaties by tasting blood. He also noted that "when a show is given in the arena, [some] with greedy thirst have caught the fresh blood of the guilty ... as a cure for their epilepsy."
Those practices (even if some Romans did them for health reasons) were wrong for Christians: "We do not include even animals' blood in our natural diet," wrote Tertullian. The Romans used food-containing blood as a test of the integrity of real Christians. Tertullian added: "Now, I ask you, what sort of a thing is it, that when you are confident [that Christians] will turn with horror from animals' blood, you should suppose them greedy for human blood?"
Today, few people would think that the laws of Almighty God are at issue if a physician suggested their taking blood. While Jehovah's Witnesses certainly want to keep living, we are committed to obey Jehovah's law on blood. What does this mean in the light of current medical practice?
As transfusions of whole blood became common after World War II, Jehovah's Witnesses saw that this was contrary to God's law -- and we still believe that. Yet, medicine has changed over time, Today, most transfusions are not of whole blood but of one of its primary components: (1) red cells; (2) white cells; (3) platelets; (4) plasma (serum), the fluid part. Depending on the condition of the patient, physicians might prescribe red cells, white cells, platelets, or plasma. Transfusing these major components allows a single unit of blood to be divided among more patients. Jehovah's Witnesses hold that accepting whole blood or any of those four primary components violates God's law. Significantly, keeping to this Bible-based position has protected them from many risks, including such diseases as hepatitis and AIDS that can be contracted from blood.
However, since blood can be processed beyond those primary components, questions arise about fractions derived from the primary blood components. How are such fractions used, and what should a Christian consider when deciding on them?
Blood is complex. Even the plasma -- which is 90 percent water -- carries scores of hormones, inorganic salts, enzymes, and nutrients, including minerals and sugar. Plasma also carries such proteins as albumin, clotting factors, and antibodies to fight diseases. Technicians isolate and use many plasma proteins. For example, clotting factor Vill has been given to hemophiliacs, who bleed easily. Or if someone is exposed to certain diseases, doctors might prescribe injections of gamma globulin, extracted from the blood plasma of people who already had immunity. Other plasma proteins are used medically, but the above mentioned illustrate how a primary blood component (plasma) may be processed to obtain fractions. * (SEE FOOTNOTE BELOW)
Just as blood plasma can be a source of various fractions, the other primary components (red cells, white cells, platelets) can be processed to isolate smaller parts. For example, white blood cells may be a source of interferons and interleukins, used to treat some viral infections and cancers. Platelets can be processed to extract a wound-healing factor. And other medicines are coming along that involve (at least initially) extracts from blood components. Such therapies are not transfusions of those primary components; they usually involve parts or fractions thereof. Should Christians accept these fractions in medical treatment? We cannot say. The Bible does not give details, so a Christian must make his own conscientious decision before God.
Some would refuse anything derived from blood (even fractions intended to provide temporary passive immunity). That is how they understand God's command to, abstain from blood.' They reason that his law to Israel required that blood removed from a creature be 'poured out on the ground.' (Deuteronomy 12:22-24) Why is that relevant? Well, to prepare gamma globulin, blood-based clotting factors, and so on, requires that blood be collected and processed. Hence, some Christians reject such products, just as they reject transfusions of whole blood or of its four primary components. Their sincere, conscientious stand should be respected.
Other Christians decide differently. They too refuse transfusions of whole blood, red cells, white cells, platelets, or plasma. Yet, they might allow a physician to treat them with a fraction extracted from the primary components. Even here there may be differences. One Christian may accept a gamma globulin injection, but he may or may not agree to an injection containing something extracted from red or white cells. Overall, though, what might lead some Christians to conclude that they could accept blood fractions?
"Questions From Readers" in The Watchtower of June 1, 1990, noted that plasma proteins (fractions) move from a pregnant woman's blood to the separate blood system of her fetus. Thus a mother passes immunoglobulins to her child, providing valuable immunity. Separately, as a fetus' red cells complete their normal life span, their oxygen-carrying portion is processed. Some of it becomes bilirubin, which crosses the placenta to the mother and is eliminated with her body wastes. Some Christians may conclude that since blood fractions can pass to another person in this natural setting, they could accept a blood fraction derived from blood plasma or cells.
Does the fact that opinions and conscientious decisions may differ mean that the issue is inconsequential? No. It is serious. Yet, there is a basic simplicity. The above material shows that Jehovah's Witnesses refuse transfusions of both whole blood and its primary blood components. The Bible directs Christians to 'abstain from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from fornication.' (Acts 15:29) Beyond that, when it comes to fractions of any of the primary components, each Christian, after careful and prayerful meditation, must conscientiously decide for himself.
Many people would be willing to accept any therapy that seems to offer immediate benefit, even a therapy having known health risks, as is true of blood products. The sincere Christian endeavors to have a broader, more balanced view that involves more than just the physical aspects. Jehovah's Witnesses appreciate efforts to provide quality medical care, and they weigh the risk / benefit ratio of any treatment. However, when it comes to products derived from blood, they carefully weigh what God says and their personal relationship with our Life-Giver. -- Psalm 36:9.
What a blessing for a Christian to have such confidence as the psalmist who wrote: "Jehovah God is a sun and a shield; favor and glory are what he gives. Jehovah himself will not hold back anything good from those walking in faultlessness. O Jehovah . . . , happy is the man that is trusting in you"! -- Psalm 84:11, 12.
FOOTNOTE: * See "Questions From Readers" in The Watchtower of June 15, 1978, and October 1, 1994. Pharmaceutical firms have developed recombinant products that are not taken from blood and that may be prescribed in place of some blood fractions used in the past.
SUGGESTED QUESTIONS FOR THE DOCTOR
If you face surgery or a treatment that might involve a blood product, ask:
Do all the medical personnel involved know that, as one of Jehovah's Witnesses, I direct that no blood transfusions (whole blood, red cells, white cells, platelets, or blood plasma) be given to me under any circumstances?
If any medicine to be prescribed may be made from blood plasma, red or white cells, or platelets, ask:
Has the medicine been made from one of the four primary blood components? If so, would you explain its makeup?
How much of this blood-derived medicine might be administered, and in what way?
If my conscience permits me to accept this fraction, what medical risks are there?
If my conscience moves me to decline this fraction, what other therapy might be used?
After I have considered this matter further, when may I inform you of my decision?