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NASB | Acts 15:29 that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication; if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well. Farewell." |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Acts 15:29 that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from [consuming] blood, and from [eating the meat of] things that have been strangled, and from sexual impurity. If you keep yourselves from these things, you will do well. Farewell." |
Bible Question:
Does the admonition for Christians to "abstain" from blood go beyond just eating to include intravenous transfusion? As frightening as that thought may be, you can make an extremely solid argument that it does. I read the comments regarding Paul's counsel concerning headcoverings for Christian women at Bible.org(1 Cor 11:7-10), and the author rejected the most reasonable understanding as follows: "The argument that a real head covering is in view and that such is applicable today is, in some respects, the easiest view to defend exegetically and the hardest to swallow practically. Since it is never safe to abandon one’s conscience regarding the truth of Scripture, I held to this view up until recently. Quite frankly, I did not like it (it is very unpopular today). But I could not, in good conscience, disregard it." If someone will ignore the obvious conclusion in such a case as headcovering because its "very unpopular" or 'not practical,' they will surely find it difficult to face the possibility that God's idea of misusing blood could include transfusions. Since "fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe," this subject of blood demands our serious consideration. (Prov 29:25)It is also worthy of note that this prohibition has been in place for worshipers of God since the days of Noah. Look forward to hearing everyone's personal comments. |
Bible Answer: Hi, knucklehead! Your argument is a good one! But I suggest this: Did Jesus command that the believers did not seek the assistance of doctors since He would heal everybody? Did the Apostles ever preached that doctors were to be shun because our Faith would be belied if we sought their medical knowledge? Was the medical science as advanced then as today? And if that were the case, could it also not be the same for the use of medical drugs and hormones, synthetic blood, artificial limbs and parts, human and non-human organs, reconstructive surgery, chemical and physical therapy, and dental implants... true these may all be done without the use of blood transfusions but they alter the human body, distorting it to a point of unnatural existence! We must not seek to limit God and God's Word! As was told to Peter: Next day, while they were still on their journey and had only; a short distance to go before reaching the town, Peter went to the housetop at about the sixth hour to say his prayers. He felt hungry and was looking forward to his meal, but before it was ready he fell into a trance and saw heaven thrown open and something like a big sheet being let down to earth by its four corners; it contained every kind of animal, reptile and bird. A voice then said to him, 'Now, Peter, kill and eat!' But Peter answered, 'Certainly not, Lord; I have never yet eaten anything profane or unclean.' Again, a second time, the voice spoke to him, 'What God has made clean, you have no right to call profane.' (Acts 10:9-15) 'WHAT GOD HAS MADE CLEAN, YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO CALL PROFANE.' Did you noticed that Peter was not told that there were unclean animals that he should not eat? Would God make clean the animals that we are to eat and yet forbid us to use human blood to save the life of other humans? I liken this to Jesus admonitions to the Jews: "Alas for you, blind guides! You who say, 'If a man swears by the Temple, it has no force; but if a man swears by the gold of the Temple, he is bound.' Fools and blind! For which is of greater worth, the gold or the Temple that makes the gold sacred? (Matthew 23:16-17) How could God proclaim clean the animals, which are used for our physical nourishment, and condemn blood transfusions which provide life to God's Temple? (1 Corinthians 3:16) God Bless! Angel |