Value of Life?

[Jack Ryan]

Why would a God that values life so much he forbids having an abortion, even if there is a valid reason, rather have you die than submit to a live-saving blood transfusion, even if there is a valid reason?

 

[Alexa]

https://www.jw.org/en/bible-teachings/questions/abortion-bible-view/

https://www.jw.org/en/bible-teachings/questions/christian-medical-treatment/

https://www.jw.org/en/bible-teachings/questions/bible-about-blood-transfusion/

 

[JaniceM]

 

The best we can do is maybe consider the principles of God law as to what would be considered right or wrong for Christians today.  The above links are very informative in regard the subjects you brought up. Below are additional commentaries and scripture(s):

 

*** it-1 p. 28 Abortion ***
Deliberately to induce abortion or miscarriage by artificial means, by the use of drugs, or by medical operation, the sole purpose of which is to avoid the birth of an unwanted child, is an act of high crime in the sight of God. Life as a precious gift from God is sacred. Hence God’s law to Moses protected the life of an unborn baby against more than criminal abortion, for if in a fracas between men a pregnant woman suffered an accident fatal to her or the child, “then you must give soul for soul.” (Ex 21:22-25) Of course, before applying that penalty, the circumstances and degree of deliberateness were taken into consideration by the judges. (Compare Nu 35:22-24, 31.) But emphasizing the seriousness of any deliberate attempt to cause injury, Dr. J. Glenn comments: “The viable embryo in the uterus IS a human individual, and therefore destroying it, is a violation of the sixth commandment.”—The Bible and Modern Medicine, 1963, p. 176.

 

(Exodus 21:22-25) “If men should struggle with each other and they hurt a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely but no fatality results, the offender must pay the damages imposed on him by the husband of the woman; and he must pay it through the judges. 23 But if a fatality does occur, then you must give life for life, 24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burn for burn, wound for wound, blow for blow.

 

https://www.jw.org/en/bible-teachings/questions/abortion-bible-view/

The Bible’s answer

Life is sacred to God, and he views even an embryo as a distinct, living being. About God, King David was inspired to write: “Your eyes saw even the embryo of me.” (Psalm 139:16) God stated that a person would be called to account for injuring an unborn child. So, in his eyes, killing an unborn child is murder.—Exodus 20:13; 21:22, 23.

What, though, if an emergency situation at the time of childbirth forces a couple to choose between letting the mother live and the baby die or vice versa? In that case, the couple would have to decide which life to try to save.

 

- END Quote -

 

You did however, ask a very thought provoking question.  We had discussed the issue of blood transfusions quite thoroughly in the previous forum.  Listed below is the commentary from one of the links above:

 

https://www.jw.org/en/bible-teachings/questions/bible-about-blood-transfusion/

What Does the Bible Say About Blood Transfusions

The Bible’s answer

The Bible commands that we not ingest blood. So we should not accept whole blood or its primary components in any form, whether offered as food or as a transfusion. Note the following scriptures:

• Genesis 9:4. God allowed Noah and his family to add animal flesh to their diet after the Flood but commanded them not to eat the blood. God told Noah: “Only flesh with its soul—its blood—you must not eat.” This command applies to all mankind from that time on because all are descendants of Noah.

• Leviticus 17:14. “You must not eat the blood of any sort of flesh, because the soul of every sort of flesh is its blood. Anyone eating it will be cut off.” God viewed the soul, or life, as being in the blood and belonging to him. Although this law was given only to the nation of Israel, it shows how seriously God viewed the law against eating blood.

• Acts 15:20. “Abstain . . . from blood.” God gave Christians the same command that he had given to Noah. History shows that early Christians refused to consume whole blood or even to use it for medical reasons.

Why does God command us to abstain from blood?

There are sound medical reasons to avoid blood transfusions. More important, though, God commands that we abstain from blood because what it represents is sacred to him.—Leviticus 17:11; Colossians 1:20.

 

-END Of Quoted Text-

 

There are several aspects to consider:

1.  The Bible does not directly mention blood transfusions since the practice did not exist at that time although people may have drank blood of others or during religious rituals;

 

2.  The Bible does not state do not eat or drink whole blood components;

 

3.  The Bible does state, you must not eat blood of any flesh; you must abstain from blood;

 

The facts are:

1.  We do eat blood from animals or cooked meat with blood (whether whole blood or fractions of blood), after it has been drained or bled as far as possible.  Many people, including JW's, eat their meat rare which may include whole blood components.

2.  It has been reported that some vaccines, antidotes are made from whole blood components of animals and/or humans as well as blood alternatives/substitutes accepted by JW's for treatment.  (Albeit, it would be such a small fraction of blood by the time it is purified and manufactured for human consumption.);

3.  There has been a case made that an unborn child while in the womb receives a transfusion of blood from the mother;

4.  The Israelites drained or bled animals for sacrifice and/or communal sacrifice, in which we can also assume they cooked and/or ate some amount of whole/fraction of blood;

5. Men in battle sinned by eating the blood of animals which had not been bled and yet the sin did not appear to be considered a deliberate crime, or one were the death penalty was imposed; 

 

(1 Sam 14:31 On that day they kept striking down the Phi·lisʹtines from Michʹmash to Aiʹja·lon, and the people became very tired. 32 So the people began rushing greedily at the spoil, and they took sheep and cattle and calves and slaughtered them on the ground, and they ate the meat along with the blood. 33 So it was reported to Saul: “Look! The people are sinning against Jehovah by eating meat with the blood.” At this he said: “You have acted faithlessly. Roll a large stone to me immediately.” 34 Saul then said: “Spread out among the people and say to them, ‘Each of you must bring his bull and his sheep and slaughter them here and then eat them. Do not sin against Jehovah by eating meat with the blood.’” So each of them brought his bull with him that night and slaughtered it there. 35 And Saul built an altar to Jehovah. This was the first altar he built to Jehovah.)

 

Summary:

I've recognized that often words/scriptures can have a deeper meaning that what we read on the surface and sometimes a completely different understanding according to the original context or ancient language(s).  At any rate, it appears an exception is made in the case of abortion if the mother's life is in danger, and;

 

1.  After much consideration, including the context and passages of Tertullian, along with others, I am of the opinion that abstaining from blood meant the bleeding of the animal although perhaps a great deal of blood would still remain.  Also abstaining from blood could mean murder in which God commanded Noah anyone shedding man's blood, by man his own blood be shed or God asks for the murderer's blood in return;   

2.  I was also left with the opinion that blood transfusion is a matter of conscience for the individual/families along with prayer, although considering that blood can be very contagious, it is best to seek alternative treatments. 

This is just my two cents, maybe others can share their opinions, although I'm sure they may have run out of steam regarding this issue.

[James Thomas Rook Jr.]

Jehovah considers human life to begin at conception ... to deliberately kill that, except in personal self defense to protect your own life (which you are NOT required to do ...  it's your decision.), that killing is premeditated murder.

There is, contrary to many opinions... NO BIBLICAL SUPPORT FOR PROHIBITING SUICIDE.

There are MANY Biblical examples of those ho deliberately killed themselves, or knowingly walked into death traps (suicide missions) for principles that they considered more important than their continued existence, without any censure from God.

Sampson

King David

Jesus Christ

You cannot murder yourself ... but you can die by your own hand, or your choice in life's many difficult decisions.

It's a semantics issue.