Jehovah's Witness Encounter

[mathqueen]

The other day in class, a student of mine asked if I would ever get a blood transfusion if my life was on the line, etc. I said of course!!! He responded that, we'll call her "Sarah", would not get one. So the three of us were talking about it, and "Sarah" said she wouldn't because it's in the bible (now I already know at this point that she is a Jehovah's Witness and the whole class knows I'm a Christian). I walked over to my desk to get my bible and looked up the scripture in Acts that she was referring to (I can't recall the chapter and verse, but it's where Christians are instructed to abstain from sexual immorality....and blood.). To her, it was so clear. I of course could not get into a debate with her due to being in school and being her teacher, but I was left wondering...if I had not been in school and it had come up, how would I have responded to that interpretation? Anyone have any advice?

[Trusting Jesus]

We are not to eat blood - digest etc. A blood transfusion is not a problem. A very good website that has many answers to both Mormons and Jehovah Witnesses is http://www.4witness.org

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Nathele

[OneLight]

Acts 15:19-21

Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality,from things strangled, and from blood. For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.

This is always a matter of personal beliefs, for there were no blood transfusions back then to write about. If you check what that word referred to in those days, it was the eating or drinking of blood, or of meat that contained blood, not being bled properly. There is no real argument against this belief, as far as I know.

Sorry for not being able to offer you a better stance for your side. If there is one, I'd like to hear it also.

OneLight

[Elbit Pada]

The other day in class, a student of mine asked if I would ever get a blood transfusion if my life was on the line, etc. I said of course!!! He responded that, we'll call her "Sarah", would not get one. So the three of us were talking about it, and "Sarah" said she wouldn't because it's in the bible (now I already know at this point that she is a Jehovah's Witness and the whole class knows I'm a Christian). I walked over to my desk to get my bible and looked up the scripture in Acts that she was referring to (I can't recall the chapter and verse, but it's where Christians are instructed to abstain from sexual immorality....and blood.). To her, it was so clear. I of course could not get into a debate with her due to being in school and being her teacher, but I was left wondering...if I had not been in school and it had come up, how would I have responded to that interpretation? Anyone have any advice?

As i understand it, the JW do not interpret the Bible on their own, they use a sort of translation 'guide'... according to JW you CANNOT understand the Bible properly without their particular guide; i'm sorry mathqueen that i can't remember the name of it...i have an exhaustive book on cults and JW is one of the cults listed in it...however, a friend is borrowing it right now, i could get it back if you like and find that info for you? So then, your student's opinion is not really from God or even herself, IMO, its from that intrepretation book.

[Rick-Parker]

I think that the simple response (if there is one) is that in that day and age, there was no knowledge or practice of blood transfusions. The first known transfusion was in 1492 to Pope Innocent VIII, in Rome. What was practiced in that era was bloodletting, practiced by the Egyptians in 1,000 BC. Of course, that information will never change their minds. I'm sure they know the history already and just choose to ignore it.

Rick

[mathqueen]

As i understand it, the JW do not interpret the Bible on their own, they use a sort of translation 'guide'... according to JW you CANNOT understand the Bible properly without their particular guide; i'm sorry mathqueen that i can't remember the name of it...i have an exhaustive book on cults and JW is one of the cults listed in it...however, a friend is borrowing it right now, i could get it back if you like and find that info for you? So then, your student's opinion is not really from God or even herself, IMO, its from that intrepretation book.

I have a book that talks about that as well!! Thanks for the reminder (I forgot about that part). I'm not sure how I could address that with a JW and how I would phrase that ("well what you are saying is not really from the bible but from what someone is telling you to believe)??????

As others have said here, I too was thinking the verse was referring to the eating/drinking of blood, and I also had the thought someone else posted about there not even being blood transfusions at that time! And thanks so much for the link. I will definitely check that out (there are a lot of Mormons here as well, so that will be so helpful!). What troubles me so much is that someone who is not strong in the faith could so easily be taken in by these cults and their beliefs.

[mathqueen]

I think that the simple response (if there is one) is that in that day and age, there was no knowledge or practice of blood transfusions. The first known transfusion was in 1492 to Pope Innocent VIII, in Rome. What was practiced in that era was bloodletting, practiced by the Egyptians in 1,000 BC. Of course, that information will never change their minds. I'm sure they know the history already and just choose to ignore it.

Rick

In that book I just referenced, it mentions that JW refuse to believe there is a hell because a good and gracious God would never have such a place. Never mind that it's CLEARLY in God's word. What baffles me to no end is the obvious disregard for the TRUTH of God's word, but instead they simply select the parts they like.

[Richard_yaash]

the scripture in Acts... <snip> are instructed to abstain <snip> blood.

<snip>

I was left wondering...if I had not been in school and it had come up, how would I have responded to that interpretation? Anyone have any advice?

IMO: The best way is to become thoroughly familiar with the passage and be able to express in your own manner/way/words what it means.

We can not tell or force another what to believe, but we can learn to express something in such a way that if they are sincere, our gentle words/actions may remain with them and perhaps, just perhaps, someday give them reason/cause to look deeper into it for themselves.

In working with 'cults', for me, this was the most effective manner.

In His love,

Richard

[mathqueen]

We can not tell or force another what to believe, but we can learn to express something in such a way that if they are sincere, our gentle words/actions may remain with them and perhaps, just perhaps, someday give them reason/cause to look deeper into it for themselves.

Terrific advice, Richard!

And Nathele, that website is on point!!!

[Guest man]

I have a book that talks about that as well!! Thanks for the reminder (I forgot about that part). I'm not sure how I could address that with a JW and how I would phrase that ("well what you are saying is not really from the bible but from what someone is telling you to believe)??????

Just ask her.

A lot of times if you play stupid, people will open up to you.

It works for me.....but then again, I'm not the brightest bulb on the tree.