Blood - Is this one thing the Jehovah's Witnesses have got right?
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You're right, it was never repealed as far as I know. In the US, animals are drained of their blood when they're processed so there's no danger of consuming blood really; it may have a tiny amount. Organ meats may have more blood in them, I don't know. It seems like you would have to go out of your way to consume a lot of blood.
I think if your conscience is telling you to abstain from blood then you should. Whether it's a "law" that everyone is obligated to keep, then no, it's not. When the decision was reached in Acts 15: "Therefore I judge that we must not cause trouble for those who are turning to God from among the Gentiles; but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood. For Moses has had from ancient generations those who proclaim him in each city, being read in the synagogues from one Sabbath to another." it was a concession to improve relations between Jews and Gentiles, not impose laws on the Gentiles that they were obligated to keep. If I invited some orthodox Jews to my home to share a meal I would make sure everything was kosher; otherwise, I wouldn't worry myself.
If JWs teach this as a law we must keep, they're teaching false doctrine. That's my view.
If JWs teach this as a law we must keep, they're teaching false doctrine. That's my view.
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I see your point, but, although I've seriously thought about it, I'm still unsure. I don't know if it's "more fundamental" than the law. I haven't a Bible with me at the moment, I think the commandment was given to Noah when he exited the ark, which predated the Mosaic Law. Therefore, I don't know whether it would still apply in Christian times.
I think it's not nearly a cut-and-dried issue as most people consider it to be.
"More fundamental" is the story people use every time to enslave us; whether it's Sabbath keeping, dietary restrictions, tithing, you name it. Either we're under grace or under law; you can't have a little grace and a little law. If you think something is "more fundamental" and must be observed, then go ahead and vote with your conscience; but it's not something that can be forced on everyone. That's grace.
"But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood." Genesis 9:4
"But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood." Genesis 9:4
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If you do want meat processed according to some 'religious' standard you need to look for 'Kosher' as per 'Jewish' tradition or 'Halal' as per Islamic tradition. I think both are similarly processed. Just a matter of Rabbi or Imam overseeing. Here in Chicago almost every grocery store carries some 'Kosher' meats. Hot dogs by Hebrew National which run commercials saying, 'we answer to a higher power', lol, and then also Nathan's.
Not at all. There is a mismatch between the title and the OP. Jehovah's Witnesses reject blood transfusion BUT THEY HAVE NO BIBLICAL BASIS for this foolishness.
The dietary restrictions on the consumption of blood by Christians is a totally different topic. Transfusions were unheard of until the 18th and 19th centuries. And they have nothing to do with dietary restrictions.
The dietary restrictions on the consumption of blood by Christians is a totally different topic. Transfusions were unheard of until the 18th and 19th centuries. And they have nothing to do with dietary restrictions.
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Yes not eating blood is one of only four specific points of Moses law given to gentiles out of Six hundred commands and ordinances from Moses these four are applicable still to the church . The apostles even stating here that they are necassary things for the disciples of Jesus.
“forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:
…..For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; that ye abstain from meats offered to idols,
and from blood,
and from things strangled,
and from fornication:
from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.”
Acts 15:24, 28-29 KJV
those four points are the only parts of the law given to Christian’s
no eating food that was sacrificed to honor an idol of false God ( something extremely common in those days around the Roman Empire )
No eating of blood
No meat from strangled animals
and no fornication
If we then start to learn from Jesus the lord how to live right and heed his teachings the rest of the law becomes irrelevant To us because we aren’t going to be killing lying and cheating
“forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:
…..For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; that ye abstain from meats offered to idols,
and from blood,
and from things strangled,
and from fornication:
from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.”
Acts 15:24, 28-29 KJV
those four points are the only parts of the law given to Christian’s
no eating food that was sacrificed to honor an idol of false God ( something extremely common in those days around the Roman Empire )
No eating of blood
No meat from strangled animals
and no fornication
If we then start to learn from Jesus the lord how to live right and heed his teachings the rest of the law becomes irrelevant To us because we aren’t going to be killing lying and cheating