Expert: Brenton Hepburn - 5/12/2006

Question
Why is it that the WTBS says that witnesses do not use blood, yet they do when they use fractions of blood that come from the stored blood supply?  Since most fractions are allowed, can you show me where in the Bible it says which fractions are acceptable and which fractions are not?

Answer
Hello.

Thank you for your question.  It is an interesting one.

First I want to apologise for the delay as the automatic system of letting "experts" know that there is a question has not been letting me know about pending question, and I find out only when I log on.

Your question is not an easy one for people to understand.

Personally I would not knowingly take any blood by product.  That is my personal decision.  JWs have to use their discretion on this matter as to what their own conscience will or will not allow.

The Bible, for us, clearly forbids the misuse of blood. That is the stance we take.  Whoever the Bible says nothing about blood fractions.

We know that the blood is made in the bone marrow.  The Israelites were told not to eat blood, and the were given instructions on how to bleed aninals. However Isaiah 25:6 describes marrow as a food for a feast.

So somewhere between the blood that can be poured out and the small amounts in marrow is an invisible line that cannot be easily discerned.

Take for example a colour chart.  At one end is a very clear blue; at the other end is a very clear green. In the middle is aqua.  It is easy to see the blue, the aqua and the green. Now every one that looks at that chart will possibly have a different opinion as to just at what point blue becomes aqua and aqua becomes green.

The laws in the Bible are quite clear and distinct, however the Bible leaves a lot of decisions up to the individual to make.  Our God does not tell us everything we can or cannot do.  Some things we have to make up our own minds based on the information we have.

So the bible is clear that Blood is sacred and the proabition given first to Noah, then the Israelites and finally the 1st century Christians, we earnestly believe still stands.  However because marrow was allowed to be eaten and the bible makes no comments on blood fractions, that part has to be left up to the conscience of each one.


I hope I have answered your question.

Brenton