AboutBrenda Martin Expertise I have been one of Jehovah`s Witneses now for over 30 years, in those years I have brought up 4 children, teaching each of them the bible.Being one of Jehovah`s Witnesses has helped me cope with my Epilepsy and bring up a daughter with learning difficulties.I have conducted bible studies with people from nearly every denomination i.e. Muslim. Having used the bible all these years to answer peoples questions, I feel I am qualified to give any answer regarding Jehovah`s Witnesses and the bible.
Experience My experience has been one of attending bible lectures 5 times a week,taking part in these lectures in front of an audience and being with thousands of J.W. at conventions where I have seen the bible at work in peoples lives.It is truly a miracle when you see thousands of people meeting together and not one policeman needed, and not even a piece of litter in sight.It is like another world.
Question My question is similar to one you've answered before in reference to a wife not being a JW and her husband and his family being JW.
In addition to that question, my question is this. We have three children together and I would do anything for them. I'm not a JW and therefore have no problem with blood transfusions. My wife on the other hand would if she becomes a devout JW.
How would you suggest we handle this sort of issue in our household should, heaven forbid, it ever arise?
Also, I'm in the military and I'm not a concientious objector and never will be. I guess you can say I'm stubborn, but also, I'm not an expert on the bible. I look at the bible as a guide for mankind. I also, look at what different religions say about the contents of the bible as man's interpretations and not fact. Because we didn't write it and only God can tell us what the bible means. And that means as individuals we have to ask God for his guideance in deciphering what the bible means. Which applies to my original question.
Thanks.
Interested in what you have to say.
Answer HI there Walter, you asked--" BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS--HOW WOULD YOU SUGGEST WE HANDLE THIS SORT OF ISSUE IN OUR HOUSEHOLD?"
For Bible-based reasons, Jehovah's Witnesses refuse blood transfusions. But they do accept—and vigorously pursue—medical alternatives to blood. “Jehovah's Witnesses actively seek the best in medical treatment,” said Dr. Richard K. Spence, when director of surgery at a New York hospital. “As a group, they are the best educated consumers the surgeon will ever encounter.”
I became a Witness 3 years into our marriage (30 years ago) and l often wondered what I would do if that situation ever arose, thankfully it never. My husband & I discussed it and of course he said” if his kids need blood they will be getting it” If the situation had arose I would have made my feelings known regarding one of our kids receiving blood, obviously I would not want that,1. Because of what the bible says and 2. Because it is filthy and dangerous and full of disease, but at the end of the day my husband would have the last say in the matter. He is the father and thus the “head of the house” and so has to be respected for his decision.
However your wife will be teaching the kids the bible and what it has to say on the subject of blood, so what has often happened is, the child is adamant they don't want blood and depending on the age of the child of course, the Drs have upheld the child's decision.—
One case involved Dan, a 15-year-old Witness who died of leukemia. In this case doctors respected Dan's brave decision to reject a blood transfusion. The minister of health for Denmark stated that the doctors had done the right thing in respecting Dan's mature decision and well-founded faith.
It may interest you to know, worldwide, there are currently more than 90,000 doctors who have made it known that they are willing to treat Jehovah's Witnesses without blood.
I'M NOT A CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR AND NEVER WILL BE.
No-one is asking you to become one, :¬) your wife is the one who has decided to change her life and bring it in line with God's standards. She is not expecting you to change your life, that is your choice.
I LOOK AT THE BIBLE AS A GUIDE FOR MANKIND.
Many do--Mohandas K. Gandhi reportedly told a British official: “When your country and mine shall get together on the teachings laid down by Christ in this Sermon on the Mount, we shall have solved the problems not only of our countries but those of the whole world.”
“I believe the Bible is the best gift God has ever given to man.” That statement was made by Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States.
So practical is its counsel that one educator was moved to say: “Although being a high-school counselor with bachelor's and master's degrees and having read a large number of books on mental health and psychology, I discovered that the Bible's counsel on such things as having a successful marriage, preventing juvenile delinquency and how to gain and keep friends is far superior to anything I had read or studied in college.” In addition to being practical and up-to-date, the Bible is dependable.
RELIGIONS SAY ABOUT THE CONTENTS OF THE BIBLE AS MAN'S INTERPRETATIONS AND NOT FACT.
‘Everyone has his own interpretation of the Bible' true, and obviously not all of them are right.' ‘Twisting the Scriptures to fit our own ideas can result in lasting harm. (2 Pet. 3:15, 16)' ‘Two things can help us to understand the Bible correctly. First, consider the context (surrounding verses) of any statement. Next, compare texts with other statements in the Bible that deal with the same subject. In that way we are letting God's own Word guide our thinking, and the interpretation is not ours but his. That is the approach taken in the Watch Tower publications.'
ONLY GOD CAN TELL US WHAT THE BIBLE MEANS.
Well it is true we need his holy spirit however, God had the bible written for us to read and understand, it is his letter to mankind, so don't you think he would make it understandable, or else what would be the point of giving us the letter?
You would be pleasantly surprised how plain and simple the bible's message is, I do agree however some of these old versions with their; “thee thou and art” make it difficult to understand, but there are many modern versions like the one your wife will be using, that make it easy reading.
God wants us to know and understand his letter, that's why he had it written he has left a book of instruction that he wants mankind to follow, why? “to benefit themselves” the bible says.
Your wife will be learning what God's purpose is for the earth and all on it, honestly it is fantastic, you don't know what your missing :¬) God promises to rid the earth of all wickedness very shortly, and those who listen and apply what he has said ,can look forward to everlasting life on a Paradise earth, just think ,no war, no death, no sickness, never having to worry about your kids, or lock the door. It may sound all to good, but it is the most logical thing I have ever heard, if you were God would you not do the same?
Anyway we Witnesses can talk till the cows come home, I wish you all the best.
