Date: April 3, 2002
Please send corrections/statements to:
Joe Schaffer
PO Box 496
Luling, TX 78648
doolbdercas@e-cepher.com
The advent of technological progress in the modern world creates new potential for human activity to reach far beyond the knowledge and understanding of professionals and theologists of former centuries, and as a result brings moral boundaries and limits into ever closer inspection and scrutiny. What was once a solid "black" line of moral clarity, now seemingly becomes a jagged edged, or often grey with unclear confusion as to where the 'line' is actually drawn.
Serious Bible students have not been secluded from these modern stresses. Along with new knowledge, questions arise in an attempt to understand the impact the new awareness has on their lives in order to understand God's desire in our behavior, a conclusion which will act as a moral compass during times of decision. Understanding God's requirements thus moves from the realm of the expressed will of God into the arena of implied will.
Roughly a century ago, with travel methods changing from horse-based power to automobiles, some had to develop new understandings of the scriptures regarding the boundaries of moral use for the new 'contraptions'. Since automobiles were never mentioned in the scriptures, the only understanding that could be arrived at would be an implied will of God, as opposed to a direct statement of will. Sometimes the implied will was silent (ie: Is traveling at or above 100km permissable?1). Sometimes it resulted in the obvious (ie: Is running people over with the vehicle permitted? James 2:11). But at times, there would be a sort of "collision" of the implied will of God (ie: Does the damage caused by autombiles2 outweigh its use to provide for the family and assistance in the preaching work? Colossians 2:20-22; Revelation 11:18 vs. Proverbs 3:27; 1Timothy 5:8; 2Timothy 4:2) Such collisions of conception would require a further study, not necessarily into the scriptures3, but a persons consciencious decision toward God and his standards, as well as personal circumstances4.
For many, so it is, with the scriptural decree to "abstain from blood", technology has developed situations whereby some have had to make apparent life or death, health or injury, decisions based upon their personal conscientious choices within the context of the command 'to abstain from blood'. (Act15:20, 29) Since the mosaic law had been done away with for Christians, the standard for this edict reverted, in some senses5, back to the Noachin understanding recorded at Genesis 9:4. Noah and his offspring 'had it easy' by comparison with the often complex and difficult decisions that we face today. "To eat, or not to eat?" If it is blood, "no", if it plant or blood-drained animal, "yes". Antigens, hemoglobin, and such things were not specified nor addressed directly. But does this leave a Christian without hope of resolution among the details? No, not at all.
Many important decisions are weighed on a regular, and irregular, basis by millions of Christians; ranging from child care to business decisions that will affect the lives of persons they may never personally meet. These decisions are based, not on personal investigation into every possible source of information available to all of mankind, nor even every possible scriptural study that is potentially available, but quite simply on the basis of trust toward those who have proven their intentions of good will toward the Christian Congregation. When it comes to scriptural insights and understandings, many look to a group called by the scriptural identity mentioned in Matthew 24:45; 25:21, the "Faithful and Discreet Slave". (note also Revelation 22:6) Once a sufficient amount of convincing evidence has been established as to their intentions and the scriptural accuracy of their teaching, then a level of reliability can be assigned to the portions of Bible study material of which an individual does not have time to determine for him or her self.
While it appears that we may be living in the time of 'knowledge' (1Corinthians 13:8; 2Corinthians 10:5) in order to refute the many lies heaped against the God of the Bible and the best way of life (1John 4:1), it is not essential that a person acquire all knowledge in order to be counted as a faithful servant of God (1Timothy 6:20, 21). Only the essentials are required (Colossians 2:3), although Hebrews 5:12 strongly implies that genuine personal progress is to be made over time. (Ephesians 4:13) Just as the president of a large corporation must rely on the information passed to him from members of his staff, in a reversed process, Christian members of the Jehovah's Witnesses Congregation rely upon the dedicated staff taking the lead into Biblical research and study.
For many, reliance and assigning trust toward the faithful slave is sufficient to their consciencious choices, and even if they do not understand all of the dynamics involved, choose to rely upon those with whom Jehovah's spirit has obviously supported. This trust is implied by the words of Christ in Matthew 25:21 & 23, but the trust to teach an accurate and scriptural intended will, and to avoid abuse of such trust is directly expressed by 2Timothy 2:24 and Hebrews 13:17. Hence, as did the disciples during one moment of confusion (John 6:68), trusting the one who has been designated for the position of teaching is not an unscriptural position. For some though, a personal in-depth study is much prefered, even demanded, before important decisions can be rendered. This too is not unscriptural, in fact is encouraged, as Proverbs 2:11 encourages the safeguarding of thinking ability, Acts 17:11 calls the Beroeans "noble minded" for veryifying the facts scripturally, and 2Peter 1:2 encourages the increase of one's spiritual knowledge6. But still, even with this, some remain puzzled as to the reason why certain standards have been established regarding the stance on blood taken by Jehovah's Witnesses when blood components are involved. Some of the components are conscientious choices, others are forbidden. Where is the 'line' of God's implied will of prohibition from blood to be drawn?
The choices, although seemingly burdensome, can be resolved within the first portion of the decree given Noah just before Genesis 9:4, that which is found in verse 3 of the same chapter. Leaving intellectual ponderings aside as to whether such sources are "really" food or some other type of sustenance or assistance toward life, the implied will could be derived from whence we can find the sources naturally by means other than blood. In other words: If it is found only blood, "no". If it is found in any other natural source, "make a personal choice." Thus, the same medical technology that creates the question regarding the implied will of Jehovah in the Bible, is the same technology that helps to resolve the solution. It is with this in mind that I have decided to take a different view regarding the decree binding on all who are descendants of Noah and his family. On the left side of Table 1 I listed7 the breakdown of the absolute commanded will of abstinance from blood. On the right are potential sources found in other natural places than blood, and the scriptural expressed or implied will from the scriptures. In the center are where the "collision" of the two wills occurs. It is my hope that any who view this table can better appreciate and understand the scriptural reasons for the standards expressed by the faithful and discreet slave for the benefit of both folds of the flock, as it has helped me.
This method, though, is not really a 'new' way to look at it. Rather it merely emulates the method provided us all in Genesis 9:3, 4.
One other point that some have difficulty with: the use of any blood components at all. Granted, the components might be found elsewhere in nature, however, in this view that blood is being captured for straining, and not being poured out until after the "authorized"8 components have been strained out. This is one possible view on the matter, and carries it's own validity. Some might even carry the implication a step further and determine that since blood is an organ, that such is an indication of God's implied will that all organ transplants might be forbidden. Others might carry the view from the side of the natural source. For instance, if the source is an animal, and the blood is drained out, then on a macro scale, the blood was captured until the meat was strained out of it. If reduced to the microscopic scale, the many components of the blood are also a part of the animal, and hence allowed to be captured and used along with the meat and other animal parts, as long as the blood-unique components are poured out on the ground and buried appropriately. Such decisions are to be made in good conscience before God, and not one of us are masters over our brother. (2Corinthains 1:24)
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End Notes:
Note 1: Safety issues and the never-ending debates over the 'encroaching uniformity of postmodernism' aside. This is intended to be just a simple illustration.
Note 2: As reported in Daily Inscight on 2 February, 2000 "The Long Reach of Asphalt" at http://www.apnet.com/inscight/02022000/graphb.htm, roads can affect the ecosystem as far as 1km on either side. This as well as other well reported impacts of air and ground water pollution caused by the overabundance of vehicles in concentrated areas. [ie: Steve Nadis and James J. Mackenzie, Car Trouble (Boston, 1993), page 27. Paul Degobert, Automobiles and Pollution (Warrendale, 1995), page 85.]
Note 3: Not to say that a deep study into the scriptures would fail to shed further light onto such a decision. Quite the contrary, such study would greatly help, along with prayer. (Joshua 1:8; 1Peter 4:7; 2Peter 1:5) Rather my statement here is toward having a good personal conscience toward God. (2Corinthians 4:2)
Note 4: Whether alternative fuels and automobile designs are possible on a mass scale are endlessly debatable. (Note however that a car has even been designed to run on compressed air! http://www.theaircar.com/) The scope here though, is that a typical consumer has only the means of choice within his or her financial limits, which excludes most from anything beside fossil fuel transportation. And while such new devices might take care of some enviornmental issues, it fails to address such difficulties as asphalt leaks into the soil, road kill, etc...
Note 5: I say 'in some senes' due to the fact that pre-pentecostal (Acts chapter 2) servants of Jehovah, which would include Noah and his direct offspring and no matter how faithful (Hebrews 11:7), were not yet under the provision of Christ's ransom sacrifice, among other such factors involving the sanctity of blood in the Christian era. (As in animal sacrifices; Genesis 8:20)
Note 6: Hence when such phrases such as "the anointed have a 'special' understanding of the scriptures" escapes the lips of some who are long-time students of the scriptures, it merely belies the personal neglect they have rendered toward an earnest study of the Bible, a shirking of their duty one might conclude. (Jeremiah 3:15)
Note 7: This table is not intended to be comprehensive in a scientific sense nor in a scriptural sense, but merely is intended to awaken another possible method for scriptural interpretative understanding if it hasn't been already considered.
Note 8: I say "authorized" here and in the table, not in the sense that the component from blood has a clear scriptural authorization for use on it, but in the sense that it is found in authorized products of natural origin and is not condemnable from the standpoint of one human toward another.
Note 9: Polymerized hemoglobin does not exist in nature10, hence until further light is given by Jehovah through the Faithful and Discreet Slave (Matthew 25:23; Revelation 22:6), medical use of this product would be left to an individuals scriptural conscience. Polymerized hemoglobin does not carry some of the same issues as naturalized hemoglobin (ie: those with sickle cell anemia, wherein the bursting red blood cells dump large amounts of natural hemoglobin into the blood stream, reducing nitrogen levels and causing great pain to the sufferer). Others might want to take a more conservative approach, wanting to ensure that the risk of where Jehovah 'draws the line' is not worth their everlasting life, or in fact that since hemoglobin does not exist in nature at all but only in the blood stream, then that is an indication of Jehovah's implied will to avoid even replicated forbidden components. Thus one can get the sense that even such continued progress in medical science does not do away with the training of ones conscience, and it's our good conscience before Jehovah that we must account for. Such issues only test our resolve to keep a clean conscience, and can be viewed as another opportunity rely upon Jehovah in all our endeavors, which by result is showing us 'the good way'. (1Kings 8:36)
-- Note 9 added on Dec. 5, 2002
Note 10: It is important to recoginize that I did not state that hemoglobin was *found* in bile. I merely stated (by the
process established in the header section) that it is described as 'unsolulable' bile, then comma, then where found, etc... Details aside that iron is broken out (as mentioned within my chart, though not necessaryily at the level covering the process of hydrolizing hemoglobin into bilirubin) the fact is that in essence hemoglobin is 'water resistant' bile, with the 'water resistance' being necessarily removed for further processing. Hemoglobin fats, in short (as it is actually a complex process), when emulfsified by bile salts become, eventually and for the most part, (direct) bilirubin. Yes, indeed, there is much going on beyond the relatively simpleness
of this chart. In fact this chart is a 'dead' process in that it is a particular
snapshot not only in being narrow and not detailed beyond the contents of
blood vessels and veins (details were not intended to the nth degree), but
in fact the reality unfolding within our bodies on a daily basis is a live
and ongoing process. For instance, the bilirubin is used to aid in the
making of red blood cells in the bone marrow, so not all of it is dumped out
as bile. But there are plenty of wastes from the hydrolized hemoglobin
becoming bilirubin that are not recycled, and in fact are dumped (summed up
as "Urea and other wastes" in the chart). The human body by Godly design processes
these differences to our benefit, imperfect errors aside (as in
gall-kidney/pigment stones, jaundice, etc...) Hence as I had stated in the verbage preceeding the chart with the statement,
"Thus, the same medical technology that creates the question regarding the
implied will of Jehovah in the Bible, is the same technology that helps to
resolve the solution." I had hoped to give direction to those puzzled by this
issue, not to capture every possible variance with a single felled swoop.
In fact the progression of medical science would make such an effort
quite an impossible a task, especially for a single human with a family to
support and the kingdom message to deliver. Hemoglobin is a good example of how this method can be carried beyond the chart It has been brought to my attention that there are other apparent sources in nature which have forms of hemoglobin.
Specifically brought to my attention were insects such as one particular midge larvae (Axarus, aka 'bloodworms'), certain water fleas (Daphnia), and aquatic hemipterans (Buenoa & Anisops). On the surface this might seem to be a valid argument that there is indeed a natural food source for hemoglobin outside of the blood. But really? If a person cares to eat the midge larvae in order to perceive that Jehovah's will
would allow for hemoglobin intake, that is entirely up to their own consciencious choice. However, such
an edeavor would not be without it's risks, and might conflict with another of God's expectations, that of caring for one's own well being. (Romans 12:1) The fact is that hemoglobin of this type causes allergic reactions in humans, and has been reported as an issue with the dust of freeze-dried fish food. But there is more to is than mere allergic reactions. The very makeup of insect hemoglobin is different that that of mammals. The molecular weight of insect hemoglobin is approximately 16,000 whereas mammalian is measured at 66,000. (Plants, which will be discussed later have leghemoglobin molecular weight of 19,583 Da) A further difference is in the length of polypeptide chains of mammalian hemoglobin as compared to that of insects. Mammals have a peptide chain length of four. Whereas insects measure in the tens and hundreds. (Plant leghemoglobin peptide chain lengths measure in the hundreds) Thus insect hemoglobin, where found, and though given the same nomenclature (for practical reasons and description), is inherently different. Yet even though different, the fact is that hemoglobin even of this type is found "only in the insect blood" (haemolymph). It was also pointed out to me as well that some plants also have a form of hemoglobin. Okay. On to the plants then... Rhizobium, a bacteria residing on the roots of legumes, such as peas enables the plant to make hemoglobin genes.
Naturally expressed legume hemoglobin (more properly referred to as: leghemoglobin) carries a different task than that of mammalian hemoglobin. That of ridding the plant cell of extra oxygen. In fact these leghemoglobin surround the rhizobium, and by performing their designed task of removing all extra oxygen molecules and releasing the O2 into the atmosphere the bacteroids are able to make use of the concentrated nitrogen, in turn benefitting the plant. If it were possible in a single moment to replace the contents of every
red cell in a given human with leghemoglobin, rather than hemoglobin, the
human would in essence suffocate and die. However, in the moments before
his death he would have no problem with diabetes due to the extra
nitrogen empowering design of leghemoglobin. The two, though similar in that they process the oxygen molecule, are clearly not the same thing. The usefulness of these genetic and other engineering feats may be
controversial, but it cannot be argued they are natural. Nor can it be
argued that human hemoglobin engineered into a plant is 'natural'. They are quite simply perversions of nature.
There is a patented tobacco plant that has been "engineered" to produce human hemoglobin. That is not a natural occurance.
However, if one feels strongly that this is evidence of Jehovah's implied will of allowing for hemoglobin consumption, then I'd be interested in knowing the healthful qualities of this tobacco plant. Is it best in salad? Or to carry this futher, mice are acceptable to eat as per Gen. 9:3,4,
then what if that mouse was engineered with a human ear on it's back? or would one be willing to eat a glowing green mouse? Would one think, "MMmmmm... tastey morsel!"?
"Genetic engineers can modify the DNA of any living thing by adding genes
from anything else"
No, the human hemoglobin protein of the tobacco patent is not natural.
That is why the plant was 'patentenable', because it was engineered. The biologists involved may
claim the gene is being 'naturally expressed', however it appears that
no tobacco plant before the engineering took place expressed the human
hemoglobin gene.
-- Robin Ticciati, co-author of "Genetically Engineered
Foods: Are They Safe? You Decide"
quote found on: http://betternutrition.com/magazine/jun01/feature1.htm
For further on this, try doing an internet search on "pleiotropy". Warning: It could be scary.
A cursory look at the issue, with the same 'word-names' tossed about between the different life forms on this planet by biologist for descriptive reasons (and not qualitative), it might seem that mammalian hemoglobin can be found in scriptually authorized 'edible' sources. However by applying the same and simple standard of "the same medical technology that creates the question regarding the implied will of Jehovah in the Bible, is the same technology that helps to resolve the solution", it is possible to perceive that indeed, there is no other source for hemoglobin, than in the blood.
As expressed in Isaiah 25:6, bone marrow is edible. A properly drained carcass (Lev. 17:13) could provide a 'valid' marrow for consumption. Blood cells are 'born' in the bone marrow (nucleated erythrocytes ). Thus the question is "whether or not hemoglobin is 'edible'?" becauses immature blood cells would be contained in bone marrow.
Jehovah is the one who determined that remaining products in the marrow (following proper bleeding of the carcass) was not clearly on the list of prohibitions. It is true, the blood stream is linked to the bone marrow. But how?
Let's look at the nucleated erythrocytes contained in the marrow to see what can be determined, so as to know the implied will of Jehovah.
The only 'normal' times for nucleated erythrocytes (reticulocytes) to be in circulation would be during the fetus stages, trauma such as lead poisoning, and the first day of their release into the blood stream. Hence reticulocytes are not a part of the normal blood stream but for fractional quantities. And in turn, mature red blood cells are not a part of the contents of bone marrow at all. But since the reticulocytes are found primarily in the bone marrow, does this invalidate the prohibition on hemoglobin?
No.
Remember the basic difference between red cells and nucleated erythrocytes are at least two these things:
There is likely more hemoglobin residual in the drained meat of a properly bled animal than in the marrow, a fact which Jehovah would have been fully aware of when making his decree on blood. (Psalm 147:5) The intent should be to submit one's moral compass to God, not to seek legal loopholes in the scriptures. (Psalm 143:10; Heb. 10:9) It will always be the conclusion: that Jehovah knows what is best. (Eccl. 12:13)
The real issue:
The question in this modern time is, "Why would anyone feel the 'need' to find a reason to question Jehovah's stand on the matter?" There are so many safe (especially when compared with the absolute risks of transfusion, made worse by the scandalous behavior of some blood banks to meet quota) medical options available allowing one to avoid the use of blood, that in fact the medical use of blood should now be regarded as the 'alternate choice' (if regarded at all), and not the 'primary'. (I am speaking purely medically here, exclusionary of scriptural clarifications on the issue)
"But honestly, in this day and age, no one will ever die from an insufficient blood supply." --John Flynn, CEO of South Florida Blood Banks Inc. during a March 2002 staff meeting
The only reasons that remain for disputing Jehovah's stance on blood is bias($), prejudice, and the intent to not be answerable for one's behavior.
Copyright © 2002