Is there a prohibition against Christians eating blood?

What do you mean "eat blood"?

Would eating a rare steak count?

What do you mean "eat blood"?

Would eating a rare steak count?

To eat is to ingest. To ingest is to take into the body. Some say that there is a fine distinction between the two though and point out that eating involves
Digestion while taking into the body, such as via blood transfusion is somehow different. So there definitely is a controversy as far as meaning. Rare steak if bleeding I think would probably come under such a prohibition.
Jehovah's Witnesses understand it to mean taking into the body either via the mouth or via transfusion.

There is also a controversy concerning the prohibition's applicability to Christians by those who disagree. They claim that the law was done away with and with it the prohibition of ingesting blood.

Leviticus 17:10
And whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, that eateth any manner of blood; I will even set my face against that soul that eateth blood, and will cut him off from among his people.


Deuteronomy 12:23
Only be sure that thou eat not the blood: for the blood is the life; and thou mayest not eat the life with the flesh.

This is countered by stating that the law prohibiting ingestion of blood was given to mankind prior to the Mosaic law and therefore was not abolished.

Genesis 9:4
But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.

Its applicability to Christians is further buttressed by the reference to the following scripture found in the New Testament:

“to abstain from things polluted by idols and from fornication and from what is strangled and from blood.” (Acts 15:19-21) NWT

The reason for avoiding the meat of strangled animals was because they had not been bled.

So those are more or less the viewpoints that are involved.

The controversy becomes more intense when blood transfusions are offered as treatment and the Witnesses refuse to use that medical alternative because they view it as a violation of God's law. So they request substitutes that work just as well or almost as well and sometimes even better.

But this offends those who hold a different viewpoint because they don't think that person should be willing to die in order to avoid the treatment whereas Jehovah's Witnesses are willing to die if necessary. But this willingness to die isn't restricted to ingestion of blood. It is a willingness to die in order to keep integrity reference to many other of God's commandments as well. That's why many were tortured to death in concentration camps in Hitler's Germany because the Witnesses refused to agree with his anti-Semitic Aryan supremacy ideology.

But it's willingness to die in reference to the blood issue that attracts the attention.

BTW
Those who take umbrage with Jehovah's Witnesses willingness to die in order to stay faithful to God's laws as they understand them were and still are the very ones who are very willing to die for their country in order to stay faithful to it as citizens. Just a thought.

Well, Starman, therein lies the differences of interpretation of scripture.

I can't say I know much about Jehovah Witnesses, but I'll comment on the blood question lightly.

Christians I know of don't restrict themselves to eating unleavened bread either. Another old Testament law.

Also now look at Matthew 15:10 -

Jesus called the crowd to him and said, "Listen and understand. What goes into a man's mouth does not make him' unclean,' but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him 'unclean.' "

So if you are grouping "ingesting & infusing" as the same rule - I can't see the point of the restrictions.

Didn't God tell Peter in Acts to "kill and eat"?

But of course you have your right to interpret the scripture according to your beliefs.

I hope the differences are small enough not to matter in the great scheme of things in Christianity.

Well, Starman, therein lies the differences of interpretation of scripture.

I can't say I know much about Jehovah Witnesses, but I'll comment on the blood question lightly.

Christians I know of don't restrict themselves to eating unleavened bread either. Another old Testament law.

Also now look at Matthew 15:10 -

Jesus called the crowd to him and said, "Listen and understand. What goes into a man's mouth does not make him' unclean,' but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him 'unclean.' "

So if you are grouping "ingesting & infusing" as the same rule - I can't see the point of the restrictions.

Didn't God tell Peter in Acts to "kill and eat"?

But of course you have your right to interpret the scripture according to your beliefs.

I hope the differences are small enough not to matter in the great scheme of things in Christianity.

Thanks for your response:

I posted the question bercause I referred someone to the JWs site and the then irrelevant issue of blood transfusions came up. Since that issue deserved a post of its own I provided it for those who feel they must express their opinions in reference to it. Also, to show that we don't need to divert threads from topics but can simply place the subject under a thread of its own.

About the blood issue, my concept of God's personality is one which perhaps doesn't quite mesh on some fine points with the majority of those who attend religious services who tend to see him as being humorless and dictatorial. In fact, I haven't attended a religious service for most of the past thirty years. But I have gained certain valuable insights which I consider representative of God's personality and which I try to share with others. Since it would be selfish to keep them to myself.

In short, I am not taking one side or the other on the blood issue but simply posting to see what the different opinions are. I always do learn something by listening. Thanks for the feedback.

BTW
I don't officially represent the WTBTS or JWs religious views on this forum. So those familiar with the WTBTS will notice certain areas in which they might feel that I slightly diverge although I consider the divergeance a clarification but they might not. I also consider the JWS understanding of the Bible the most accurate.

Hi Starman

I notice that all your quotes come from the old testament and is where the Jews probably get their custom of eating only "kosher" food.

I could discuss this further but I'm fed up of posts my being pulled ;)

Yes there is. Blood contains life. We are told never to eat anything that still has blood in it.

There are certain religions that take a certain quote from the bible out of context meaning that they refuse blood tranfusions which I think is a load of ----.

The context is for food. Not for medical purposes. Which God created very smart people, doctors and scientists to help with life medical emergencies. So Excepting blood for life threatnening situations is perfectly good. Excepting meat with blood in it is not.

Joe

Hi Starman

I notice that all your quotes come from the old testament and is where the Jews probably get their custom of eating only "kosher" food.

I could discuss this further but I'm fed up of posts my being pulled ;)

Good eye Jonegy!

So do you mean to tell me that if I eat a big, rare T-bone, I am committing a sin? Everyone that partakes in a rare steak is going to hell? Come on. Sorry, but I just can't hack them Matza balls! Carp in sour crème just isn't going to get it either. Cut off it's horns, hose it down a little and send it out here. Oh, a little A-1 please... makes the blood spicey! :eek:

Good eye Jonegy!

So do you mean to tell me that if I eat a big, rare T-bone, I am commiting a sin? Everyone that partakes in a rare steak is going to hell? Come on. Sorry, but I just can't hack them Matza balls! Carp in sour creme just aint gonna get it either. Cut off it's horns, hose it down alittle and send it out here. Oh, a little A-1 please...makes the blood spicey! :eek:

Bit off topic - but on that particular subject - I have about half of a "black pudding" (sausage made from blood fat and herbs) in the fridge atthis moment.;)

Yes, many people partake in the event of rare steak or medium steak. I do believe it was meant as a safety issue as well, because lets face it. Many diseases and illnesses are passed through blood. Look at mad cow disease which caused lots of deaths in the past years.

Joe

Yes, many people partake in the event of rare steak or medium steak. I do believe it was meant as a safety issue as well, because lets face it. Many diseases and illnesses are passed through blood. Look at mad cow disease which caused lots of deaths in the past years.

Joe
Wanted to agree but got to spread it

I believe it was for cleanliness and health reasons. Half cooked turkey.. yuckkk

Very well done please, or we send it back,

There seems not to be.

M:)

Yes, many people partake in the event of rare steak or medium steak. I do believe it was meant as a safety issue as well, because lets face it. Many diseases and illnesses are passed through blood. Look at mad cow disease which caused lots of deaths in the past years.

Joe

I agree with the health benefit reason but it isn't the primary reason why.
Notice that both in Genesis and in the Mosaic law the reason eating blood is prohibited is because it is said to represent the life of the creature. In short, not eating the blood is an acknowledgement of God's ultimate authority over life itself.


Genesis 9:4
But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.


Leviticus 17:14
For it is the life of all flesh; the blood of it is for the life thereof: therefore I said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh: for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof: whosoever eateth it shall be cut off.


Deuteronomy 12:23
Only be sure that thou eat not the blood: for the blood is the life; and thou mayest not eat the life with the flesh.

KJV

Bold emphasis mine.

Those scriptures just back up what I have said. The eating of blood is prohibited. Blood is what gives life. (it does not say anything about do not give blood, do not receive blood transfusions as it will help save your life.)

Joe

Those scriptures just back up what I have said. The eating of blood is prohibited. Blood is what gives life. (it does not say anything about do not give blood, do not recieve blood transfusions as it will help save your life.)

Joe

If transfusions constituted the eating of blood, would you accept one?

If transfusions constituted the eating of blood, would you accept one?

I've had a few in my time and here I am. Not everyone puts a lot of weight on scriptures by ancient man.

I've had a few in my time and here I am. Not everyone puts a lot of weight on scriptures by ancient man.

1. I never said all tranfusions kill.
2. I never said that everyone on earth puts faith in scripture. [ridiculously obvious!]
3. I never mentioned that the scriptures I quoted should be adhered to because they are inspired.

The real mystery here is why you are reaching those conclusions.

BTW
Whether scriptures are merely thoughts of ancient men or inspired is off-topic here. Perhaps you should set up a thread on that topic.

Your right not being a Christian I should not be on this thread. My apologies all.

Your right not being a Christian I should not be on this thread. My apologies all.


Why not? Surely you have something to contribute? Don't let anyone chase you away. Some very fine non-Christians have excellent insights into Christianity.




M:)RGANITE


Those scriptures just back up what I have said. The eating of blood is prohibited. Blood is what gives life. (it does not say anything about do not give blood, do not recieve blood transfusions as it will help save your life.)

Joe


The eating of blood was prohibited in the Levitical Code, but apart from the dispute with Judaizing Christians it has never been an issue for Christianity. Enjoy your blood pudding. Try it sliced and fried!


M:)


Wanted to agree but gotta spread it

I believe it was for cleanliness and health reasons. half cooked turkey..yuckkk


Bovine Spongiform Encephalitis is not passed on through blood, and neither is Creusfeldt-Jacob's Disease. BSE and CJD are caused by a protein, not by an organism, and it is not bood borne but found in neural tissue. It is impossible to remove all the blood from muscle tissue, so even when an animal has been killed by a kosher or halal buitcher and even after soaking in brine, some blood remains. The only way to ensure that you ingest NO blood is to not eat meat at all.

The sacrificial and atoning death of Jesus Christ stopped sacrifice by the shedding of blood, and henceforth the ban on eating blood and blood products was lifted.


M:)

....Don't let anyone chase you away.



M:)RGANITE

That's an unjust, baseless, accusation not expected from a person of your intellectual abilities.


Your right not being a Christian I should not be on this thread. My apologies all.

There you go again!

How does my suggestion to stay on topic translate into forbidding you to be commenting on this thread because you are not a Christian? Isn't that a rather wild stretch of the imagination?


OBVIOUSLY:

1. It's not a forum requirement that we be Christians in order to give comments on Christian topics.

Don't be so sensitive Starman as it was I that thought that I had insulted you ,hence my apology, and thanks to you for straghtening that out and also to Morganite for pointing it out. I do apologize to both of you though for causing a rift... back to subject let me study some...

There is a big difference between being told not to eat blood. Blood transfusions have nothing to do with eating blood. Blood is life. I am not into eating blood. Am I going to give blood for people who need it, or will I except blood transfusions. The answer is yes. The law about not eating food with blood has always been. Always will be. Christians who follow the bible will know that.



Joe

That's an unjust, baseless, accusation not expected from a person of your intellectual abilities.


There is no acusation. Just a piece of timely advice.

Accusation (n)

1. An act of accusing or the state of being accused.
2. A charge of wrongdoing that is made against a person or other party.

Who was accused, and of what?


M:(

Hello ,

I would never eat blood for God's law forbids it!

Christians are not under the law covenant made with Moses as mediator. That law covenant passed out of existence, having fulfilled its purpose, when the new covenant was made over the blood of Jesus Christ.

This does not mean that the restrictions on the use of blood have passed away too. Because what the law covenant had to say about refraining from the eating of blood merely emphasized the requirement that is set forth in the law God gave to Noah, and that is binding upon all mankind.

To set this matter straight in the minds of all Christians, both Jews and Gentiles, none of whom were any longer under the Law, the Christian governing body at Jerusalem directed their attention to the obligations that devolved upon them in this matter, saying: “The holy spirit and we ourselves have favored adding no further burden to you, except these necessary things, to keep yourselves free from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication. If you carefully keep yourselves from these things, you will prosper.”—Acts 15:28, 29.

In my opinion there is nothing spiritualy wrong with eating rare meat. Though the important thing is that we should not get upset over this. Hope12 above me explaned perfectly how we are not under the law any more. Though if your Christian brother believed that it was wrong to eat rare meat then it would possibly make him stumble if you ate it in front of him.
"Romans 14:21
It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall."
Though when not in this circumstance then I believe it is perfectly fine to eat rare meat. But remember, "Anything that is done without believing it is right is a sin, Romans 14:23b"

Under the Law there were restrictions and I believe too that it was for safety reasons. There are no restrictions under Grace. The Bible isn't hard to understand. Jesus fulfilled the Law and you cannot mix Law with Grace... like oil and water... it won't work.

The belief that Christians are prohibited from eating blood is based primarily on the following scripture written AFTER the Mosaic Law was replaced by grace via Jesus' sacrifice. Also, it is the holy spirit that is spoken of as directing Christians in reference to this issue and that eating blood is mentioned along with fornication.

“The holy spirit and we ourselves have favored adding no further burden to you, except these necessary things, to keep yourselves free from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication. If you carefully keep yourselves from these things, you will prosper.”—Acts 15:28, 29.


Further information in relation to this subject can be found at the following site:

Search Content of Jehovah's Witnesses Official Web Site (http://www.watchtower.org/cgi-bin/lib/ProcessForm.pl?FormType=wtsw&inptQuery=blood&optVerbosity=1&objBegin=1&objEnd=10)

Under the Law there were restrictions and i believe too that it was for safety reasons. There are no restrictions under Grace. The Bible isn't hard to understand. Jesus fulfilled the Law and you cannot mix Law with Grace.....like oil and water...it won't work.


How would you explain the apostles' imposition of a ban on eating the blood of animals AFTER Jesus had been crucified, resurrected, and had ascended into heaven to be seated at the right hand of God, leaving the Holy Ghost as the means of revealing his will to them in his absence? You surely can not mean that the Holy Ghost gave them wrong information??



M:)