Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Jehovah’s Witnesses and Health

Jehovah’s Witnesses, some of whom are physicians and nurses, are known worldwide for their rejection of blood transfusion or primary blood components. Does their united stand against this practice stem from a man-made doctrine or a belief that a person’s faith can heal medical ailments? That is far from the truth.

Cherishing their life as a gift from God, the Witnesses strive to do their best to live according to the Bible. Which they believe is “inspired of God.” The Bible encourages worshippers of God to avoid practices and habits that harm health or endanger life, such as overeating, smoking or chewing tobacco, abusing alcohol, and using drugs for recreational purposes.

By keeping our body and surroundings clean and getting some physical exercise for health reasons, we are acting in harmony with Bible principles. When Jehovah’s Witnesses get sick, they demonstrate reasonableness by seeking medical care and accepting the vast majority of available treatment options. True, they are obeying the Bible command to “keep obtaining from blood” (Acts 15:29) insisting on nonblood medical management. And this choice often results in a higher quality of treatment.

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