What does the Bible say about organ donation / donating blood?

Question: "What does the Bible say about organ donation / donating blood?"

Answer: Obviously, since the Bible was written at a time when organ donation / donating blood was impossible, the Bible does not directly address this question. Since the Bible does not specifically say, a decision of this nature can only be made between a person, their family, and God. We should prayerfully consider what God would have us do in regards to donating our organs upon our death (James 1:5; Philippians 4:6-7), or donating blood to help others. If we feel led to donate our organs or give blood, then there is no reason we should not. If we do not feel led to give blood or donate our organs, we should not feel guilty about it and should not allow ourselves to be coerced.

It should be noted that the Jehovah’s Witnesses refuse to donate blood or receive blood transfusions because of a misinterpretation of Acts 15:28-30 in which the Apostle James tells the Christians in Jerusalem to explain to the Gentile converts the prohibitions regarding foods they were to avoid: “You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals” (v. 29). This was based on the dietary laws from Genesis 9:4; Leviticus 3:17; 7:26; 17:12-14; 19:26; Deuteronomy 12:16,23; 15:23; 1 Samuel 14:34 and Ezekiel 33:25). The Jehovah’s Witnesses have taken the phrase “abstain…from blood” completely out of context and applied it to blood transfusions, an interpretation which was clearly not intended.

Recommended Resource: In His Image by Brand & Yancey.