There are very few religious groups who claim to be under the umbrella of Christianity and contend that it is a sin to receive a blood transfusion.

Some in our world today contend that it is a sin to receive a blood transfusion to even save a life in a hospital. Why would a person believe such?

God enlightened the Israelites to avoid eating blood in Leviticus 17:11,12 (NIV)

“For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.”

Therefore I say to the Israelites, “None of you may eat blood, nor may an alien living among you eat blood.”

God instructed Christians to avoid eating blood in Acts 15:20 (NIV), “… abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from meat of strangled animals, and from blood.”

Various interpretations of this (avoid blood) scripture have been given. One is: Abstain from shedding blood (murder). A better one is: Avoid eating and drinking blood.

Such use of blood was common among the gentiles. They drank it often in their sacrificial feasts and in making covenants. Thus this rules out blood pudding. Rare steaks have most of the blood removed prior to eating.

Animals strangled and which have not been properly bled when butchered should not be used for food likewise.

Now, it takes a wild stretch of one’s imagination to conclude from the stated scriptures that one is to avoid receiving a blood transfusion in order to restore life or to even save a life.

Some today are fearful of contacting a virus or disease from donated blood from a blood bank.

Therefore, they have the privilege of donating their own blood in preparation for a surgery, if it is needed.

What a wonderful day in which we live when blood transfusions, and organ transplants are available to assist us medically.

May we be very thankful to our God who gives the medical profession the knowledge they need to assist us. May we also thank our God for giving us a brain with which to reason and not follow man made false doctrines such as the refusal of a blood transfusion.

Dr. Hoyt W. Allen Jr. is of the KYOWVA

Evangelistic Association, 1541 S. Seventh St., Ironton, OH 45638.