Lesson 12. Respect for Life and Blood
In the Bible, the word soul is used to refer to the life of a person. You can have a soul and be a soul. Genesis 2:7, Matthew 10:28
The soul is not immortal. Just like all terrestrial life, it can die. Ezekiel 18:20
In addition to the practices listed in the previous lesson, God established that Christians treat blood with respect. The Bible indicates that we should abstain from blood. Acts 5:29
To abstain means to keep distance from or choose to decline. So abstaining from blood includes not eating unbled meat, not drinking blood, or ingesting it in other ways. This includes abstaining from blood transfusions. Leviticus 17:13-14; Genesis 9:4
A Christian must use his own Bible-trained conscience when deciding what medical treatments to accept. We should not judge others for their personal choices. Romans 14:3,4; Galatians 6:5
In ancient Israel, God gave his people a law that says if someone accidentally causes harm to a pregnant woman so that she or the baby dies, he must be put to death. Exodus 21:22,23
To God, the life of an unborn child is precious, even in its development. Psalms 139:13-17
What if doctors say you are going to die if you don’t have an abortion or a blood transfusion? Reflect on these principles. Luke 9:24; Isaiah 41:10
You have the responsibility to care for and maintain your body. That includes avoiding recreational drugs, not overeating, and exercising regularly. Romans 12:1; Proverbs 23:20,21; 1 Timothy 4:8
How can we take proper precautions and avoid reckless behavior when in a car, playing sports, and when working? Proverbs 22:3
Yahweh does not want you to risk your life needlessly in extreme sports or highly dangerous exploits. 1 Chronicles 11:17-19
Suicide is not acceptable to God. Romans 12:1
