The Jehovah Witness Governing body drastically changes it position on the giving and receiving of blood transfusions

No one saw this coming

The governing body of the Jehovah Witnesses has been changing a lot of their rules in recent months and years. Recently they have started to allow men to grow beards, women to wear trousers when attending meetings, and allowed the greeting of ex-members who have been disfellowshipped (with the aim of inviting them back if they have repented) to name just a few of the many changes. There had recently been a lot of speculation amongst ex-witnesses about what the next rule change would be, with many suggesting that it would be to allow birthday celebrations.

No one could have guessed what would actually happen which is probably because short of declaring that Jesus is actually God and not the Angel Michael, it is hard to think of a doctrine change that has been as controversial. It does make you wonder if they realised the full significance of this change of doctrine. On September 18th 2026 the governing body announced that now receiving blood transfusions or the giving of blood would be allowed as long as it wasn’t as whole blood but fractions thereof. By fractions they are referring to the four component parts that blood is made up of. For example, Plasma, Platelets, Red blood cells, and White blood cells. What is a bit strange with this new ruling is that in most countries when blood is given in a medical procedure, it is actually already given in specific parts rather than as a whole depending on the medical need. Generally the whole is only given in a medical crisis such as when someone has had a serious injury and the medics need to get blood back into a patient as quick as possible to keep them alive.

Only a few months previously the governing body had stated that it was okay to take your own blood, save it, and then put it back in. I suppose that would be useful if you had an operation coming up in hospital if you could get enough of your blood together beforehand – not so good if you are not in the best of health to begin with – getting enough blood together could be the thing that finishes you off.

This scenario is shocking

Imagine if you had just lost a close relative, or a close friend or even a one of your children because they didn’t receive a blood transfusion. A blood transfusion that could have saved their life, and now you find out that the governing body has totally reversed the rule (and it is a totally reversed ruling – never mind the claim about whole blood). The sense of betrayal must be overwhelming. It is heart breaking. It has been calculated that maybe 30,000 people have lost their lives because of this doctrine. Frankly that is a lot of blood on the hands of the various governing bodies over the years since this rule was made.

The claim about conscience and not ruling over the followers

This in itself is also a reversal. The worse thing that JWs fear is been removed from the fellowship. Firstly it often means been separated from family and friends, but also they lose their assurance of salvation – that is to say if they die in this condition, they suffer the same fate as a non-believer and will not enter paradise but will perish [1]. What they have said for many decades [2] is that receiving or giving blood is an offence worthy of disfellowshipping. The very thing that JWs fear the most. This rule was so strictly followed and obeyed that parents were terrified to allow their dying child a life saving transfusion in case they died and their child was condemned to be rejected by God and His salvation. Of course the parent would have also been at risk of the same condemnation but I am sure the main fear for the parent was that their child loses their salvation. Now they are turning around and saying “Since the Bible does not comment on such decisions, they are a matter of individual conscience.” They also said “Congregations do not involve themselves in personal decisions that rest with the individual conscience. We will continue to respect and support the personal decisions of our fellow believers.” [3]

This is not only a total reversal of practice on this subject but also in the past in their Watchtower publication they had clearly stated that they as Jehovah’s “faithful and discreet slave” have the role “to help Christians in all nations to understand and apply properly the Bible in their lives. Unless we are in touch with this channel of communication that God is using, we will not progress along the road to life, no matter how much Bible reading we do.” [4] So in other words, the governing body knows not only more than the JW members but even than the Bible itself. To turn around now and declare that they wouldn’t force anything upon the members that the Bible doesn’t comment on, must come as slap in the face to long term Jehovah witnesses who have trusted the leadership for many years.

The tragic thing

What I find really tragic is that this should be the end of the Watchtower organisation, but sadly it won’t be. Of course they will lose some members and possibly a lot of members but there is always a hardcore number that will remain regardless. This is a sad fact of human nature. I hope that I am proved wrong.

Lastly

I said at the outset that it wasn’t my aim to mock, but I am concerned that those JWs who see this cult for what it is and naturally are gutted by this development will not only turn their backs on this organisation but will turn their backs on anything to do with the true God. If you are one of those who has left the Watchtower Organisation then that is a reason to rejoice because now you are free of its grip on you and can now seek after the real truth. If you are really seeking after the truth and you really want to know God then my advice is to earnestly pray to him to reveal his truth to you. Remember He has promised this “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13. I also recommend throwing away your New World Translation of the Bible and start reading another translation. It could be the KJV or the NIV or another – whichever you prefer. As you read ask God to reveal to you the truth in His Word. You don’t need anybody else to tell you what it means; the author of the Bible is the best person to ask. Do not give up – your eternal destination depends on it. If you find the Lord then you will never regret it.