As Christians we know that giving is a central component of the way we live our lives in accordance with Christ's example. But although we're accustomed to giving money during the offering, to charitable causes and making material donations to those in need, one aspect that we might not have considered is the donation of our blood and organs.
The Church of England's General Synod is meeting this week and one of the topics due to be discussed is organ donation. The Church aims to encourage Christians to make donating blood and organs a part of their "Christian duty", referring to it as a "sacrificial offering".
Becoming a living sacrifice is explored in a different sense in Romans 12:1-2: "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God - this is your true and proper worship." Here Paul is talking about offering our lives to God, but could this also support our decision to become a donor?
The need for blood and organ donations is greater than ever, with the numbers of donors having decreased in the last few years. But the prospect of donating can alarm some Christians because they think that doing so contradicts with the belief that our bodies are sacred and belong to God.
It's undeniable that our lives our sacred. The nature of our lives and their inherent value is celebrated throughout the Bible. And with this, so are the lives of others. "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends," (John 15:13). Jesus paid the ultimate sacrifice by dying on the cross for us. We'll never be able to give a gift as great as this, but we can follow the example of doing what we can to safeguard the lives of our friends. And, of course, when we say friends we're not referring solely to the people we know and love. Jesus taught us to love our neighbour and to do what we can to preserve the life of a stranger (Luke 10:30-37), and organ donation can provide us with the opportunity to act this out.
No one can force you to donate your blood or organs but the prospect is something to think about. If you do choose to become a donor, there is plenty to draw on in Scripture to help you understand that your decision aligns well within the context of the principles of Biblical teaching.
