What does the Bible teach
about ORGAN DONATIONS?

Q. Is there anything in the Old Testament or New Testament regarding DONATING ORGANS so that others may live? Is it against God's will and a SIN?

(Submitted by: B. B.)

A. Jesus, our Lord and Master, gave us a sense of the worth of body parts:

"If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away.  It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.  And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away.  It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell. " (Matthew 5:29-30, NIV throughout)

The apostle Paul, who was taught personally by Jesus, gave us instruction about the uses of our bodies:

"Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life;  and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness." (Romans 6:13)

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God -- this is your spiritual act of worship." (Romans 12:1)

Jesus also gave us this definition of love:

"My command is this:  Love each other as I have loved you.  Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:12-13)

God said to the first man — the one He created:

"By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken;  for dust you are and to dust you will return." (Genesis 3:19)

The donation of body organs is, of course, a personal choice each of us has to make but a good case can be made that allowing them to be used in keeping other people alive, or to allow them to see, or allow them to be more healthy, is better than allowing them to turn to dust.