Hi Mike,
Sorry it’s been awhile since I wrote; still here and kicking.

I have been dealing with my dad and my depression. My dad didn’t really have much to do with me when I was growing up, and now he is sick. I worked for him because he needed help painting, and now he has asked me to donate a kidney to him.
He is starting dialysis next week and so now I have to decide. I still have trouble driving distances unless someone drives me, but if one of my children get this disease, I won’t have one for them since it runs in the family.
So if someone asks for something, do we have to do it? Any words from you would be of great comfort.

Your sister in Christ,
T___

Hi T____,
It is good to hear from you, even under such dire circumstances.

Thank you for your question concerning what the scriptures say about donating our organs to others.
The first thing I want to say is that the take by the Jehovah’s witnesses on this subject is incredibly lacking in spiritual understanding and has nothing to do with the true meaning of the verse in Acts which they us for their argument that it is wrong to donate even blood.

Act 15:20  But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

The spiritual application would be to abstain from the spiritual shedding of blood by spiritually killing God’s elect, but this has nothing to do with donating blood to a person who has been in an accident and is in need of the same blood type you may happen to have.
Like many others I have given much thought to this subject and have searched diligently concerning what the scriptures say pertaining to the giving and receiving of human organs, and while it was not even a possibility in Biblical times, it is possible today, and when it is done out of love, it is certainly Biblical to do so. There is not one of the words of love in the commandments of God which prohibits the giving of blood to save the life of an accident victim or the giving of an organ to save the life of a family member or a friend.
Look at this verse from God’s spirit via the pen of the apostle Paul.

Gal 4:13  Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.
Gal 4:14  And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
Gal 4:15  Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.

The willingness to give one’s organs to another is called “blessedness”. Of course it is a figure of speech just as “the shirt off your back” is a figure of speech. But James makes this statement:

Jas 2:15  If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
Jas 2:16  And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
Jas 2:17  Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

You mention that your father “didn’t have much to do with you while you were growing up.” I can identify with you in that regard inasmuch as my mother had very little to do with me while I was growing up. But that should not influence our decisions regarding doing what is right. All men, “the least of these”, Christ considered to be His brothers. That is the message of the parable of the good Samaritan.

Mat 25:40  And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

I have two dear brothers in Christ who are at this very moment suffering the ravages of advanced cancer. To use the apostle’s words, “If it were possible” I would gladly donate my own organs for their well being.
Christ tells us all to “try the spirits to see whether they are of God”. So we always want to do that, but that does not mean that carnal men who are not yet given eyes to see the deep things of the spirit cannot see the obvious truths of the milk of God’s Word and even lay down their lives for their friends.
Well, I do not pretend to be anything more than what God has made me, and I certainly do not claim to know much about the wonders of the human body. But I do know enough to know that you can donate a kidney and still live a normal healthy life while contributing to the quality of life of another. I also know that you cannot contribute your heart to another without dying. Christ gave His life for all mankind according to God’s plan and purpose, and we are to “present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy acceptable unto God…”

Rom 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

My mother was very much a part of what we know to be Babylon, but if she had needed a kidney I would not have hesitated to give her one of my two kidneys. It would be completely wrong to do such a thing for money or with any personal gain in mind, or for that matter even for personal recognition. But if this is done in good faith for no other reason than to help your father out of a spirit of love, it is not only permissible, but it would be Biblically commendable.
Consider the scriptures I have given you, and if you still have a question, then please get back to me. Please understand that I am simply answering you because you asked this question. I am answering according to the measure of faith I have been given, and I am not asking you to act on matters that are beyond your own “measure of faith”. Put the welfare of your own family first. I know you have children at home, so if you simply cannot do this without disrupting your family, then do not feel that we are commanded to destroy our own family to help those who are outside our families. That is both a physical and spiritual principle.

Gal 6:10  As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

Please do not do anything unless or until you are completely convinced that it is the right and proper thing to do.

Rom 14:23  And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

You are in my prayers that God will give you the wisdom and the peace of mind to make the right decision according to the faith you have been given.

Jas 1:5  If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

Your brother in Christ,
Mike