To be a donor, or not?

Is organ donation, or being an organ donor, compatible with the Christian life? I had someone ask me about this the other day, and after giving my response I thought I’d write a little blog about it in case anyone else had the same question. From what I can gather, the Bible does not specifically address the issue of organ donation. Organ transplants (like other modern technologies and advances) would have been unknown during Bible times. However, the scriptures is a unified drama that tells a unified story, with an overriding unifying message about love and redemption. When addressing issues such as this, we can look at verses that address the underlying principle that is needed. That being the case, here are some that in my opinion apply. Love and compassion are large, overriding principles of the Bible, therefore some compelling arguments for organ donation is the love and compassion that such an act demonstrates toward others. The command to "love your neighbor" was given by Jesus (Matthew 5:43), Paul (Romans 13:9), and James (James 2:8), but it can actually be traced all the way back to Leviticus 19:18. From the earliest days in the Old Testament, God's people were commanded to demonstrate a love for God as well as for their neighbors. We can use that principle to state that being willing to donate an organ from our own bodies would seem to be an marvelous example of selfless sacrifice for another. (Side Note: I want to be clear, each person has to make this decision with regards to their own sensibilities. We are not commanded to donate organs, but if you feel the desire to do so there is no argument against it that I can find in scripture. And if donating is not your thing, then don’t)


Getting on with it, the greatest example of sacrificing for another is the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made as He gave up His body for all of humanity. John summed up the command well when he wrote, "Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another" (1 John 4:11). Jesus not only conveyed this message of unconditional love, He also taught us to care for the hungry, thirsty, homeless, naked, sick, and imprisoned (Matthew 25:35-46). Jesus said "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me" (Matthew 25:40). If a practice or procedure is not clearly in conflict with biblical principles, then it can be considered permissible and can be supported by faithful Christians.
There are several other topics that can be touched upon here related to organ harvesting. fetal tissue, mutilation of the body, keeping the body intact, etc., etc., etc. I am not going to address those now for the sake of brevity. But just to restate and be clear, a thorough reading and understanding of scripture demonstrates that being an organ donor is not in conflict with a Christian worldview and is therefore acceptable and permissible to faithful Christians.

“The greatest love you can show is to give your life for your friends…” John 15:13 (GWT)