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QUESTION BOX

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QUESTION BOX

3 minuten leestijd Arcering uitzetten

S. of V. would like to know whether heart transplants are permitted according to the Word of God.

Answer: Here we come upon a very difficult territory, for the responsibility of deciding whether or not to perform this serious operation rests not only upon the patient, but also upon the surgeon. It is most significant, because doctors declare that if “all” the symptoms of death are present, such a heart cannot function for another, so that it cannot be used for a transplant. In taking a heart for a transplant they ascertain death by the signs of death in the brain, but not in the heart, though the latter are decisive in determining the state of death. But here we may ask the question whether it has never happened that the symptoms of death were determined in the brain, but not in the heart, and that such a person revived and remained alive! But is it then not a murder to remove the heart of such a person, and does not the patient who agrees to it shorten his own life, even if the act is done by another?

Is there not in transplanting an encroaching upon the work of God Who has life and death in His hands and never gave the disposition of it to men? Another objection to consider is whether it is permitted to take “the heart”, the essential sign of life and plant it in another.

Does this agree with what David said, “My times, and that means especially of birth and of death, are in Thy hands,” since in transplants they seek to plant the seat of life, that is most personal, into another. Does this agree with 1 Corinthians 15 where Paul states that God gives “to every seed his own body”. 1 Corinthians 15:38. Does that not include the heart?

We cannot see otherwise but that it is an encroaching upon the providence of God, that governs the life and death of everyone. Job says it clearly: “Seeing his days are determined and the number of his months are with Thee. Thou has appointed his bounds that he cannot pass”. Job 14:5

God’s Word speaks of it in very many places that a man’s life is inseperable from his heart.

Does not the Lord say of Israel: “O that there were such a heart in them that they would fear Me!” Deuteronomy 5:29

Happy are they who do not consider their lives dependent upon the wisdom and skill of men, however great their knowledge may become; but by Divine, regenerating grace have given their heart to the Lord, that by a mysterious implantation in Christ they may live forever in Him.

Rev. L. Ryksen of Rotterdam
Translated from “De Saambinder”

AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT

Since it would not be possible to acknowledge each individually we take this opportunity to thank the friends of the Banner and those churches who recently sent contributions to help us meet our obligations. Thanks to them we were able to close the year without debt. It is heartening to us who help produce our church paper to receive this assistance and evidence of appreciation.

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Bekijk de hele uitgave van woensdag 1 januari 1969

The Banner of Truth | 20 Pagina's

QUESTION BOX

Bekijk de hele uitgave van woensdag 1 januari 1969

The Banner of Truth | 20 Pagina's