Christianity and Organ Donation
Christianity and Organ Donation
Organ donation and transplantation saves and heals thousands of lives every year and is a generous act supported by all major religions in the United States, including Christianity.
Can Christians Donate Organs and Tissues?
Like all major religions, organ, eye and tissue donation and transplantation is permissible within the Christian faith. Major Christian denominations also all agree that donation is an act of love. Find more information on your faith here:
People of the Christian faith are urged to follow Jesus’ example – a beacon of love who gave his life for the sake of humanity. While on earth, Jesus taught his followers to love one another, and all major Christian denominations consider organ donation as an act of love. Christians also believe in eternal life, and that the body does not impact their spiritual relationship with God. Thus, willingly giving the gift of life to others is the ultimate act of love and generosity that Christians should consider freely, without fear of affecting their relationship with God.
What Does the Bible Say About Organ Donation?
The Bible directs Christians to follow Jesus’ example, who gave his life for humanity. Just as Jesus Christ directed his disciples, Christians are encouraged to heal those who are sick. According to Matthew 10:8, Jesus said to “Heal the sick…freely ye have received, freely give.” Saving lives and healing those who are suffering is a gift of love, and donating one’s organs is one way to heal the lives of many others.
Respecting and Caring for the Deceased
Christians consider organ donation an act of love and a way of following Jesus’ example. Christians believe in eternal life, and preparing for death should not be feared. Christians believe that nothing that happens to our body, before or after death, can impact on our relationship with God.
Corinthians 6:19-20 addresses this concern of the body in relation to the spirit: “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”
Traditional funeral and burial services are important to all faith communities and Christianity is no different. Deceased donors are always treated with the utmost respect and dignity throughout the entire donation process. Rest assured, your healthcare team will do everything possible to save your life, or the life of your loved one, before ever considering organ, eye or tissue donation. If your loved one’s organs and tissues are eligible to be donated, a team of specialist surgeons show respect during the recovery process by caring for the donor in a way that still allows a traditional open casket funeral.
Why Christians Should Consider Organ Donation?
There are nearly 2,000 people in our region waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant. Making the decision to discuss organ donation with your loved ones and signing up as an organ donor brings hope to those waiting and saves lives. Learn more about Faith and Donation and how you can share your lifesaving decision with your Faith community in celebration of National Donor Sabbath.
Organ donation is the greatest act of charity and love you can perform. Get the facts about donation and sign up as an organ donor today.
