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| Sacred Text That Can Be Used As a Guide to Organ & Tissue Donation |
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Judaism and Christianity
Transplants are not specifically mentioned in most sacred texts because they are a very recent development. However, there is nothing that would prevent them. The timeless content of the texts speak to donation in principle. The following references can guide our thinking and actions on organ and tissue donation. |
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| Prayer Book |
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| Genesis 2:20-30 |
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Bone Transplant: A rib taken from Adam to give life to Eve |
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| Leviticus 1:7 |
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"Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." |
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| Deuteronomy 30:15-20 |
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"Choose life so that you and your descendant may live." |
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| Psalm 8 |
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"How majestic is your name in all the earth!" |
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| Psalm 41 |
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Images of healing Lord |
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| Psalm 100 |
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Psalm of praise and thanksgiving |
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| Psalm 107 |
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"Consider the steadfast love of the Lord." |
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| Psalm 111 |
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"I give thanks to the Lord." |
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| Psalm 113 |
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Praises to the Lord |
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| Psalm 116 |
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"O Lord, I pray, save my life!" |
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| Psalm 145 |
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"The Lord is gracious and merciful." |
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| Psalm 147 |
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"Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving." |
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| Ecclesiastes 3:1-17 |
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"For everything there is a season…" |
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| Isaiah 35:1-6 |
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"Strengthen the weak hands and make firm the feeble knees." "the eyes of the blind shall be opened…" |
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| Isaiah 40:31 |
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"But those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength…they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." |
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| Ezekiel 37 |
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The valley of dry bones: "These bones shall live." |
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Judaism
We do the best homage to our dead when we live our lives most fully, even in the shadow of our loss. For each of our lives is worth the life of the whole world; in each one is the breath of the Ultimate One. In affirming the One, we affirm the worth of each one whose life, now ended, brought us closer to the Source of Life, in whose unity no one is alone and every life finds purpose.
(Rabbi Richard N. Levy)
Unison Reading:
Birth is a beginning and death is a destination. And life is a journey:
From childhood to maturity and youth to age;
From innocence to awareness and ignorance to knowing;
From foolishness to discretion and then, perhaps, to wisdom;
From weakness to strength or strength to weakness. And, often, back again;
From loneliness to love, from joy to gratitude, from pain to compassion,
From grief to understanding, from fear to faith;
From defeat to defeat to defeat. Until looking backward or ahead,
We see that victory lies not at some high place along the way,
But in having made the journey, stage by stage a sacred pilgrimage.
Birth is a beginning and death is a destination.
And life is a journey, a sacred pilgrimage - to life everlasting.
(Rabbi Alvin Fine) |
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Old and New Testaments Scriptures
The following scriptures are selected because of their message of giving, healing and understanding of the relationship between human beings. They could be used as calls to worship, responsive readings, affirmations of faith, etc. Be creative; use these or other scriptures in your formal and informal worship gatherings to share the good news of God and the blessing of God on healing. This list is not meant to be exhausted but is meant as a starting point for worship resources and possible sermon ideas. |
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| Genesis 2: 20-30 |
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Luke 6: 31-38 |
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Luke 14: 12 -14 |
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Ecclesiastes 3:1-17 |
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| Psalm 8 |
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Psalm 100 |
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Psalm 116 |
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Deuteronomy 30:15- 20 |
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| 1 John 4: 7-12 |
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Matthew 10: 1-8 |
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Matthew 25: 31-46 |
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Mark 3: 1-5 |
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| Psalm 23 |
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Psalm 103 |
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Psalm 121 |
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Luke 6: 37 -38 |
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| John 14:12 |
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Luke 3:10 - 11 |
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Romans 8: 28 - 39 |
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John 3: 16- 17 |
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| Psalm 34 |
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Psalm 107 |
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Psalm 145 |
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11 Corinthians 9: 6- 8 |
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| John 15: 12-17 |
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Luke 4: 16-21 |
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1Corinthians 1: 45-58 |
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James 5: 13 -16 |
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| Psalm 41 |
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Psalm 111 |
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Psalm 146 |
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Ezekiel 37 |
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| Matthew 7: 7-12 |
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Luke 6: 43a |
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Isaiah 35: 1- 6 |
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| Psalm 82 |
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Psalm 113 |
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Psalm 147 |
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Suggested Hymns*
The following list of hymns is a start in your efforts to locate appropriate hymns from your own religious tradition that bring the message of hope and giving that organ and tissue donation and transplantation provide. |
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| I'll Praise My Maker While I've Breath |
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Jesus, United By Thy Grace |
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| Amazing Grace |
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Lift Up Our Hearts, O King Of Kings |
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| Heavenly Father, Bless Me Now |
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O Son Of Man, Thou Modest Known |
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| Come Sinners, To the Gospel Feast |
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The Voice Of God is Calling |
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| Jesus, Lover Of My Soul |
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O Thou Who Art The Shepherd |
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| Have Thine Own Way, Lord |
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Open My Eyes, That I May See |
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| Immortal Love, Forever Full |
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Blest Be The Tide That Binds |
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| Hope Of The World |
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Jesus, Lord, We Look To Thee |
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| O Young And Fearless Prophet |
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O Lord, Whose Will is Life |
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| We Give Thee But Thine Own |
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What Wondrous Love is This |
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| Take My Life And Let it Be Consecrated |
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Lord, Whose Love Through Humble Service |
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| * Contributed by Tennessee Donor Services |
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Biblical Principles Supporting Donation*
Organ and tissue transplants are not mentioned specifically in the Bible because they are a very recent development. However, there is nothing in the Bible that would prevent them. The timeless content of the scriptures speaks to donation in principle. The following scriptures can guide our thinking and actions on organ donation. |
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| Genesis 2: 20 - 30 |
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The first transplant: A rib taken from Adam to create Eve. |
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| Ezekiel 37 |
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The Valley of Dry Bones, "These bones shall live." |
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| Matthew 5: 7 |
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"Blessed are the merciful." |
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| Matthew 7: 7 |
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"Ask… seek… knock." |
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| Matthew 7: 12 |
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"Whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, do ye even so to them." |
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| Matthew 10: 8 |
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"Heal The Sick, … freely ye have received, freely give." |
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| Leviticus 1: 7 |
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"Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." |
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| Mark 9: 47 |
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We can enter heaven without having every part of our bodies present. |
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| Luke 6: 37-38 |
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"Give and it shall be given unto you." |
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| John 3: 16-17 |
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"God so loved the world that he gave …" |
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| John 10: 10 |
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"Give life that others may live more abundantly." |
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| John 15: 12-13 |
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"Greater love has no man…" |
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| 1 John 4: 14 |
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"If God so loved us, we ought also to love one another." |
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| Revelation 21: 4 -5 |
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In eternity we will not need our earthly bodies: "Former things will pass away, all things will be made new." |
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| * Contributed by Mid- America Transplant Services |
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