On Friday evening, Christie received a text letting us know that a Bayside Church member had just collapsed and was being rushed to the hospital. It was Craig weir, husband of Onida Weir (Bayside Church’s children’s ministry leader). By Sunday afternoon Craig had passed away. He was 47.

Over my 35 years in pastoral ministry, I have been with many people when they’ve died. I’ve conducted dozens of funerals, I’ve walked the journey of grief with lots of people. Death is always sad, although the death of a person ripe in years or someone who’s suffered pain from a terminal illness is often merciful. But the passing of one so young seems unfathomable.

I’m writing this blog as my tribute to Craig Lyndon Weir ((13/06/1973 – 14/02/2021). He and I used to joke about our yearly breakfast catch-up. “Hey, Rob,” he’d say in his South African accent. “It must be nearly time for our annual breaky.” Our last one was early March last year, just before the first lockdown. It crossed my mind a week or two ago that we were about due for another catch-up. Sadly, that is not to be.

Craig was a gentle man with a great sense of humour renowned for his dad jokes, much like my own! He loved his wife and kids, his family and friends. And it’s that which I’d like to focus on here. Even in death, he gave the gift of life to others.

In discussion with Christie, Onida and the kids decided on the weekend to donate Craig’s organs. Amid their grief, they decided that Craig would want to be as generous in death as he was in life.

Having said their goodbyes, they left Craig in the caring hands of skilled surgeons and DonateLife Victoria. Over the next couple of days, Craig’s body gave life to a man who would have died if it were not for Craig’s healthy heart being made available to him. I am told that this man and his family are rejoicing.

Two people received his corneas and the gift of improved eyesight and the resulting quality of life. One of his kidneys, as well as his liver, was also donated. His pancreas was given for diabetes research, as were his lungs, some bone marrow, and blood.

Bayside Church’s Vision includes the words, “To courageously love.” To me, the act of generosity displayed by Onida and her family powerfully typify courageous love. Onida shared with me yesterday how she had powerfully experienced the presence of God. And that in grief, she had discovered the truth of these words: “For I will turn their mourning into joy and will comfort them and give them joy for their sorrow” (Jeremiah 31:13).

I’ve been pondering how in life joy and sadness; happiness and grief are often so intertwined. At most funerals, there are things said in a eulogy that make people laugh and cry. A few days ago, a grieving family made decisions that brought great joy to others. And isn’t that a stunning picture of the Christian gospel? The life and death of the man Jesus has brought so much life and joy to millions over two millennia.

A decade ago, I made the decision to become an organ donor. It was around this time of year in the season of Lent. Lent is about giving up something, so others don’t have to. In the past, I’d gone without coffee for 40 days and donated that money to our Forever Home for boys in South Africa. Organ donation is the gift you decide in life so that your death reflects the generosity by which you’ve lived.

In this Lenten season, why not register to become an organ donor? It’s so simple Donate Life today.

Organ donation gives another chance at life to those people who would otherwise die. Jesus taught the Golden Rule, “in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you” (Matthew 7:12). If I – or Christie or our kids – was dying and an organ transplant could save a life, I would be so grateful if a donor was available. If I would want others to do that for me, why wouldn’t I reciprocate? Organ donation is one of the few acts for which people will remember you. We will certainly remember Craig Weir for this and a whole lot more!

Some Christians may fail to donate organs because of the idea that a total body will be necessary at the resurrection.  The view is that, at the resurrection the risk exists of someone’s body missing vital organs or, worse still, organs flying out of the recipients and finding their home once again in the donor!  This concern can be quickly squashed by a proper understanding of 1 Corinthians 15:35-49 which teaches that there is a tremendous difference between the physical body at death, which may be buried, cremated and return to dust (Genesis 3:19), and the spiritual body of the resurrection.

Others may be concerned that organ donation and transplantation is interfering with the natural order.  Some people feel that organ transplantation is contrary to natural law, supporting the concept on the basis of the inevitable rejection by one’s body of a newly transplanted organ or tissue.  Developing technology, however, has decreased the risks of rejection.  In the early 17th century the practice of blood transfusions resulted in many deaths because incompatible blood was given.  Then in 1900 Karl Landsteiner discovered blood types and thus eliminated the extreme risks involved in transfusions.  Technological advances continue to eliminate the rejection of organs through closely screening donors and recipients, and then developing medications that will combat specific rejection of the transplanted organs.

It is my belief that the Bible supports medical, technological and scientific breakthroughs.  In Genesis 1:28 God commands humanity to “kabash”, or to take charge of the earth.  The Bible also gives many accounts of intervention to extend life or improve its quality.  One example is Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead (John 11:1-44).  This event extended Lazarus’s life and gave him and his family new opportunities.  The Gospel accounts record 23 times that Jesus healed or raised someone from the dead (see John 4:46-53; Matthew 8:2-4; Mark 2:3-12; Luke 18:35-43 and John 5:1-9).  Old Testament passages also offer support for prolongation of life.  Elijah prayed to God and the life of the dead child for whom he prayed was restored (1 Kings 17:19-22).  Elisha performed a similar act, as life miraculously returned to a dead child (2 Kings 4:32-35).

The other reason why I believe the Bible sanctions organ donation is the repeated command to “Love your neighbour as yourself.”  One way to express this love is through modern technology that makes organ donation and transplantation possible.  The parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) demonstrated the standard that everyone is a neighbour and that people should be willing to love in a way that meets the needs of their neighbour.  This includes giving first aid and the best health care possible. The Good Samaritan bandaged wounds, poured on oil and transported the injured man for help. Anointing with oil was the best medical care available in Jesus’ day and this testifies to the importance of medical care along with prayer.  Today prolonging life through the best medical technology available and with the power of prayer should be the focus of every person in a similar situation.

Organ donation gives another chance at life to those people who would otherwise die.  Jesus taught the Golden Rule, “in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you” (Matthew 7:12).  If I – or my wife or children – was dying and an organ transplant could save a life then I would be so grateful if a donor was available.  If I would want others to do that for me why wouldn’t I reciprocate?  Organ donation is one of the few acts for which people will remember you even after you are dead.  Any person can give a new life to at least five individuals.  Last year I registered as an organ donor.  Will you join me?

http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/public/services/aodr/index.jsp

http://www.donatelife.gov.au/Discover.html

The Victorian State Government is considering a “presumed consent” system for organ donation to replace the current system.  At present, people who want to donate their organs at death need to register their intentions.  In the new system, it would be presumed that everyone consents to donate their organs unless they specify otherwise.  Western Australia is currently introducing presumed consent.  This has been standard practice in Spain, France, Belgium and Sweden for some time.

I think this is an excellent idea because right now, only one in 10 Victorian adults are registered organ donors – and many of those never have their final wishes fulfilled because grieving families often block the wishes of the deceased.  Currently, about 1,700 Australians are waiting for organ donations.  Last year only 309 donors gave organs that saved 931 recipients.  So, what is a Christian view of organ donation?

Many Christians may fail to donate organs because of the idea that a total body will be necessary at the resurrection.  Carroll Simcox in “The Case of the Missing Liver” addresses this concern (to view this article, click on the link at the end of this blog).  The view is that, at the resurrection the risk exists of someone’s body missing vital organs or, worse still, organs flying out of the recipients and finding their home once again in the donor!  This concern can be quickly squashed by a proper understanding of 1 Corinthians 15:35-49 which teaches that there is a tremendous difference between the physical body at death, which may be buried, cremated and return to dust (Genesis 3:19), and the spiritual body of the resurrection.

Others may be concerned that organ donation and transplantation is interfering with the natural order.  Some people feel that organ transplantation is contrary to natural law, supporting the concept on the basis of the inevitable rejection by one’s body of a newly transplanted organ or tissue. Developing technology, however, has decreased the risks of rejection. In the early 17th century the practice of blood transfusions resulted in many deaths because incompatible blood was given. Then in 1900 Karl Landsteiner discovered blood types and thus eliminated the extreme risks involved in transfusions. Technological advances continue to eliminate the rejection of organs through closely screening donors and recipients, and then developing medications that will combat specific rejection of the transplanted organs.

It is my belief that the Bible supports medical, technological and scientific breakthroughs.  In Genesis 1:28 God commands humanity to kabash, or take charge of earth.  The Bible also gives many accounts of intervention to extend life or improve its quality.  One example is Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead (John 11:1-44). This event extended Lazarus’s life and gave him and his family new opportunities. The Gospel accounts record 23  times that Jesus healed or raised someone from the dead (see John 4:46-53; Matthew 8:2-4; Mark 2:3-12; Luke 18:35-43 and John 5:1-9). Old Testament passages also offer support for prolongation of life. Elijah prayed to God, and the life of the dead child for whom he prayed was restored (1 Kings 17:19-22). Elisha performed a similar act, as life miraculously returned to a dead child (2 Kings 4:32-35).

The other reason why I believe the Bible sanctions organ donation is the repeated command to “Love your neighbour as yourself.” One way to express this love is through modern technology that makes organ donation and transplantation possible. The parable of the good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) demonstrated the standard that everyone is a neighbour and that people should be willing to love in a way that meets the needs of their neighbour. This includes giving first aid and the best health care possible. The good Samaritan bandaged wounds, poured on oil and transported the injured man for help. Archibald Robertson says that anointing with oil was the best medical care available in Jesus’ day and that this formula testifies to the importance of medical care along with prayer. Today prolonging life through the best medical technology available and with the power of prayer should be the focus of every person in a similar situation.

Organ donation gives another chance at life to those people who would otherwise die.  Jesus taught the Golden Rule, “in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you” (Matthew 7:12).  If I – or my wife or children – was dying and an organ transplant could save a life then I would be so grateful if a donor was available.  If I would want others to do that for me why wouldn’t I reciprocate? Organ donation is one of the few acts for which people will remember you even after you are dead.  Any person can give a new life to at least five individuals.  I’m registering as an organ donor as one of my goals for 2011.  Will you join me?

http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/public/services/aodr/index.jsp

http://www.donatelife.gov.au/Discover.html

http://www.religiononline.org/showarticle.asp?title=1000