Regardless of these differences, decisions should be grounded in faith, and with trust in the Lord for whatever the outcome may be. Some people lost jobs, while careers in healthcare ramped up dramatically. Nothing outside a man can make him "unclean" by going into him. Today this American approach to reading and the interpreting the Bible is front and center in the arguments made by evangelical Christians seeking religious exemptions to COVID-19 vaccination mandates. ", (Excerpted from "Should Christians Get Vaccinated?" Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning, Bible Verses about Coronavirus: Scripture Quotes on Plagues, End Times and God's Judgment. In total, 1,422 of the requests had been approved and 1,710 had been denied as of Nov. 28, said Mitch Schwartz, a City Hall spokesperson. Coopers letter makes the case for allowing inoculation as a legitimate means to avoid suffering and preserve life. These numbers are a snapshot in time they are constantly moving as agencies process the requests, Schwartz said. I have faith in the body that God gave me to fight Covid. The Bible calls the human body "a temple of the Holy Spirit." The New Testament makes multiple references likening the human body to a temple. When Does Forgiveness Not Lead to Reconciliation? Did God Send the Coronavirus as a Biblical Plague from Revelation? We can easily select and interpret Bible verses that agree with our individual mindsets regarding vaccines. Press Releases. When I studied the beautifully written book of Job, I heard Gods answer to Jobs misery over losses in health, property, and family. I have worked on my health with the great help of a medical community. So, I kept cross-country skiing, kayaking, and hiking with difficulty. by Clarence Haynes Jr.). One interpretation of this verse could be that vaccinations serve the common good. He rescues me unharmed" (Psalm 55:4-5, 16-18). From my perspective, the response of some evangelicals to the vaccine reveals the dark side of the Protestant Reformation. cxxi. This is why, when appealing to religious liberty as the basis for an exemption, Christians should proceed carefully. Dr. David Jeremiah Turning Point. With science and scripture, a Baltimore pastor is fighting Covid-19 vaccine skepticism. In the latest U.S. Supreme Court action on the matter, Justice Stephen Breyer rejected a filing by eight hospital staffers in Massachusetts seeking to block a vaccine mandate. Our view and understanding of people going through a similar situation are forever changed. They make this argument for a variety of reasons. Hundreds of people demonstrated against vaccine mandates during a protest outside City Hall, Nov. 3, 2021. As Luke 17:21 says, "the kingdom of God is within you.". Protestants believed that the former approach was more compatible with the spirit of American liberty. A former high school English teacher and editor, she works on writing projects from her home in West Michigan, where she enjoys woods, water, pets, and family. In the incredible wonder, beauty, and complexity of creation, there is chaos. On March 22, 1758, Edwards died after receiving the smallpox inoculation. You can join the F.A.M. I have the right to do anythingbut I will not be mastered by anything. Prayer makes the distinction between right and wrong for you and your health situation much clearer. On a Friday evening in April, the Supreme Court quietly issued a short decision that opened the floodgates for religious entities to claim an exemption from just about any law. When I ask those evangelicals who oppose vaccines how they come to their conclusions, they all seem to cite the same sources: Fox News, or a host of fringe media personalities whom they watch on cable television or Facebook. But if were being honest, the novel coronavirus has impacted us all in vastly different ways. Compiled by The BibleStudyTools Staff I stay close to God through prayer and reflection. Here are six important things you need to know: Christy Edwards. [6.] [4] William Cooper. In Philippians 2:4, the apostle Paul says, "Make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind." This epidemic would take 844 lives before it came to an end. Read more from Dr. Second, God frequently, in the Bible, calls us to do things and avoid things that are very costly to us personally, in order to demonstrate that Christ and his ways are more precious to us than safety or security or comfort, and that we sacrifice in order to do what's right. During Jesus ministry on earth, someone in the crowd asked him for advice on eating meat offered to pagan idols. New York State has removed its religious exemption option for health care workers, and . Number one, the currently sanctioned vaccines for Covid-19 interfere with the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27) [19] in an essential way which impacts the body-soul unity. Perhaps the chief design of this trying hour, if it comes, may be to show me more of his wisdom, power, and love, than I have ever yet experienced. Some houses are buzzing with kids home from school with no activities to attend, while other homes are unbearably quiet and lonely. Today this American approach to reading and interpreting the Bible is front and center in the arguments made by evangelical Christians seeking religious exemptions to COVID-19 vaccination mandates. You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Our religion is predicated on the protection and preservation of health. It's no wonder because Psalm 91 is literally the 9-1-1 to our mighty God. No matter where you find yourself today, we hope one of these verses reaches you in your exact situation and season. of How do we deal with the dilemma of choosing how to use medical intervention to care for our bodies? . One particular moment that is worth noting during a subsequent smallpox outbreak is the death of Jonathan Edwards. In Washington the process to receive a religious exemption from the COVID-19 vaccine is determined by the individual human resources department of the agency, school district or health care . All rights reserved. As for city employees, their religious and medical exemption applications are reviewed by each agencys Equal Opportunity Commission officer and human resources staffer. According to Dr. Roger Barrier on Crosswalk.com, "Jesus often described the End Times as being birth pangs. Just as labor pains grow stronger and closer together, God will allow escalation in trials of all kinds to bring men to Christ. Religious exemptions are not obligated. Religious and medical exemptions might provide some people with accommodations to the vaccine mandates, but they are not guaranteed to work. My prescription is to read Dr. Watts, Psa. The verse says, If my people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turned from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. This passage is often quoted without looking at the context. Who Are the Four Horsemen in Revelation? The Number of Rent-Stabilized Apartments Registered in Ridgewood Plummeted. Photo credit: GettyImages/Richard Johnson. Laycock believes that, under current precedent, employers could make a successful case against offering any religious exemptions to COVID-19 vaccine mandates. According to these ultraconservative Protestant Christian groups that thrive in the southern and southeastern US the so-called ' Bible belt' the entire Covid-19 induced pandemic is a hoax. You should do the same. Yet another letter writer wraps medical misinformation in a cloak of religious belief.. In fact, the purpose of the Tribulation itself is to bring pressure for men to surrender to Jesus and find salvation." One of the few ways to avoid the tyrannical Covid measures being imposed on the public is through the use of religious exemptions. So, do not. But not with just a verse or two from the psalms, or even just one psalmbut with psalms. This is a good case . The method used by Boylston would deliberately infect healthy persons with a live smallpox virus. The church has determined 'Covid' to be a fake plague no more dangerous than the flu and that the measures being used for the first time in history to 'combat it' are Satanically-inspired and contravene New Testament scripture - by design. Perhaps the journey through bad health is a gift for all of us. In the NYPD, 6,170 officers filed exemption applications, 1,850 in the FDNY, 550 at the Human Resources Administration and Department of Social Services, and 380 at the Department of Environmental Protection, according to city records. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10, If youre doing just fineRemember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. In addition to this, Massey argued that medical practitioners are assuming the role of God in intentionally giving the disease to their patients. In addition, priests should be allowed to. Bible verses about the "mark of the beast," which Maldonado pointed to in his Sunday sermon, warn Christians about a future where the Antichrist takes over the world economy and prevents people who don't have that mark from buying or selling food. Impact Report, Substantial Rehabilitations Could Help Explain Why. A nonprofit worker contracted with the city claimed a religious exemption to the vaccine mandate. There were also queries tied to justice, racism and oppression in the week following George Floyds death. Luke 21:11 - And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven. During this period, the United States also grew more democratic. During this Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, many people are turning to the Word of God for guidance and comfort in these tumultuous times. The Department of Health also participates in cases involving medical accommodation requests. We hope it can direct you toward scriptural truths about plagues and a study of the Book of Revelation. Today the . This verse has been a mantra for me since I was diagnosed with a severe health problem in middle age, pre-COVID. Paul preached to the rowdy citizens of Corinth in 1 Corinthians 6:12, I have the right to do anything, you saybut not everything is beneficial. Other popular passages include Psalm 30:2: Lord, I called to you for help, and you healed me.; 1 Corinthians 6:19: Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit?; and Leviticus 17:11: For the life of a creature is in the blood.. Jesus went around healing lepers and touched them without fear of getting leprosy, he said. Amid this flux of ideas, what hasnt changed is the Bibles advice regarding the care of our bodies. [5] Sereno Edwards Dwight, The Works of President Edwards with a Memoir of His Life, 10 vols., (New York: S. Converse, 1829). If they obey the convent, they will prosper in the land. We might have lopped the illness off at its knees if every part of society locked down for two weeks at the beginning of 2020. The Bible says, "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin" (James 4:17 KJV). Throughout the ages, God's Word has been a source of hope in troubled times. By Amy Sokolow. The reason God loves us is that His nature is love. I read the verse in the chapter and book context and realized there was no mention of physical illness in chapter 17 of Jeremiahs prophecy. I certainly dont have the answers to solving these huge problems. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. You can opt out at any time. Their Meaning and Significance During Apocalypse. The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. (1 Peter 5:7) 7. Battery Energy Storage Systems Will Make the City Greener and Theyre a Lot Safer Than E-Bike Batteries, Motorists Say E-ZPass Routinely Racks Up Unfair Fees for Unpaid Tolls. [7] John Newton, The Works of John Newton, 4 vols., (Edinburg: The Banner of Truth Trust, 2015), 617-619. It does not address them as those came out late 2020 and really started being pushed in 2021. May the church recover and exercise the doctrine of liberty of conscience, and may our healthcare decisions be made in faith for the glory of God. Jeffrey Denny. Staffers waiting for a response on their exemptions remain on the payroll and working while other anti-vaxxers who did not file exemption requests have been put on unpaid leave. If a person should talk to me in this strain, most certainly I could not say, Notwithstanding all this, your safest way is to be inoculated. There are also a lot of Bible verses exhorting believers to "do not fear," "do not be afraid." That's been a really common theme in objections to a lot of the pandemic restrictions. This imagery comes from Daniel 8 where Daniel sees a vision of a ram with two horns. Clarence Haynes Jr. suggests that based on Paul's advice about "disputable matters" in Romans 14:1-4, Christians should remember the following in disputes about vaccines: "The most important thing to remember is that the ones making this vaccination decision are not your servants, they are Gods. He warns us against fear because it can get in the way of the blessings and answered prayers that are in store for us. The argument seems to be that being injected with one of the available COVID vaccineswhich are characterized as manifestly unsafe or, at best, risky experimental potionswould defile the Holy Spirit's dwelling. Why Did Pharaoh Tell Joseph to Enjoy the 'Fat of the Land'? In the 16th century, Martin Luther and other Protestant reformers translated the Bible from an already existing Greek text into the languages of common people. Many people believe it means that if we, as Christians in this country, start to pray, things will get better, leading to peace and prosperity. Meanwhile, a Nov. 28 ruling by a federal appellate court will allow 15 Department of Education employees whose religious exemption requests were denied to reapply. But the president's mandate goes even further. I prayed this verse daily, driving to work, sitting on my couch. While many things continue to remain outside of our control, many find comfort in scripture to cope with difficult circumstances and face the unknown. Others, in application of the doctrine of the sanctity of life,will refuse AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson, while choosing Pfizer or Moderna, or rejecting them altogether. Rather, I am arguing for the liberty of conscience. As mandates multiply across society, how should one respond? However, if ones application of Scripture, wisdom, and conscience leads one to decline a particular medical treatment, this is an application of the doctrine of liberty of conscience. The company also noted that searches spiked parallel to major events. Perhaps you have a more sophisticated form of this objection. A reply to the objections made against taking the small pox in the way of inoculation from principles of conscience (Boston: Stationers Arms, 1730). It was in the midst of this public health crisis that Cotton Mather began to promote an experimental inoculation that he had learned about from his slave Onesimus. Over 94% of the close to 400,000 city workers were vaccinated as of early November. The Apologetic Value of the Christian Story, will refuse AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson, while choosing Pfizer or Moderna, or rejecting them altogether. What Is the Mark of the Beast in the Bible? . A Christian student at the University of Alabama-Birmingham has challenged the university's mandatory vaccine policy after being blocked from registering for classes this semester despite having been allowed to register past semesters with no vaccinations. All of these verses have been lifted out of context and repurposed to buttress the anti-vaccine movement. Prior to this, most men and women in Europe were exposed to the Bible through the Vulgate, a Latin version of the Old and New Testaments that only educated men mostly Catholic priests could read. According to YouVersion, 2 Chronicles 7:14 moved up to the number three spot. Those staffers whose names were redacted are also covered by the vaccine mandate. The Bible does not instruct us as to whether or not one should receive a vaccine, but it is clear when it comes to the doctrine of the liberty of conscience. And the truth is, we need the Word of the Lord far more than we need the news of the world . Protestant denominations formed around such interpretations. from Multnomah Bible College (Portland, OR), an M.A. Jesus also preached on a broader view of a Kosher dietrelated to our current dilemma over prescription and non-prescription use of drugsas stated in the passages from Marks gospel and I Corinthians. The letters flowed in as everyone from the pope to the prominent rabbis and imams has encouraged their followers to get the jabs. It is Christlike to stick to your own prayer-guided convictions. This verse is one of the greatest examples of Gods love for us. Job could not understand why a good person like him was punished with so much misfortune. A historian of the Bible in American life explains how Bible verses are being picked out of context to make a case for the anti-vaxxer movement. from Capital Bible Seminary (Lanham, MD), and is a D.Min. Life is precious and the sanctity of life is at the core of all divine purpose, the missive states. The site, Bible Gateway, shared similar search trends. Nay, admitting, which however is not always the case, that inoculation might exempt me from some pain and inconvenience, and lessen the apparent danger, might it not likewise, upon that very account, prevent my receiving some of those sweet consolations which I humbly hope my gracious Lord would afford me, if it were his pleasure to call me to a sharp trial? Nor fear to die, If it pleases him, I hope it will please me. In 2021, the multiplication of COVID vaccine mandates makes it clear that liberty of conscience is quickly fading from public consciousness. We have more compassion and willingness to listen to other sick people. There are blessings in isolation and in spending more time with immediate family. If the very hairs of my head are numbered, I have no reason to fear that, supposing I receive the smallpox in a natural way, I shall have a single pimple more than he sees expedient; and why should I wish to have one less? This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Everything is lawful, but not everything builds others up. Members and sponsors make THE CITY possible. City Hall is far behind in going through mandate-exemption requests from municipal workers. Instead, let us walk in faith and love by giving one another liberty of conscience. Some, though, are opting to accept every application in part because they dont have the resources for potential court battles, according to Michelle Jackson, executive director for the Human Services Council, which represents 170 nonprofits in New York City. The controversy surrounding the Covid-19 vaccine has been monumental, with conspiracy theories abounding. 13:17)? Besides, at the best, inoculation would only secure me from one of the innumerable natural evils the flesh is heir to; I should still be as liable as I am at present to a putrid fever, a bilious colic, an inflammation in the bowels, or in the brain, and a thousand formidable diseases which are hovering round me, and only wait his permission to cut me off in a few days or hours: and therefore I am determined, by his grace, to resign myself to his disposal. . All employers should eliminate any religious exemptions for coronavirus vaccines for Christians, period. Government and medical entities recommend vaccinations to slow its course. We preach and hear, and I hope we know something of faith, as enabling us to trust the Lord with our souls. John Price / Unsplash. It comforts me in my journey with an incurable illness. The New Covenant promise found in the Old Testament, made through Jesus, isnt about a nation. and Yes! If an employer is mandating the vaccine, you must consider your position. Some of us are living in extreme fear, and others are unburdened by the threat of health issues. It has become common for Christians to claim that being forced to take the COVID-19 vaccine is a violation of their religious convictions because their body is a temple, and they are commanded to keep it pure. Some people argue getting injected with a foreign substance such as a vaccine would defile their bodies, which they say is sinful. Social media allows these evangelical conspiracy theorists to become influential through their anti-vaccine rants. 359 N. 4th Street, San Jose, California 95112 | 1-800-SAL-ARMY | Privacy Policy | The Salvation Army Western Territory. And Terms of Service apply major events worker contracted with the city a... Instead, let us walk in faith, and others are unburdened by the Staff! 16-18 ), `` Jesus often described the end Times as being birth pangs how to use intervention. 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