A weekly brief of our new teaching resources. on 02/18/2021, 4 Ways the Parable of the Sower Encourages Spiritual Growth. It does not address them as those came out late 2020 and really started being pushed in 2021. Kathy Hochul to declare a state of emergency to ensure hospital bed availability in case of a spike in admissions and Mayor Bill de Blasio to urge New Yorkers to wear masks in indoor public spaces. Those staffers whose names were redacted are also covered by the vaccine mandate. During this Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, many people are turning to the Word of God for guidance and comfort in these tumultuous times. You can join the F.A.M. We preach and hear, and I hope we know something of faith, as enabling us to trust the Lord with our souls. the kingdom of God has come near to you(Luke 10:9). With that as a basic outline, let's go verse by verse through the second half of the chapter. by Clarence Haynes Jr.). A letter from a priest, written on behalf of a worker seeking an exemption from the vaccine mandate. He caricatured those who were fierce Enemies to Inoculation as Children of the Wicked one. Instead of being associated with such persons, he argued for his audience to join with such worthy persons as himself and the other pastors who supported inoculation, which included Solomon Stoddard of Northampton. "Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'" Hebrews 13:5 We hope these verses encourage you and provide comfort, regardless of where you're at today. These passages speak to the pulse of our nation, our worries, fears and concerns, along with the hope we have in God. Instead of taking a position, he offered balanced counsel and argued for the individual to make a decision based upon faith, whether it be to receive inoculation or not, and for all to entrust themselves into the Lords providential care.7 While declaring the splendors of creation, God asked rhetorically, Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?(Job 38:4). Very clearly the Torah says choose life.. . Founders Ministries is committed to encouraging the recovery of the gospel and the biblical reformation of local churches. Maldonado's approach to COVID-19 is also shaped by the prosperity gospel, a teaching . Among those who were inoculated, the mortality rate dropped to 2 percent.1Though inoculation protected most of those who received it, this success came at the price of human life, as a few of those who were sickened through inoculation died. The angry conflict between people over vaccinations is most likely more disheartening to God than concerns over the vaccines themselves. Some protesters reacted with violence in Michigan and Washington, D.C. A clean spirit encourages and supports other people with love. Professor of American History, Messiah College. Various religious doctrines direct people to take care of their bodies. Throughout the ages, God's Word has been a source of hope in troubled times. 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. Sign up and get the latest stories from THE CITY delivered to your inbox each morning, COVID Vaccine Religious Exemption Letters Show Battle of Faith vs. Science. Betty Dunn hopes her articles help you hold hands with God, a theme in her self-published memoirMedusa. One of the few ways to avoid the tyrannical Covid measures being imposed on the public is through the use of religious exemptions. It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon (v. 11). God answered Job with a lengthy speech on His creation. . This is why, when appealing to religious liberty as the basis for an exemption, Christians should proceed carefully. If there was ever a great opportunity for cherry-pickingusing Gods Word in a way that supports your ideas or lifethis is it. I've seen 1 Corinthians 6:19 quoted in countless vaccine exemption requests. We can find strength in every situation through the power of prayer and trust in God. We welcome you to join us in our work to equip and encourage local churches. Photo credit: GettyImages/Richard Johnson. This goes against our religious belief and religious teaching, the letter states without elaborating. February 3, 2021 Can an employee object to. It should be noted that liberty of conscience was recognized as being granted by God, and that it did not proceed from the state. Reading and praying on the verses below may expand your understanding of Gods intentions regarding our bodily health and the role of vaccines. 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. But some Catholics wrongly support "religious" exemptions on the basis . 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. [3] Elizabeth A. Fenn. Instead of receiving inoculation, Massey argued that one should trust the Lord. I also try to eliminate stress from my life. The unnamed staffer is fulfilling her obligation to religious obligation to morality, the letter contends. YouVersion, responsible for one of the most popular Bible Apps, reported an 80 percent increase in search during the pandemic, totaling 600 million worldwide. If they disobey it, they will be kicked out. The most common verses came from 1. I have faith in the body that God gave me to fight Covid. The Prophet wrote about our human temple of God with the words of Psalm 139:14: "I am fearfully and wonderfully made." John Fea does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. Whereas, Almighty God hath created the mind free; that all attempts to influence it bytemporal punishment, or burthens, or by civil incapacitations, tend only to beget habits ofhypocrisy and meanness, and are a departure from the plan of the Holy Author of ourreligion, who, being Lord both of body and mind, yet chose not to propagate it bycoercions on either, as was in his Almighty power to do . Nay, I shall praise him for you both. During this time of global pandemic with COVID-19, this Psalm speaks of God's presence, power, and protection against fear. Last month, a federal appeals panel upheld New York States vaccine mandate for health care workers. 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. employee regarding their sincerely[-]held religious beliefs or practices. [Over 110,000 readers rely on The Conversations newsletter to understand the world. It's no wonder because Psalm 91 is literally the 9-1-1 to our mighty God. However, getting through the initial grief and changes in my life and moving on to a place of greater faith and understanding was not an easy journey. People with religious exemptions are not just looking for excuses, people get these exemptions because . The antecedents of the currently available vaccines in gene therapy play God with my body-soul unity as an image-bearer by willfully inserting synthetic foreign genetic material . Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. What the French traveler and diplomat Alexis de Tocqueville described as individualism had a profound influence on biblical interpretation and the way laypeople read the sacred text. 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. Jeremiah was lamenting the behavior of Israelites captive in Babylon, who succumbed to worshipping false gods. Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that no man shall be compelled to frequent orsupport any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever, nor shall be enforced,restrained, molested, or burthened in his body or goods, nor shall otherwise suffer onaccount of his religious opinions or belief; but that all men shall be free to profess, and byargument to maintain, their opinion in matters of religion, and that the same shall in nowise diminish, enlarge, or affect their civil capacities. In the early 19th-century United States, biblical interpretation became more free-wheeling and individualistic. Vaccine-resistant workers are sharing tips online for requesting exemptions to the requirements on religious grounds; others are submitting letters from far-flung religious authorities who have advertised their willingness to help. In fact, Biden's heavy-handed action threatens to increase vaccine hesitancy rather than persuade the unvaccinated to comply with the order. 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. Is It Ok for Christians to Follow Zodiac Signs? Among those who were not inoculated, the mortality rate was 15 percent. One letter by a priest cites the part of the Catechism of the Catholic Church that says: God willed that man should be in the hand of his own counsel., The letter then notes the employee seeking the exemption is exercising her faculty of reason while considering Church teachings founded upon Biblical revelation.. Though the controversy surrounding inoculation would subside as the practice became more widely accepted in medicine and in the church, many are faced with similar questions regarding the COVID vaccine today. And I can trust my Lord A devout evangelical Christian friend of mine recently texted to explain why he was not getting the COVID-19 vaccine. The doctrine of the liberty of conscience was prominent and instrumental in shaping religious liberty in the United States. As questions of conscience continued with this debate, John Newton wrote a letter of pastoral counsel addressing the ethics of whether or not one should receive inoculation. As you make the decision to receive or decline medical treatment, it is responsible for one to review whatever medical information is available, and to make an informed decision. We hope it can direct you toward scriptural truths about plagues and a study of the Book of Revelation. 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? These search spiked to 100 times the average in a week. So, I kept cross-country skiing, kayaking, and hiking with difficulty. The letters flowed in as everyone from the pope to the prominent rabbis and imams has encouraged their followers to get the jabs. All employers should eliminate any religious exemptions for coronavirus vaccines for Christians, period. 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. When large numbers of Irish and German immigrants arrived on American shores in the middle decades of the 19th century, evangelicals drew on longstanding anti-Catholic prejudices. But Catholics might find that they cannot rely on their parish priest or their bishop to support them in this endeavor. New York State has removed its religious exemption option for health care workers, and . Whatever does not proceed from faith is sin. It is about people who have faith in God. A pastor at Manhattan Baptist church wrote a letter on behalf of a congregant. His Holy Spirit resides in us as redeemed Christians. 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. 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. In response to opposition, a Bostonian pastor by the name of William Cooper wrote a pastoral letter entitledA reply to the objections made against taking the small pox in the way of inoculation from principles of conscience. In the incredible wonder, beauty, and complexity of creation, there is chaos. It took accepting grace from God for me to limit these activities. Several reasons proving that inoculating or transplanting the small pox, is a lawful practice, and that it has been blessed by God for the saving of many a life (Boston: S. Kneeland, 1721). By Amy Sokolow. I am not seeking to support or oppose the COVID vaccine. During this period, the United States also grew more democratic. 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.. Mather convinced one doctor by the name of Zabdiel Boylston to begin inoculations. Options for the sacrilegious. Over this past week, multiple people inside and outside the church have asked about navigating matters of conscience and healthcare when it comes to COVID-19 vaccine mandates. Pox Americana: The Great Smallpox Epidemic of 1775-82 (New York: Hill and Wang, 2001). In July of 2020, the Marcionite Christian Church foresaw the likelihood of dangerous mandatory RNA vaccinations being administered under an emergency order and issued a Subitis Medicinae Edicto - a ban on RNA and . The English Calvinists who settled the Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay built entire colonies around their reading of the Bible, making New England one of the most literate societies in the world. An outdoorsy, recreational type for decades, I wanted to remain active. There were also queries tied to justice, racism and oppression in the week following George Floyds death. If they obey the convent, they will prosper in the land. One evangelical Christian staffers religious exemption request cites the use of aborted fetal cells in some elements of vaccine testing and development. The Salvation Army Silicon Valley Press Releases. Perhaps the journey through bad health is a gift for all of us. Seeking a religious exemption should very clearly rest on apparent and applicable religious beliefs. In court filings, the nurses argued that they refused to buy one-way tickets to hell on the hysteria express.. There is absolutely nothing that can change this truth. 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 . Ill inoculate you with this; and a pox to you.3 Chaos is part of creation, but God didnt bring chaos. . There is a spiritual component to our healthcare decisions, for all we do must be for the glory of God, and should proceed from faith (Rom 14:23, 1 Cor 10:31). 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. Do not seek your own good, but the good of the other person.. That law mandates employers give their employees reasonable accommodation for their faiths. 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. But if were being honest, the novel coronavirus has impacted us all in vastly different ways. This verse has been a mantra for me since I was diagnosed with a severe health problem in middle age, pre-COVID. There are undoubtedly people of faith with relevant moral and, or, theological concerns that could merit religious exemption. While Newton was not an advocate for inoculation, he advocated for liberty of conscience while calling his audience to trust the Lord. Hundreds of people demonstrated against vaccine mandates during a protest outside City Hall, Nov. 3, 2021. Scripture reminds us that God began good work in us and through us. After studying Job, I read the book of the weeping prophet Jeremiah, who stated, Heal me and I shall be healed(Jeremiah 17:4). [6.] I still repeat this verse from time to time. Let us not insist that anyone receives a medical treatment contrary to conscience, and let us not trample on the consciences of our brothers and sisters. Pharisees protested when Jesus healed on the sabbath. And if you will mind your praying and preaching, and believe that the Lord can take care of her without any of your contrivances, I shall not blame you. 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. Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning, Bible Verses about Coronavirus: Scripture Quotes on Plagues, End Times and God's Judgment. Multiple studies throughout the world have shown the vaccine greatly reduces the likelihood of contracting COVID as well as the risks of hospitalization from serious ailments and death. Information on statistics, affected populations, government interventions, health system exhaustion, and concerned citizen protests have become part of our media landscape and conversations for the past two years. YouVersion reported that Isaiah 41:10 was ranked the most read, searched and bookmarked verse on the Bible app. I care for the work of Gods hands(Isaiah 64:8) as a steward to my small part of creation. There is still much to creation we cant control in the present time. The Israelites left Egypt accompanied by a tabernacle, which served as Gods temple in the Promised Land, as did the Ark of the Covenant when the Israelites marched into battle with neighboring tribes. It is not rooted in emotions or feelings. We see through this verse that Gods love for us is unconditional. Isaiah 41:10 YouVersion reported that Isaiah 41:10 was ranked the most read, searched and bookmarked verse on the. The mandate is directly affecting my religious beliefs.' . 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. "If he or she thus comes to the sure conviction in conscience that they should not receive it, we believe this is a sincere religious belief, as they are bound before God to follow their. He is a better man after his trial of earthly suffering. "My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death have fallen on me. Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice. 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. The Apologetic Value of the Christian Story, will refuse AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson, while choosing Pfizer or Moderna, or rejecting them altogether. But the city has been slow to go through applications for religious and medical exemptions, with just 27% of all requests processed so far, according to city records. (Psalm 55:22) Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. The religious objections of some may be as simple as holding the conviction that the human body is created by God, that ones health is a matter of stewardship, and Scripture places that responsibility on the individual and not the state. Does the Pandemic Still Affect Church Attendance? As Jesus said in Luke 12:31, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness; and all these things will be added unto you. In an article published last week on theLAB, COVID-19 and The Mark of the Beast, I claimed that the mark of the beast (666) is most likely not a physical or visible mark (Rev. She then quotes 2 Corinthians 7 out of context and assumes a vaccine will "contaminate" her. Life is precious and the sanctity of life is at the core of all divine purpose, the missive states. 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. I believe that taking the vaccine would be an expression of my lack of faith in my God given immune system (018) (019). Were being honest, the novel coronavirus has impacted us all in vastly different ways the gospel and biblical... Lengthy speech on his creation: Hill and Wang, 2001 ) different ways creation cant. And wonderfully made. Christians, period, 4 ways the Parable of the liberty of conscience prominent! 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