301-680-6563. For thus the Lord said to me: I will quietly look from my dwelling like clear heat in sunshine, like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest. For before the harvest, when the blossom is over, and the flower becomes a ripening grape, he cuts off the shoots with pruning hooks, and the spreading branches he lops off and clears away. 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. 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. Steven Davis: Jesus is our coronavirus vaccine and mask With science and scripture, a pastor fights Covid-19 vaccine - STAT So, health advice for the common good should hardly be construed as antagonistic to God. The sons of Joel: Shemaiah his son, Gog his son, Shimei his son, Micah his son, Reaiah his son, Baal his son, As for you, you whitewash with lies; worthless physicians are you all. For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life. Many pro-life Catholics face a dilemma of conscience over the use of vaccines whose viral agents are grown on a culture of fetal cells derived from abortions. But there is another subset of the denomination that describes . All the days of his vow of separation, no razor shall touch his head. It is not a denial of faith to use such remedies as God has provided to alleviate pain and to aid nature in her work of restoration. God has put it in our power to obtain a knowledge of the laws of life. 5. 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. I stay close to God through prayer and reflection. Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, Come, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who is seated on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality, and with the wine of whose sexual immorality the dwellers on earth have become drunk. And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns. The mark of the beast is about false worship involving spiritually poisonous doctrines that Scripture calls Babylonian teaching, reflecting the confusion of the tower of Babel. Now therefore thus says the Lord, You shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die. So Elijah went. The Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission compares such use to using organs from a person who was. If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. If there was ever a great opportunity for cherry-pickingusing Gods Word in a way that supports your ideas or lifethis is it. Are you still hesitant to get the vaccine? Ellen White wrote nothing about vaccination, but her life and practice provide good support for and confirmation of this articles reflections. "I have a . W Our inflexible stands and outrage over whether to vaccinate or not break hearts, and pits people against each other and government health agencies. The Lord sustains him on his sickbed; in his illness you restore him to full health. Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. The serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, to sweep her away with a flood. Do you not know that your bodies are temples. Of David. These two principles are plainly in harmony with the first two commandments God gave to Adam in the Garden of Eden: The LORD God commanded the man, You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die" (Gen. 2:16, NIV). However, whatever we do should spring from biblical principles. COVID Vaccine Religious Exemption Letters Show Battle of Faith vs Amid this flux of ideas, what hasnt changed is the Bibles advice regarding the care of our bodies. Church 'religious exemption' letters against COVID vaccination mandates She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear's, and its mouth was like a lion's mouth. One interpretation of this verse could be that vaccinations serve the common good. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.. The Christian Case for Vaccine Mandates | Sojourners We have found nothing biblical that would stop people from being vaccinated. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. Romans 10:13 - For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Applying this thinking to vaccination, we can see that this product, a result of capacities God has given to humans to think and be creative, is a life-saving product. 1 Cor. They brought them before the tabernacle. Most vaccines are developed by actually giving a protein or giving a small, tiny component of the germ that we're trying to vaccinate against. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. Vaccines are 100%, completely against our religion. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. All rights reserved. There is some portion of the population who will not receive the vaccine for religious reasons. Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones. There is still much to creation we cant control in the present time. The Conversation has a variety of fascinating free newsletters. In the early 19th-century United States, biblical interpretation became more free-wheeling and individualistic. There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. This makes policing religious exemptions to vaccination hard - and rightly so. Reading and praying on the verses below may expand your understanding of Gods intentions regarding our bodily health and the role of vaccines. Last updated September 1, 2021. (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands properly, holding to the tradition of the elders, and when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions that they observe, such as the washing of cups and pots and copper vessels and dining couches.) So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and harmful and painful sores came upon the people who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. For the life of a creature is in the blood, Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine, If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, Love your neighbor as yourself,. Cherry-picking the Bible and using verses out of context has been done C First observation: in Romans 3:8, some of Paul's adversaries accused him of "do [ing] evil that good may come." Paul responded to this, that it was a slanderous charge. May He graciously grant us discernment and power to act unselfishly according to His will so that we can be blessed by Him and be a blessing to others. A Prayer for. Like they did in the 19th century, evangelicals who refuse to get vaccinated today tend to follow the spiritual leaders who have built followings by baptizing political or cultural propaganda in a sea of Bible verses. The house that King Solomon built for the Lord was sixty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and thirty cubits high. ", (Excerpted from "Should Christians Get Vaccinated?" 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. 12501 OLD COLUMBIA PIKE, SILVER SPRING, MD 20904 USA. Would God Support Vaccines? - Beliefnet 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. They often followed the interpretations of charismatic leaders such as Joseph Smith (Latter Day Saints), Barton Stone and Alexander Campbell (Restorationist), William Miller (Adventists) and Lorenzo Dow (Methodists). The Prophet wrote about our human temple of God with the words of Psalm 139:14: "I am fearfully and wonderfully made." He was already near to his death, when he asked the Lord to remember his obedience and prolong his life. Mindful of the Church's moral teaching, he encourages Catholics to receive a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine for the sake of oneself, our loved ones, and the common good. And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth's abominations. And the light of a lamp will shine in you no more, and the voice of bridegroom and bride will be heard in you no more, for your merchants were the great ones of the earth, and all nations were deceived by your sorcery. In that regard, being vaccinated is an unselfish act aiding the well-being and protection of others. And for your lifeblood I will require a reckoning: from every beast I will require it and from man. Churches in California and North Carolina are among those now offering congregants documentation for "religious exemptions" to the COVID-19 vaccine, a practice that is legally dubious and likely ineffective, according to labor lawyers.. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. 4 The city of Pergamum, too, had long been a hotbed for imperial worship. Pro-mask or anti-mask? On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.. Considering that Ellen White chose to be vaccinated both for herself and for the benefit of the community, it seems we have been given a good course to follow ourselves. This story does not mean it is the medicine alone that is important. My Body, My Temple: The Constitutional Requirement for Religious Some are stories, some are songs to bring you joy and hope, some are parables meant to convey his religious message, and some are instructions for our lives to be led with moral character. I have worked on my health with the great help of a medical community. Why a 19th-century Russian anarchist is relevant to the mask and vaccinedebate. Catholics, for the most part, have shown their commitment to life on this issue. When we have prayed for the recovery of the sick, we can work with all the more energy, thanking God that we have the privilege of co-operating with Him, and asking His blessing on the means which He Himself has provided.. He will also protect His people during the seven last plagues as He protected Israel from the Egyptian plagues (see Rev. Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?". Jackie Gale has never had a single vaccination because she believes that the Bible commands Christians to honor God regarding how the care for their bodies and not inject extra chemicals into one's body, according to a letter to UAB President Ray L. Watts and the university's lawyer John Daniel from First Liberty Institute attorney Christine Pratt. God is the only Healer, the true Physician, who can heal all our diseases (Deut. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established. 3. We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Letter: Use your religious exemption to refuse vaccines My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Ellen G. White, Selected Messages (Washington, D.C.: Review & Herald, 1958), 2:346. 2013;31 . And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it? And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. They are complementary. Allowed are activities that are congruent with Gods revelation, though not directly mentioned in the Bible. Perhaps you keep up with news about the COVID pandemic, shifting daily. "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace by the power of the Holy Spirit." 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.. Various conspiracy theories terribly misapply biblical texts to create fear and dependency on false teachers. Biblical prophets do not speak against vaccinations. The word vaccination does not occur in the Bible, as is the case with many other important health terms like vitamins, transfusion, high blood pressure, kidney transplant, injection, pills, and so on. Z. He remembers his officers; they stumble as they go, they hasten to the wall; the siege tower is set up. Do not seek your own good, but the good of the other person.. Thus, becoming vaccinated is an act of kindness, because vaccinations are helping to protect others from serious sickness, hospitalization, and death. Catholics may morally use vaccines, but they are also free to refuse them for reasons of conscience or prudence. We know this from our friends and loved ones personal experiences with modern medicine in addition to published research reports. What Does the Bible Say About Vaccinations? - OpenBible.info But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. Christian Elliot's "18 Reasons I Won't Be Getting a Covid Vaccine For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ. They told him, In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. Cite this page: Editor: Stephen Smith. Reading and praying on the verses below may expand your understanding of God's intentions regarding our bodily health and the role of vaccines. Edward Meeks, pastor at Christ the King Catholic Church in Towson, gave an almost 20-minute homily Nov. 21 in which he interpreted several Bible verses from 1 Corinthians as indicating . 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. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on. And while some were speaking of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, he said, That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. "My body is a temple": Vaccine hesitancy, religious - ABC 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. For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. . Either way, if an immune person comes into contact with that disease in the future, their immune system will recognize it and immediately produce the antibodies needed to fight it. The messengers returned to the king, and he said to them, Why have you returned? And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. For the Lord is restoring the majesty of Jacob as the majesty of Israel, for plunderers have plundered them and ruined their branches. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. Stop regarding man in whose nostrils is breath, for of what account is he? The same sound rule must be applied to vaccinations: what is not prohibited is acceptable when it is in harmony with Gods revealed health principles. The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe. Some say COVID-19 vaccine is the 'mark of the beast.' Is there a And the angel said in reply, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Perhaps more time in prayer, less time reacting in fear and anger would help bring peace in this difficult, pandemic time. It can be verbal. Vaccine-induced immunity is acquired through the introduction of a killed or weakened form of the disease organism through vaccination. Passages from the Bible including Exodus 21:22-25; Psalm 51:5-6, 139:13-16; Jeremiah 1:4-5; and Luke 1:39-45 affirm the personhood of the unborn. Therefore honor God with your bodies.1 Corinthians 6:19-20, It is an honor to have a body that is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Why die prematurely simply because we neglect remedies that are available to protect and prolong our lives, thus enabling us to be a blessing to others? They blame the misinterpretations of this Bible passage on social media and people . 8. Being vaccinated will give glory to God by helping us and others to have a safer life. Q These so-called Bible riots revealed the deep tensions between the individualistic and common-sensical approach to biblical interpretation common among Protestants and a Catholic view of reading the Bible that was always filtered through the historic teachings of the Church and its theologians. Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads. So Jesus is our coronavirus vaccine and mask . But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne, and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel. The problem is that the same people who eagerly promote anti-vaccine misinformation are just as eager to misuse religion to avoid . A Ch r i s ti a n S ta te me n t o n V a c c i n a ti o n a n d Re l i Some others they cite include Salem Radio host and author Eric Metaxas, the Liberty Counsel and Tennessee megachurch leader Greg Locke, to name a few. Does the Bible Mention What to Give Up for Lent? The Holy Scriptures present important health principles that are to be (a) the bases of such reflections, (b) beneficial components, and (c) elements we can implement in everyday routines of life. "There is no basis for a priest to issue a religious exemption to the vaccine . It comforts me in my journey with an incurable illness. Yet there are many people claiming religious exceptions to COVID-19 vaccination mandates: Two weeks after Biden announced an employer vaccine mandate, The New York Times reported that the. And he answered them, Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? Equipped with any or all of these arguments, Catholics can rest assured that they are making the strongest case possible for a religious exemption from a vaccine mandate. They grew anxious that these Catholic newcomers were a threat to their Protestant nation and often based these fears on perceptions of how Catholic bishops and priests kept the Bible from their parishioners. R the kingdom of God has come near to you(Luke 10:9). 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. White encouraged others to take a smallpox vaccination, and took it herself, according to eyewitness D. E. Robinson, one of her secretaries: Ellen White was vaccinated and urged her helpers, those connected with her, to be vaccinated. She was aware that it would protect her as well as others: She also recognized the danger of their exposing others if they failed to take this precaution. She wisely advised, Those who seek healing by prayer should not neglect to make use of the remedial agencies within their reach.