Nay, I shall praise him for you both. These letters, obtained by THE CITY, are among the thousands of the notes that clergy members have given to city workers and nonprofit staffers contracted with the city to get out of the employee vaccine mandate put in place by the de Blasio administration. 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. . Matthew 18:1-4, and Matthew 19:13-15 are just a few verses that illustrate the aforementioned children as blessings from God that are valued and loved by him, After studying Job, I read the book of the weeping prophet Jeremiah, who stated, Heal me and I shall be healed(Jeremiah 17:4). 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. Jesus went around healing lepers and touched them without fear of getting leprosy, he said. Fear and trembling have beset me I call to God, and the Lord saves me. The controversy surrounding the Covid-19 vaccine has been monumental, with conspiracy theories abounding. Did God Send the Coronavirus as a Biblical Plague from Revelation? During Jesus ministry on earth, someone in the crowd asked him for advice on eating meat offered to pagan idols. Religious freedom is a core value in the United States. Ive learned to care for my body, my temple of God, by babying myself with good health habits, such as following a lifestyle full of fresh vegetables and fruit, regular sleep, and exercise. COVID Vaccine Religious Exemption Letters Show Battle of Faith vs. Science Notes from clergy, obtained by THE CITY, range from citing "morality" to erroneous declarations that the vaccine causes COVID. 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. The Lord wants us to recognize that we should not let fear overcome us. Does the Pandemic Still Affect Church Attendance? Tandon v. Newsom didn't center on a traditionally hot-button issue like abortion or LGBTQ rights; it focused on COVID-19. 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 . For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 1 John 4:20, If you feel aloneFor I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39, If you are weary from parenting 24/7But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded. 2 Chronicles 15:7, If youre scared about the futureFor I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11, If youre battling discontentKeep 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. 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. Gavin Newsom's July 26 order for state employees . Throughout the ages, God's Word has been a source of hope in troubled times. 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. Immediately after Jesus sacrifice on the cross, the curtain in Solomons temple in Jerusalem tore in two, signifying that we were no longer separated from Gods holiness by our sins. A weekly brief of our new teaching resources. Perhaps you have a more sophisticated form of this objection. 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. We have more compassion and willingness to listen to other sick people. In all its splendor, Solomons temple in Jerusalem housed the Spirit of God. Newtons application of the doctrine of liberty of conscience is gracious and charitable, and it is far from where we are today. Pharisees protested when Jesus healed on the sabbath. Our royal home lies in this future world. Another letter, by a Manhattan-based Baptist pastor, says the church ministry does not support the mandate and erroneously stated that the vaccines ingredients creates possibility of long-term adverse effects such as COVID-19.. Romans 15:13. If I did venture, and the outcome should not be favorable, I would blame myself for having attempted to take the management out of the Lords hands into my own, which I never did yet in other matters, without finding I am no more able than I am worthy to choose for myself. The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. We are living in a time of uncertainty. If that is not an option, seek counsel with your church as you weigh the decision of receiving the vaccine versus remaining at your place of employment. 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. 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. " Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Philippians 4:6 Where Does the Bible Talk About Our Bodies? . Reading and praying on the verses below may expand your understanding of God's intentions regarding our bodily health and the role of vaccines. In matters that are unspecified by Gods Word, the Christian is to consider the teachings of Scripture, and remember that all things must proceed from faith and be done for the glory of God. on 02/18/2021, 4 Ways the Parable of the Sower Encourages Spiritual Growth. I care for the work of Gods hands(Isaiah 64:8) as a steward to my small part of creation. If I could devise a means to avoid the trouble, I know not how great a loser I may be in point of grace and comfort. He warns us against fear because it can get in the way of the blessings and answered prayers that are in store for us. Indeed, I had a name for it: the 6% gambit. On March 22, 1758, Edwards died after receiving the smallpox inoculation. When it comes to the church, instead of the legalism of binding others consciences beyond the teachings of Scripture, we would do well to consider the wisdom of Newtons letter. We hope it can direct you toward scriptural truths about plagues and a study of the Book of Revelation. The Prophet wrote about our human temple of God with the words of Psalm 139:14: "I am fearfully and wonderfully made." This goes against our religious belief and religious teaching, the letter states without elaborating. Chip Ellis, who protested the vaccine mandate at the Stennis Space Center in Mississippi, told The Sun Herald that belief is in part why he submitted a request for a religious exemption. My third reason for refusing vaccines is due to the fact that vaccines / inoculation are the renown Mark of the Beast. Pope Francis, the Holy See and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops say all the COVID-19 vaccines are morally acceptable. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. One of the reasons many people find comfort in this passage is that it offers God's promises. It is a rational response to the problems of the world, including the pandemic. 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. While Newton was not an advocate for inoculation, he advocated for liberty of conscience while calling his audience to trust the Lord. Philippe Lissac/Godong/Universal Images Group via Getty Images, built followers around innovative readings of the Scriptures, destroyed two of the citys Catholic churches, Committee Member - MNF Research Advisory Committee, PhD Scholarship - Uncle Isaac Brown Indigenous Scholarship, Associate Lecturer, Creative Writing and Literature. Amid this flux of ideas, what hasnt changed is the Bibles advice regarding the care of our bodies. This makes policing religious exemptions to vaccination hard - and rightly so. 13:17)? To save my soul from death? It's brimming with declarations and promises of God's protection. Beliefnet is a lifestyle website providing feature editorial content around the topics of inspiration, spirituality, health, wellness, love and family, news and entertainment. [3] Elizabeth A. Fenn. Many are refusing to give religious exemption to anyone, and those who make allowance for them are often looking for some strange doctrinal tenet, such as Our obscure religious sect does not allow members to receive medical care. Many employees are not allowed to self-certify their own convictions, and instead are being asked to submit letters written by their pastors. YouVersion founder Bobby Gruenewald said, Through every hardship, people continue to seek God and turn to the Bible for strength, peace and hope. These top searched Bible verses during the pandemic offer hope in some of the toughest circumstances, and we can be thankful for that. Meanwhile, we all await the ultimate kingdom of God, where there is no sickness or dyingand we all get along. 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. 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. This epidemic would take 844 lives before it came to an end. This is a good case . Religious authority must never be ceded to the state or to employers to determine whether or not ones convictions are legitimate. Fear is the one emotion God doesn't want to overtake us; because when we . I've seen 1 Corinthians 6:19 quoted in countless vaccine exemption requests. Both are common sense and simple actions everyone can take to protect themselves and protect other people. Ill go and come, Some people lost jobs, while careers in healthcare ramped up dramatically. Jeremiah was lamenting the behavior of Israelites captive in Babylon, who succumbed to worshipping false gods. 10 And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that swarm in the waters, and of all the living creatures that are in the . . 31 Bible Verses and Scriptures for Hope during COVID-19. The Protestant Reformation put the Bible in the hands of ordinary people. Compiled by The BibleStudyTools Staff 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.. Matthew 10:29-31 Which means that no person's life span can be cut short by a Covid-19 virus. So Jesus is our coronavirus vaccine and mask. Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. "My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death have fallen on me. EDITOR'S NOTE: This article is a resource for many seeking to understand if the Coronavirus pandemic is an End Times plague. As years passed, I honored my body by slowing down my activities and retiring early from work. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Ben Purves is a pastor at Occoquan Bible Church in Woodbridge, VA. Ben joined OBCs staff in 2008. Jesus replied, addressing this topic of putting questionable agents into our bodies: "Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, 'Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. Sign up today.]. . 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. . Inoculation Controversy: Cotton Mather, Jonathan Edwards, and John Newton Among those who were not inoculated, the mortality rate was 15 percent. The former should seem to require the strongest faith of the two. A gift to The Salvation Army helps someone in your community. We preach and hear, and I hope we know something of faith, as enabling us to trust the Lord with our souls. Other federal defense agencies have rarely granted religious exemptions for other vaccines. 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. We welcome you to join us in our work to equip and encourage local churches. I consider all of my doctors advice and watch the occasional podcast on health. 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. An outdoorsy, recreational type for decades, I wanted to remain active. No major religion has come out in opposition to the COVID-19 vaccines. Christianity.com is a member of the Salem Web Network of sites including: Copyright 2023, Christianity.com. A segment of the states society protested vigorously. 8 Of their flesh ye shall not eat, and their carcasses ye shall not touch; they are unclean unto you. 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. I am not a professed advocate for inoculation; but if a person who fears the Lord should tell me, I think I can do it in faith, looking upon it as a salutary expedient, which God in his providence has discovered, and which therefore appears my duty to have recourse to, so that my mind does not hesitate with respect to the lawfulness, nor am I anxious about the event; being satisfied, that whether I live or die, I am in that path in which I can cheerfully expect his blessing; I do not know that I could offer a word by way of dissuasion. 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. If I am to have the small-pox, I believe he is the best judge of the season and manner in which I shall be visited, so as may be most for his glory and my own good; and therefore I choose to wait his appointment, and not to rush upon even the possibility of danger without a call. All of these verses have been lifted out of context and repurposed to buttress the anti-vaccine movement. The body is a temple that should not receive foreign or unnatural substances, and God will protect the body from sickness; and The immune system was created by God and should not be altered often. In addition to this, Massey argued that medical practitioners are assuming the role of God in intentionally giving the disease to their patients. One evangelical Christian staffers religious exemption request cites the use of aborted fetal cells in some elements of vaccine testing and development. Another popular search during the pandemic was Jeremiah 29:11, which says, For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. This is a verse that many Christians are familiar with, but sometimes we forget its promises. We are called to live life as God intended. This imagery comes from Daniel 8 where Daniel sees a vision of a ram with two horns. Religious and medical exemptions might provide some people with accommodations to the vaccine mandates, but they are not guaranteed to work. While this fear of Catholics was mostly rhetorical in nature, there were a few moments of violence. What Does the Bible Say About Coronavirus: Is it a Sign of the End Times? What Is the Mark of the Beast in the Bible? We see through this verse that Gods love for us is unconditional. The court didnt question the validity of the vaccine mandate, but found the way the DOE judged the requests to be legally lacking. Last month, a federal appeals panel upheld New York States vaccine mandate for health care workers. 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. 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. Nothing new to your ears, right? Subscribe to receive more stories, directly in your inbox! We know this from our friends and loved ones personal experiences with modern medicine in addition to published research reports. 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. 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. World, including the pandemic, Edwards died after receiving the smallpox inoculation one evangelical Christian staffers religious exemption cites! Former should seem to require the strongest faith of the Holy See the. 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