The New York Times, Sept. 11, 2021. 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. When they explain their religious objections to health officials, employers and school administrations, evangelicals select verses, usually out of context, and reference them on exemptions forms. One letter writer cites the use of aborted fetal cells in medical research as a violation of their faith. New York State has removed its religious exemption option for health care workers, and . God corralled the chaos into creation. So Jesus is our coronavirus vaccine and mask. Newtons application of the doctrine of liberty of conscience is gracious and charitable, and it is far from where we are today. 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. It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon (v. 11). On the other hand, Jesus did not always follow his cultures Jewish law. Some of the top-searched verses not only addressed fear but also healing and justice. God answered Job with a lengthy speech on His creation. What Is the Significance of Not the Letter but of the Spirit? 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. 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. It feels as if this vaccine was developed overnight, but in fact scientists have been studying and working with messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines, the basis for the COVID-19 vaccine, for decades. 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. On July 8, 1772, Edmund Massey preached a sermon at St. Andrews Holborn of London entitledA sermon against the dangerous and sinful practice of inoculation.6This text was republished and circulated in Boston, with Massey denouncing inoculation as a dangerous and sinful attempt to escape Gods judgment or to avoid the testing of ones faith. The unnamed staffer is fulfilling her obligation to religious obligation to morality, the letter contends. How strange is it, that when we think we can do thegreater, we should be so awkward and unskillful when we aim at theless! Pharisees protested when Jesus healed on the sabbath. Democratic Gov. 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. The three nurses unsuccessfully argued the mandate did not give enough latitude to people who argue their religious beliefs should exempt them. When Does Forgiveness Not Lead to Reconciliation? Fear and trembling have beset me I call to God, and the Lord saves me. Back to the Third Commandment. "For me . And the truth is, we need the Word of the Lord far more than we need the news of the world . Can you receive the vaccine in faith? All rights reserved. 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. Very clearly the Torah says choose life.. As workplaces have begun to require COVID-19 vaccinations for employees, some Catholic institutions insist that conscience exemptions are necessary. This verse has been a mantra for me since I was diagnosed with a severe health problem in middle age, pre-COVID. The Bible also has something to say about a government mandating vaccines for everyone. John Price / Unsplash. The angry conflict between people over vaccinations is most likely more disheartening to God than concerns over the vaccines themselves. on 02/18/2021, 4 Ways the Parable of the Sower Encourages Spiritual Growth. The doctrine of the liberty of conscience was prominent and instrumental in shaping religious liberty in the United States. Most have their human resources department decide, while others have put in place panels to review the requests. 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. Here are the top six searched Bible verses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some people argue getting injected with a foreign substance such as a vaccine would defile their bodies, which they say is sinful. Religious exemptions are not obligated. All of these verses have been lifted out of context and repurposed to buttress the anti-vaccine movement. 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. As a smallpox epidemic arrived in Boston in the 1720s, whether or not to receive inoculation became the controversy of the hour. These passages speak to the pulse of our nation, our worries, fears and concerns, along with the hope we have in God. Some of us are living in extreme fear, and others are unburdened by the threat of health issues. Jeffrey Denny. No matter where you find yourself today, we hope one of these verses reaches you in your exact situation and season. Government agencies have a lot of leeway when it comes to enforcing a vaccine mandate, under case law. 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. On March 22, 1758, Edwards died after receiving the smallpox inoculation. Bible verses related to Coronavirus from the King James Version (KJV) by Relevance. Till from on high Despite these tactics, it is surprising to note that Increase Mather did not want anyone to receive inoculation contrary to conscience, but instead for them to be persuaded to change their minds. 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. With that in mind, let us look three centuries backward to review how the church responded to the smallpox inoculation controversy of 1721. Perhaps you have a more sophisticated form of this objection. "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. 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. By contrast, the Air Force had received 4,817 religious exemption requests but not granted a single one, as of Nov. 16. Even young and healthy people can be infected with COVID-19. . He rejected the legalism of pastors who sought to prohibit inoculation, and called for freedom of conscience in choosing or refusing inoculation.4 [4] William Cooper. [3] Elizabeth A. Fenn. 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. Covid Mask & Testing Exemptions. He has a B.A. This is why, when appealing to religious liberty as the basis for an exemption, Christians should proceed carefully. Liberty of Conscience and Religious Liberty. Pandemic-related scripture about God removing sickness received 90 times more queries than average when the lockdowns started. Those who mandate vaccines give little room for liberty of conscience. A blessed, Christ-like life now and joy in a future world describes the kingdom of God. The views of the Bible proclaimed from the pulpits of formally educated clergy in established denominations gave way to a more free-wheeling and populist understanding of the scriptures that was often dissociated from such authoritative communities. 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. Salem Media Group. Various religious doctrines direct people to take care of their bodies. Christians and the general public are divided on the need for vaccines to prevent illness, particularly regarding the vaccine for COVID-19. (Pro 3:4-6)' 'Seek ye first the Kingdom of G-d and His righteousness. Please reach out if you need to talk to someone today. Christianity.com is a member of the Salem Web Network of sites including: Copyright 2023, Christianity.com. This vetting of beliefs should be alarming to any who value religious liberty. Jeremiah was lamenting the behavior of Israelites captive in Babylon, who succumbed to worshipping false gods. I stay close to God through prayer and reflection. 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. 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). 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. Photo credit: GettyImages/Richard Johnson. When the epidemic began, the population of Boston was about 11,000, and many fled with their families to escape the disease. Fair enough. In contrast to these polar opposites were the voices that appealed to Romans 14 and viewed inoculation as an issue of the liberty of conscience. Controversy continued in New England, and also back in London. Today the . 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. How can we use this teaching to determine what does the Bible say about vaccines? What Does the Bible Say About Coronavirus: Is it a Sign of the End Times? Job has a whole new perspective on misfortune in his life. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:6-7, If you have elderly friends or familyDo not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. 1 Timothy 5:1, If youre heartsick over racial injusticeWhoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. 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). 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. All rights reserved. EDITOR'S NOTE: This article is a resource for many seeking to understand if the Coronavirus pandemic is an End Times plague. To keep my mortal breath. Indeed, I had a name for it: the 6% gambit. Perhaps more time in prayer, less time reacting in fear and anger would help bring peace in this difficult, pandemic time. Instead of a false dilemma between faith and medical care, the emerging consensus was that one could receive the inoculation in faith, and that inoculation was a lawful and legitimate use of means to remove oneself from the harm of the smallpox. 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. 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. In court filings, the nurses argued that they refused to buy one-way tickets to hell on the hysteria express.. and Yes! Instead, let us walk in faith and love by giving one another liberty of conscience. This would result with the inoculated patient being sickened, though usually with a less severe case of the smallpox. 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. Eric Kruszewski . . Give my love to your friend. But they can still infect other people nearby, including people in high-risk categories. "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. . Let me fall into the hands of the Lord, (for his mercies are great,), and not into the hands of men. I consider all of my doctors advice and watch the occasional podcast on health. People with religious exemptions are not just looking for excuses, people get these exemptions because . "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace by the power of the Holy Spirit." With that as a basic outline, let's go verse by verse through the second half of the chapter. Scripture reminds us that God began good work in us and through us. We can easily select and interpret Bible verses that agree with our individual mindsets regarding vaccines. Unless you're a member of a Dutch Reformed church or a Christian Science church, making a claim for a religious exemption to the COVID-19 vaccine as a Christian is going to be hard to prove.. 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. THE CITY obtained several religious exemption requests filed by nonprofit employees contracted by the city. Scriptures can help us to make sense of the confusion we see around us with people in fear of the Coronavirus. What Is the Mark of the Beast in the Bible? We know this from our friends and loved ones personal experiences with modern medicine in addition to published research reports. 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. The Psalms in Practice. There are blessings in isolation and in spending more time with immediate family. This book hit the press (copyright 2020) too early to address COVID vaccines; so if you are wondering whether or not this includes anything related to COVID, COVID-19, Coronavirus vaccines Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson the answer is no. 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 equating You shall not murder to get inoculated, he resorted to using shame and attacking the reputation of those who opposed inoculation. He is a better man after his trial of earthly suffering. Two major problems with granting religious exemptions to vaccine mandates are that they are very hard to police, and that they are routinely gamed. During the pandemic, many people have turned to Bible verses for strength and encouragement. (1 Peter 5:7) 7. The COVID-19 vaccine has been scientifically proved to save lives, but for a select group of people in the religious realm, a more important matter is at stake - eternal salvation.. As the delta variant of the coronavirus spreads, many Americans resist COVID-19 vaccines, some citing the uncertainty of long-term side effects, others lacking trust in the medical field. [7] John Newton, The Works of John Newton, 4 vols., (Edinburg: The Banner of Truth Trust, 2015), 617-619. Nothing new to your ears, right? We find purpose in activities that benefit others. Religious and medical exemptions might provide some people with accommodations to the vaccine mandates, but they are not guaranteed to work. Whatever does not proceed from faith is sin. Are you not much more valuable than they? Matthew 6:26, If you or your loved ones are sickSo do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. 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