"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.Philippians 4:6, Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? YouVersion, responsible for one of the most popular Bible Apps, reported an 80 percent increase in search during the pandemic, totaling 600 million worldwide. Mather convinced one doctor by the name of Zabdiel Boylston to begin inoculations. 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. As a historian of the Bible in American life, I can attest that such shallow reading in service of political and cultural agendas has long been a fixture of evangelical Christianity. If it pleases him, I hope it will please me. The Boston Smallpox Epidemic of 1721 from Capital Bible Seminary (Lanham, MD), and is a D.Min. 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. People with religious exemptions are not just looking for excuses, people get these exemptions because . 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. Did God Send the Coronavirus as a Biblical Plague from Revelation? 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. . Reprints. We must keep in mind that God is making a covenant with a particular nation in the Old Testament. The method used by Boylston would deliberately infect healthy persons with a live smallpox virus. Another is that God will make good on His promises. every morning before breakfast, and pray it over until the cure is effected. 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. 6. 7 And the swine, because he parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted, but - cheweth not the cud, he is unclean unto you. What Is the Significance of Not the Letter but of the Spirit? Those staffers whose names were redacted are also covered by the vaccine mandate. Vaccines violate our ability to follow the teachings of the Bible. According to YouVersion, 2 Chronicles 7:14 moved up to the number three spot. He added that the city has not broken down the data between religious and medical requests. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. More specifically, he entrusted his disciples to . Laycock believes that, under current precedent, employers could make a successful case against offering any religious exemptions to COVID-19 vaccine mandates. This fear has driven some Christians to request religious exemptions The reason God loves us is that His nature is love. People have to prove that the mandate somehow targets their religion in order to be exempt from the requirement. Here are the top six searched Bible verses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Is it a matter of preference or a matter of conscience? How do we deal with the dilemma of choosing how to use medical intervention to care for our bodies? The three nurses unsuccessfully argued the mandate did not give enough latitude to people who argue their religious beliefs should exempt them. Hundreds of people demonstrated against vaccine mandates during a protest outside City Hall, Nov. 3, 2021. 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. We know this from our friends and loved ones personal experiences with modern medicine in addition to published research reports. The controversy surrounding the Covid-19 vaccine has been monumental, with conspiracy theories abounding. Religious authority must never be ceded to the state or to employers to determine whether or not ones convictions are legitimate. It should be noted that liberty of conscience was recognized as being granted by God, and that it did not proceed from the state. and Yes! As for city employees, their religious and medical exemption applications are reviewed by each agencys Equal Opportunity Commission officer and human resources staffer. The City of Chicago, for example, requires this affirmation in the form it uses to request a religious exemption from a COVID-19 vaccination for employment with the city: "I have met with and provided religious or spiritual counsel to the . In matters that are unspecified by God's 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. When the epidemic began, the population of Boston was about 11,000, and many fled with their families to escape the disease. heal the sick . cxxi. There is absolutely nothing that can change this truth. 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. Terris King, pastor of Liberty Grace Church of God in Baltimore. The Lord has blessed Ben and his wife Ricki with three children whom they are homeschooling. Coopers letter makes the case for allowing inoculation as a legitimate means to avoid suffering and preserve life. John 3:16 says, For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but may have eternal life. Think about Gods sacrifice, giving His only Son so that those who put their faith in Him would not spend an eternity separated from God. Fair enough. He was rebellious at times. The verse says, Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. This is a passage that many people who are battling fear, anxiety and depression turn to. [5] Sereno Edwards Dwight, The Works of President Edwards with a Memoir of His Life, 10 vols., (New York: S. Converse, 1829). They make this argument for a variety of reasons. Matthew 10:29-31 Which means that no person's life span can be cut short by a Covid-19 virus. 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 this time of global pandemic with COVID-19, this Psalm speaks of God's presence, power, and protection against fear. (Psalm 55:22) Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. All of these verses have been lifted out of context and repurposed to buttress the anti-vaccine movement. According to The New York Times, millions of white evangelical adults in the United States don't intend to be vaccinated against COVID-19.This poses many challenges to battling the virus, including the prevention of herd immunity. Christianity.com is a member of the Salem Web Network of sites including: Copyright 2023, Christianity.com. All employers should eliminate any religious exemptions for coronavirus vaccines for Christians, period. 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. New York State has removed its religious exemption option for health care workers, and . However, few company leaders have . It is not rooted in emotions or feelings. 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. . Perhaps the journey through bad health is a gift for all of us. Members and sponsors make THE CITY possible. Newtons application of the doctrine of liberty of conscience is gracious and charitable, and it is far from where we are 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. To save my soul from death? It is also worth noting that there are important differences between todays COVID vaccines, and the historic practice of inoculation through which one would be infected with a live virus. Im very troubled by religious exemptions, Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, executive vice president of the New York Board of Rabbis. After receiving a frightening medical diagnosis several years ago, I searched my soul and the Bible to find an answer to my overriding question: Why did this happen to me? Who Are the Four Horsemen in Revelation? The de Blasio administration has touted the mandate, noting it has pushed nearly 11,000 employees to get vaccinated since the Nov. 1 deadline. 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. 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. The angry conflict between people over vaccinations is most likely more disheartening to God than concerns over the vaccines themselves. Pox Americana: The Great Smallpox Epidemic of 1775-82 (New York: Hill and Wang, 2001). 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. 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, The most common verses came from 1. Government agencies have a lot of leeway when it comes to enforcing a vaccine mandate, under case law. 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. . 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. Without a church hierarchy to reign them in, these evangelical pied pipers had little accountability. One is that God will restore our relationship with us. 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. 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. They dont have the capacity to go back and forth, she said. Leviticus 11:10-11. It took accepting grace from God for me to limit these activities. Again, the idea that most people die "with" COVID-19 rather than "of" COVID-19 is a conspiracy theory that arose last summer. 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). And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body (Philippians 3:20-21). Philippians 4:6 made the top searched Bible verse list. Whether it concerns the global pandemic, your health, finances, the economy, or relationships, much of what is ahead of us in life remains uncertain. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. In fact, Biden's heavy-handed action threatens to increase vaccine hesitancy rather than persuade the unvaccinated to comply with the order. It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon (v. 11). 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. 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. We hope it can direct you toward scriptural truths about plagues and a study of the Book of Revelation. Fear is the one emotion God doesn't want to overtake us; because when we . A pastor at Manhattan Baptist church wrote a letter on behalf of a congregant. "Religious exemptions provide an all-too-easy way for people who don't want to get vaccinated for some reason or other to wiggle out of a vaccine mandate and do so on the basis of what they claim to be a deeply held religious belief, which is largely unpoliced," Feldman told Insider. Meanwhile, the emergence of the Omicron variant has spurred Gov. by Clarence Haynes Jr.). It may come as no surprise that John 3:16 topped the most searched Bible verse list. the kingdom of God has come near to you(Luke 10:9). How can we use this teaching to determine what does the Bible say about vaccines? 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. It comforts me in my journey with an incurable illness. 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. I have faith in the body that God gave me to fight Covid. Nothing new to your ears, right? It's the claim that "only 6%" of death certificates show COVID-19 as the sole cause of death because "only 6%" don't also list comorbidities too, such as . We deeply appreciate each day God gives us after a severe illness. Jackie Gale has never had a single vaccination because she believes that the Bible . He rescues me unharmed" (Psalm 55:4-5, 16-18). Fear became the top search in the first few months of the pandemic, justice was popular in the spring and healing continued to trend throughout the year. I also try to eliminate stress from my life. employee regarding their sincerely[-]held religious beliefs or practices. So, do not. Even young and healthy people can be infected with COVID-19. 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. ", (Excerpted from "Should Christians Get Vaccinated?" (Could this be a metaphor for doctor-prescribed drugs today?). Hast thou not givn thy word, But some Catholics wrongly support "religious" exemptions on the basis . Let me fall into the hands of the Lord, (for his mercies are great,), and not into the hands of men. 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. So Jesus is our coronavirus vaccine and mask. Although everyone has had different experiences navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, we are always happy to provide emotional or spiritual support when needed. 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. First, quick development of the COVID-19 vaccine does not mean it is unsafe. 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. It is Christlike to stick to your own prayer-guided convictions. Eric Kruszewski . 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. Both are common sense and simple actions everyone can take to protect themselves and protect other people. Protestants believed that the former approach was more compatible with the spirit of American liberty. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him "unclean."'" 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. In that sense, there is no anti-vaccine tenet of the Christian faith. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. The Psalms in Practice. We should continue "speaking to one another with psalms" (Ephesians 5:19). California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. 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. Omicron variant has spurred Gov we are today thy word, but sometimes we its. 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