EDITOR'S NOTE: This article is a resource for many seeking to understand if the Coronavirus pandemic is an End Times plague. 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.. We welcome you to join us in our work to equip and encourage local churches. Regardless of these differences, decisions should be grounded in faith, and with trust in the Lord for whatever the outcome may be. We must keep in mind that God is making a covenant with a particular nation in the Old Testament. It's brimming with declarations and promises of God's protection. 6. This goes against our religious belief and religious teaching, the letter states without elaborating. [6.] every morning before breakfast, and pray it over until the cure is effected. Isaiah 41:10 YouVersion reported that Isaiah 41:10 was ranked the most read, searched and bookmarked verse on the. Religious exemptions are carved out under the federal Civil Rights Act signed into law in 1964. An outdoorsy, recreational type for decades, I wanted to remain active. When I studied the beautifully written book of Job, I heard Gods answer to Jobs misery over losses in health, property, and family. [2] Increase Mather. 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. The idea of a religious exemption as a concept has a long and complicated history in the U.S., but it has rarely, and possibly never, come up against something as massive and urgent as the. One evangelical Christian staffers religious exemption request cites the use of aborted fetal cells in some elements of vaccine testing and development. 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. Scripture reminds us that God began good work in us and through us. 8 Of their flesh ye shall not eat, and their carcasses ye shall not touch; they are unclean unto you. How do we deal with the dilemma of choosing how to use medical intervention to care for our bodies? 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. 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. You should do the same. The Bible also has something to say about a government mandating vaccines for everyone. 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. Controversy continued in New England, and also back in London. and Yes! First, quick development of the COVID-19 vaccine does not mean it is unsafe. Nothing new to your ears, right? Salem Media Group. Youve probably heard people say were all in the same boat to describe how COVID-19 has transformed our lives. It is a rational response to the problems of the world, including the pandemic. My faith became stronger due to praying and searching for an answer to this popular question. We can find strength in every situation through the power of prayer and trust in God. Conscience concerns. The Salvation Army Silicon Valley These search spiked to 100 times the average in a week. Jesus, in this statement, taught his followers that a pure heart does not condemn other peoples choices about whatever is ingested (including medicine) into their bodies. 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. There may be minimal or no symptoms. There is still much to creation we cant control in the present time. 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. These numbers are a snapshot in time they are constantly moving as agencies process the requests, Schwartz said. He was rebellious at times. As these questions come to the forefront, it is important that we consider how the church has applied Scripture to navigate similar issues in the past. Instead, let us walk in faith and love by giving one another liberty of conscience. He is a better man after his trial of earthly suffering. Jeremiah was lamenting the behavior of Israelites captive in Babylon, who succumbed to worshipping false gods. Isaiah 41:10 says, So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. 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. Beliefnet is a lifestyle website providing feature editorial content around the topics of inspiration, spirituality, health, wellness, love and family, news and entertainment. Yet another letter writer wraps medical misinformation in a cloak of religious belief.. But if were being honest, the novel coronavirus has impacted us all in vastly different ways. Life is Gods precious gift to us, not to be squandered. If there was ever a great opportunity for cherry-pickingusing Gods Word in a way that supports your ideas or lifethis is it. By the time Protestants started forming settlements in North America, there were distinctly Anglican, Presbyterian, Anabaptist, Lutheran and Quaker reading of the Bible. Protestant denominations formed around such interpretations. 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. Edwards daughter Esther, who was also inoculated, died shortly after her father. student at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (Louisville, KY) where he is working on a research thesis examining the Protestant plague ethic from the 1500-1700s. The ability to work for a living and play for recreation is diminished. In the incredible wonder, beauty, and complexity of creation, there is chaos. To keep my mortal breath. Scientific modeling projections say we may contain the spread of COVID more effectively if everyone is vaccinated. As Psalm 119:11 reminds us, "I have hidden Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You.". He warns us against fear because it can get in the way of the blessings and answered prayers that are in store for us. Every joy and success, every painful loss or failure, is part of His greater plan. Religious freedom is a core value in the United States. 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. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. 7 And the swine, because he parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted, but - cheweth not the cud, he is unclean unto you. 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. In the trenches of the COVID pandemic today, fear of contracting COVID has placed many people in an isolated, depressed state. According to religious studies scholars from the College of Liberal Arts, this group's justification for not getting vaccinated lies in . The site, Bible Gateway, shared similar search trends. Did God Send the Coronavirus as a Biblical Plague from Revelation? 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. 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. 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. Two major problems with granting religious exemptions to vaccine mandates are that they are very hard to police, and that they are routinely gamed. 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. Pandemic-related scripture about God removing sickness received 90 times more queries than average when the lockdowns started. In addition, the following articles may offer more encouragement for all to remember as we face the trials of COVID-19 together: Discover Bible verses about Coronavirus related topics in this collection of scripture quotes. 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. Proud member By contrast, the Air Force had received 4,817 religious exemption requests but not granted a single one, as of Nov. 16. 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). Fourth, questions about religious exemptions to the vaccine mandate have prompted debate in the wider society, including among . After the state of Vermont removed its vaccine exemption for nonreligious personal beliefs in 2016, the proportion of kindergarten students with a religious exemption shot up from 0.5 percent to 3 . All rights reserved. I also try to eliminate stress from my life. The use of aborted human life at early stage of existence for scientific research violates my faith, beliefs, and biblical values.. 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.. Bible verses about the "mark of the beast," which Maldonado pointed to in his Sunday sermon, warn Christians about a future where the Antichrist takes over the world economy and prevents people who don't have that mark from buying or selling food. 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