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. After studying Job, I read the book of the weeping prophet Jeremiah, who stated, Heal me and I shall be healed(Jeremiah 17:4). But some Catholics wrongly support "religious" exemptions on the basis . Here are six important things you need to know: Christy Edwards. 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. During this time of global pandemic with COVID-19, this Psalm speaks of God's presence, power, and protection against fear. 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. 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. By the time Protestants started forming settlements in North America, there were distinctly Anglican, Presbyterian, Anabaptist, Lutheran and Quaker reading of the Bible. 6. First, quick development of the COVID-19 vaccine does not mean it is unsafe. Members and sponsors make THE CITY possible. Philippians 4:6 made the top searched Bible verse list. The doctrine of the liberty of conscience was prominent and instrumental in shaping religious liberty in the United States. Whether you agree with their decision or not God will accept them regardless of how they choose. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 2020 8 Apr. Today the . 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. Very clearly the Torah says choose life.. God answered Job with a lengthy speech on His creation. Fear is the one emotion God doesn't want to overtake us; because when we . These search spiked to 100 times the average in a week. To make a credible argument against the vaccine mandate, an employee would have to prove they do not take those drugs and many others, the legal experts said. The court didnt question the validity of the vaccine mandate, but found the way the DOE judged the requests to be legally lacking. Mather also faced violence as a bomb was thrown through the window of his house on November 13, 1721, with the attached note: Cotton Mather, you dog, dam[n] you! "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. Nor am I afraid of my face; it is now as the Lord, has made it, and it will be so after the small-pox. The most common verses came from 1. Life is Gods precious gift to us, not to be squandered. Photo credit: GettyImages/Richard Johnson. Reading and praying on the verses below may expand your understanding of God's intentions regarding our bodily health and the role of vaccines. Various religious doctrines direct people to take care of their bodies. If an employer is mandating the vaccine, you must consider your position. It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon (v. 11). With science and scripture, a Baltimore pastor is fighting Covid-19 vaccine skepticism. 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. These numbers are a snapshot in time they are constantly moving as agencies process the requests, Schwartz said. Multiple pastors preached against it, such as William Douglass who condemned those who received inoculation as being guilty of a sinful distrust of God, though he would change his mind in later years. City Hall is far behind in going through mandate-exemption requests from municipal workers. 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. It does not address them as those came out late 2020 and really started being pushed in 2021. 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. 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 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. California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. If there was ever a great opportunity for cherry-pickingusing Gods Word in a way that supports your ideas or lifethis is it. the kingdom of God has come near to you(Luke 10:9). 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. every morning before breakfast, and pray it over until the cure is effected. In the incredible wonder, beauty, and complexity of creation, there is chaos. 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. As people read the Bible many for the first time they inevitably began to interpret it as well. While Newton was not an advocate for inoculation, he advocated for liberty of conscience while calling his audience to trust the Lord. or make a one-time gift. However, it is not easy to understand Gods Word. It is Christlike to stick to your own prayer-guided convictions. Professor of American History, Messiah College. A reply to the objections made against taking the small pox in the way of inoculation from principles of conscience (Boston: Stationers Arms, 1730). EDITOR'S NOTE: This article is a resource for many seeking to understand if the Coronavirus pandemic is an End Times plague. Even young and healthy people can be infected with COVID-19. 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. Does the Pandemic Still Affect Church Attendance? Scriptures can help us to make sense of the confusion we see around us with people in fear of the Coronavirus. 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. Subscribe to receive more stories, directly in your inbox! Perhaps more time in prayer, less time reacting in fear and anger would help bring peace in this difficult, pandemic time. In an article published last week on theLAB, COVID-19 and The Mark of the Beast, I claimed that the mark of the beast (666) is most likely not a physical or visible mark (Rev. What Is the Mark of the Beast in the Bible? Why Did Pharaoh Tell Joseph to Enjoy the 'Fat of the Land'? Some members of the military are being required to be interviewed by chaplains, with the intent of determining the legitimacy of ones convictions. As Psalm 119:11 reminds us, "I have hidden Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You.". February 3, 2021 Can an employee object to. "For me . 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. Among those who were inoculated, the mortality rate dropped to 2 percent.1Though inoculation protected most of those who received it, this success came at the price of human life, as a few of those who were sickened through inoculation died. 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. [Over 110,000 readers rely on The Conversations newsletter to understand the world. Check out her blog atBetty by Elizabeth Dunning and her website,www.elizabethdunning-wix.com. Religious authority must never be ceded to the state or to employers to determine whether or not ones convictions are legitimate. So, I kept cross-country skiing, kayaking, and hiking with difficulty. My third reason for refusing vaccines is due to the fact that vaccines / inoculation are the renown Mark of the Beast. One particular fringe theory arose out of evangelical apocalypticism: that the Covid-19 vaccine is the "mark of the beast"a sign of the end times and a symbol of alignment with the Antichrist. Jeremiah was lamenting the behavior of Israelites captive in Babylon, who succumbed to worshipping false gods. (Mark 7:14-15). But our citizenship is in heaven. Maybe like-minded includes respecting each others convictions regarding the role of medicine in maintaining personal health. There may be minimal or no symptoms. Give my love to your friend. While declaring the splendors of creation, God asked rhetorically, Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?(Job 38:4). Hundreds of people demonstrated against vaccine mandates during a protest outside City Hall, Nov. 3, 2021. The Psalms in Practice. 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. Two major problems with granting religious exemptions to vaccine mandates are that they are very hard to police, and that they are routinely gamed. God corralled the chaos into creation. Those who mandate vaccines give little room for liberty of conscience. Whatever does not proceed from faith is sin. There is no law . There is still much to creation we cant control in the present time. 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. Here are the top six searched Bible verses during the COVID-19 pandemic. People have to prove that the mandate somehow targets their religion in order to be exempt from the requirement. 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. Over time, this conviction gathered momentum. As mandates multiply across society, how should one respond? Instead of giving one another the liberty of conscience, many are all too willing to embrace coercion when persuasion has failed. Did God Send the Coronavirus as a Biblical Plague from Revelation? Bible Verses about Coronavirus: Scripture Quotes on Plagues, End Times and God's Judgment During this Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, many people are turning to the Word of God for guidance and comfort in these tumultuous times. 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. This is a good case . Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. As years passed, I honored my body by slowing down my activities and retiring early from work. Read the full text of Newtons letter below: It seems I must write something about the small-pox, but I know not well what: having had it myself, I cannot judge how I would feel if I were actually exposed to it. Dr. David Jeremiah Turning Point. In fact, the purpose of the Tribulation itself is to bring pressure for men to surrender to Jesus and find salvation." With that in mind, let us look three centuries backward to review how the church responded to the smallpox inoculation controversy of 1721. 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 . And the truth is, we need the Word of the Lord far more than we need the news of the world . YouVersion, responsible for one of the most popular Bible Apps, reported an 80 percent increase in search during the pandemic, totaling 600 million worldwide. Religious exemptions are not obligated. Meanwhile, the Omicron variant looms. Almost all the responses from SDPD staff reviewed by KPBS included references to specific Bible verses to justify not taking the COVID-19 vaccine. 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. Nonprofits are handling the exemption requests in varying ways. We can easily select and interpret Bible verses that agree with our individual mindsets regarding vaccines. The Bible Gateway site also noticed an increase in verses related to government authority go up at least 50 times the average during the Election. 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. 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. Prior to this, most men and women in Europe were exposed to the Bible through the Vulgate, a Latin version of the Old and New Testaments that only educated men mostly Catholic priests could read. One interpretation of this verse could be that vaccinations serve the common good. This verse has been a mantra for me since I was diagnosed with a severe health problem in middle age, pre-COVID. The goal isnt about wealth and prosperity, but about the mission of bringing Gods message to the world. John Newtons letter of pastoral counsel regarding smallpox inoculation easily bridges the gap from the past to the present, and it contains wise counsel for today. Chaos is part of creation, but God didnt bring chaos. Our inflexible stands and outrage over whether to vaccinate or not break hearts, and pits people against each other and government health agencies. employee regarding their sincerely[-]held religious beliefs or practices. We see through this verse that Gods love for us is unconditional. Scripture reminds us that God began good work in us and through us. However, few company leaders have . Our royal home lies in this future world. Jeffrey Denny. 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. 10) Since the very beginning of creation "The Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being." Mather convinced one doctor by the name of Zabdiel Boylston to begin inoculations. Founders Ministries is committed to encouraging the recovery of the gospel and the biblical reformation of local churches. Scriptures can help us to make sense of the confusion we see around us with people in fear of the Coronavirus. 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. When large numbers of Irish and German immigrants arrived on American shores in the middle decades of the 19th century, evangelicals drew on longstanding anti-Catholic prejudices. We simply must trust that God is in control and understands our pain. 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. Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning, Bible Verses about Coronavirus: Scripture Quotes on Plagues, End Times and God's Judgment. 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). Edmund Massey, A sermon against the dangerous and sinful practice of inoculation (London: Angel in Cornhill, 1722). 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. To keep my mortal breath. Youve probably heard people say were all in the same boat to describe how COVID-19 has transformed our lives. Scientific modeling projections say we may contain the spread of COVID more effectively if everyone is vaccinated. Michigans governor enforced quarantines and mask wearing to slow the spread of COVID-19. He added that the city has not broken down the data between religious and medical requests. That law mandates employers give their employees reasonable accommodation for their faiths. I have faith in the body that God gave me to fight Covid. California, which abolished nonmedical exemptions for childhood vaccination in 2015, has led the way on covid vaccine mandates. 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. 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