God Takes Your Hand to Comfort Your Fears and Help You But they can still infect other people nearby, including people in high-risk categories. The Bible tells you that your body is a temple. Probatum est. Jeremiah was lamenting the behavior of Israelites captive in Babylon, who succumbed to worshipping false gods. Seeking a religious exemption should very clearly rest on apparent and applicable religious beliefs. He rescues me unharmed" (Psalm 55:4-5, 16-18). During Jesus ministry on earth, someone in the crowd asked him for advice on eating meat offered to pagan idols. The Lord has blessed Ben and his wife Ricki with three children whom they are homeschooling. 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. 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. Back to the Third Commandment. Substantial Rehabilitations Could Help Explain Why. But Catholics might find that they cannot rely on their parish priest or their bishop to support them in this endeavor. EDITOR'S NOTE: This article is a resource for many seeking to understand if the Coronavirus pandemic is an End Times plague. 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. However, few company leaders have . As people read the Bible many for the first time they inevitably began to interpret it as well. Nothing outside a man can make him "unclean" by going into him. 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. A nonprofit worker contracted with the city claimed a religious exemption to the vaccine mandate. Check out her blog atBetty by Elizabeth Dunning and her website,www.elizabethdunning-wix.com. Our royal home lies in this future world. 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. Dwight provides a narrative of Edwards careful consideration of inoculation and his seeking of counsel before receiving the treatment that caused his death.5Edwards and multiple family members received the inoculation believing that it was a wise course of action, while entrusting themselves to the Lord. The chances of defeating the mandate are between slim and none and slim is out of town, said Manhattan-based lawyer Jerold Levine, who focuses on civil service and gun rights cases. Some houses are buzzing with kids home from school with no activities to attend, while other homes are unbearably quiet and lonely. Various religious doctrines direct people to take care of their bodies. . As Luke 17:21 says, "the kingdom of God is within you.". YouVersion, responsible for one of the most popular Bible Apps, reported an 80 percent increase in search during the pandemic, totaling 600 million worldwide. 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. 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. Pope Francis, the Holy See and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops say all the COVID-19 vaccines are morally acceptable. I prayed this verse daily, driving to work, sitting on my couch. 31 Bible Verses and Scriptures for Hope during COVID-19. 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 . Very clearly the Torah says choose life.. Barrier on What Does the Bible Say About Coronavirus: Is it a Sign of the End Times? 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. In Washington the process to receive a religious exemption from the COVID-19 vaccine is determined by the individual human resources department of the agency, school district or health care . "For me . The ability to work for a living and play for recreation is diminished. 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.. What should one do if there is no religious exemption? "For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." II Timothy 1:7 Therefore, Jesus said in Mark 16:18 that we believers would lay hands on the sick and they would recover. (Psalm 55:22) Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. It's no wonder because Psalm 91 is literally the 9-1-1 to our mighty God. 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. If a person should talk to me in this strain, most certainly I could not say, Notwithstanding all this, your safest way is to be inoculated. Accessed August 1, 2021. [6.] This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. 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? - Sort By Book Order. You can opt out at any time. Covid Mask & Testing Exemptions. 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. Religious exemptions are not obligated. Paul preached to the rowdy citizens of Corinth in 1 Corinthians 6:12, I have the right to do anything, you saybut not everything is beneficial. On March 22, 1758, Edwards died after receiving the smallpox inoculation. and Yes! Laycock believes that, under current precedent, employers could make a successful case against offering any religious exemptions to COVID-19 vaccine mandates. A weekly brief of our new teaching resources. 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. These preachers built followers around innovative readings of the Scriptures. Isaiah 41:10 YouVersion reported that Isaiah 41:10 was ranked the most read, searched and bookmarked verse on the. Some members of the military are being required to be interviewed by chaplains, with the intent of determining the legitimacy of ones convictions. 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. 7 And the swine, because he parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted, but - cheweth not the cud, he is unclean unto you. The letters flowed in as everyone from the pope to the prominent rabbis and imams has encouraged their followers to get the jabs. Although everyone has had different experiences navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, we are always happy to provide emotional or spiritual support when needed. Most have their human resources department decide, while others have put in place panels to review the requests. I honor my body in these ways. Fourth, questions about religious exemptions to the vaccine mandate have prompted debate in the wider society, including among . 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. Reprints. As workplaces have begun to require COVID-19 vaccinations for employees, some Catholic institutions insist that conscience exemptions are necessary. 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. The Psalms in Practice. John Price / Unsplash. Give my love to your friend. It was in the midst of this public health crisis that Cotton Mather began to promote an experimental inoculation that he had learned about from his slave Onesimus. Subscribe to receive more stories, directly in your inbox! But not with just a verse or two from the psalms, or even just one psalmbut with psalms. Ill inoculate you with this; and a pox to you.3 Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. 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. Christians and the general public are divided on the need for vaccines to prevent illness, particularly regarding the vaccine for COVID-19. The Bible says, "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin" (James 4:17 KJV). I believe that taking the vaccine would be an expression of my lack of faith in my God given immune system (018) (019). He will carry it out and complete it. Both are common sense and simple actions everyone can take to protect themselves and protect other people. One particular moment that is worth noting during a subsequent smallpox outbreak is the death of Jonathan Edwards. Mather convinced one doctor by the name of Zabdiel Boylston to begin inoculations. The Boston Smallpox Epidemic of 1721 By Amy Sokolow. Gavin Newsom's July 26 order for state employees . It took accepting grace from God for me to limit these activities. The New Covenant promise found in the Old Testament, made through Jesus, isnt about a nation. Some of us are living in extreme fear, and others are unburdened by the threat of health issues. Is it a matter of preference or a matter of conscience? The Apologetic Value of the Christian Story, will refuse AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson, while choosing Pfizer or Moderna, or rejecting them altogether. Job could not understand why a good person like him was punished with so much misfortune. The vaccine is made from aborted fetuses. Michigans governor enforced quarantines and mask wearing to slow the spread of COVID-19. Professor of American History, Messiah College. I wish we had all more faith to trust him with our bodies, our health, our provision, and our temporal comforts likewise. But if were being honest, the novel coronavirus has impacted us all in vastly different ways. All rights reserved. from Capital Bible Seminary (Lanham, MD), and is a D.Min. A segment of the states society protested vigorously. We are living in a time of uncertainty. 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. 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. New York State has removed its religious exemption option for health care workers, and . 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. Two similar cases by New York workers trying to overturn the government mandate are pending. the kingdom of God has come near to you(Luke 10:9). The doctrine of the liberty of conscience was prominent and instrumental in shaping religious liberty in the United States. The final passage worth noting as a top search is Romans 8:28, which says, And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. God assures us that He is working for good in our lives. 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. It was ascribed to by both Christians and Deists, and was foundational to Thomas Jeffersons authorship of theVirginia Statute of Religious Freedom. A pastor at Manhattan Baptist church wrote a letter on behalf of a congregant. "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace by the power of the Holy Spirit." 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 . Nothing could occur in our lives, in creation, time or space, that can change Gods love for you. 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. All employers should eliminate any religious exemptions for coronavirus vaccines for Christians, period. It is a rational response to the problems of the world, including the pandemic. 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. While many things continue to remain outside of our control, many find comfort in scripture to cope with difficult circumstances and face the unknown. This was passed by the General Assembly on January 16, 1786, and served as a forerunner to the First Amendments protection of religious liberty. Those staffers whose names were redacted are also covered by the vaccine mandate. But the president's mandate goes even further. Again, the idea that most people die "with" COVID-19 rather than "of" COVID-19 is a conspiracy theory that arose last summer. This epidemic would take 844 lives before it came to an end. Yet another letter writer wraps medical misinformation in a cloak of religious belief.. Every joy and success, every painful loss or failure, is part of His greater plan. 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. 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. Their Meaning and Significance During Apocalypse. "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. 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. I've seen 1 Corinthians 6:19 quoted in countless vaccine exemption requests. It is about people who have faith in God. Scriptures can help us to make sense of the confusion we see around us with people in fear of the Coronavirus. Proud member So, do not. God answered Job with a lengthy speech on His creation. The Protestant Reformation put the Bible in the hands of ordinary people. Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. Here are the top six searched Bible verses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some protesters reacted with violence in Michigan and Washington, D.C. A clean spirit encourages and supports other people with love. Scripture reminds us that God began good work in us and through us. 13:17)? 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.. The de Blasio administration has touted the mandate, noting it has pushed nearly 11,000 employees to get vaccinated since the Nov. 1 deadline. While declaring the splendors of creation, God asked rhetorically, Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?(Job 38:4). Sign up today.]. During this period, the United States also grew more democratic. This verse has been a mantra for me since I was diagnosed with a severe health problem in middle age, pre-COVID. 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. There is still much to creation we cant control in the present time. While the Bible may not use the word "vaccine," it gives clear principles about medicine and handling disputes with other Christians. We hope these verses encourage you and provide comfort, regardless of where youre at today. I have the right to do anythingbut I will not be mastered by anything. Prayer makes the distinction between right and wrong for you and your health situation much clearer. Amid this flux of ideas, what hasnt changed is the Bibles advice regarding the care of our bodies. 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. 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 New York Times, Sept. 11, 2021. The unnamed staffer is fulfilling her obligation to religious obligation to morality, the letter contends. One letter writer cites the use of aborted fetal cells in medical research as a violation of their faith. We welcome you to join us in our work to equip and encourage local churches. Religious freedom is a core value in the United States. 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." 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Subscribe to receive more stories, directly in your inbox healed me has been a mantra for me to these... Began to interpret it as well and instrumental in shaping religious liberty in the United States also grew more.! Atbetty by Elizabeth Dunning and her website, bible verses for covid exemption this period, novel... Morality, the letter contends the pandemic offer hope in some of the pandemic! Quarantines and mask wearing to slow the spread of COVID-19 panels to the.