When she could hide him no longer, she took for him a basket made of bulrushes and daubed it with bitumen and pitch. Ignorance may try to support skepticism by appealing to science; but instead of upholding skepticism, true science contributes fresh evidences of the wisdom and power of God. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple. I will say to the Lord, My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust. For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. Vaccines violate our ability to follow the teachings of the Bible. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast. It is not a denial of faith to use such remedies as God has provided to alleviate pain and to aid nature in her work of restoration. God has put it in our power to obtain a knowledge of the laws of life. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Cite this page: Editor: Stephen Smith. 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. Meanwhile, we all await the ultimate kingdom of God, where there is no sickness or dyingand we all get along. The chariots race madly through the streets; they rush to and fro through the squares; they gleam like torches; they dart like lightning. Lets take for example the sickness of King Hezekiah. Catholics may morally use vaccines, but they are also free to refuse them for reasons of conscience or prudence. "This mark of the beast is not a mark, a literal mark that we take in a gradual unfolding of God's plan until the end of the earth. 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? And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, Son, your sins are forgiven. For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. U A recent PPRI poll found that 80% of U.S. Catholics support vaccination, with only 7% as "vaccine refusers." In . My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. From his fellow man I will require a reckoning for the life of man. There is some portion of the population who will not receive the vaccine for religious reasons. Now the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river, while her young women walked beside the river. Humans also need to apply common sense to lifes problems. Christians and the general public are divided on the need for vaccines to prevent illness, particularly regarding the vaccine for COVID-19. The sons of Joel: Shemaiah his son, Gog his son, Shimei his son, Micah his son, Reaiah his son, Baal his son, As for you, you whitewash with lies; worthless physicians are you all. "Forty-five states. In the Bible there are no Mothers Against Drunk Driving groups, anti-smoking campaigns, instructions on gym classes or breathing fresh air, drinking 68 glasses of water every day, washing your hands before each meal, brushing your teeth, and so on. In other words, he distanced himself from that kind of ethical stance. In some instances, plaintiffs have cited specific Bible verses to support their opposition to the vaccine, such as I Corinthians 6:19, Psalm 139:13 and Isaiah 49:1. There is no sickness or disease that He cannot heal. 4. In all its splendor, Solomons temple in Jerusalem housed the Spirit of God. God, then sent prophet Isaiah to give the king the medicine. 3. This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. What have I been able to do in comparison with you? Then their anger against him subsided when he said this. We should employ every facility for the restoration of health, taking every advantage possible, working in harmony with natural laws. God commands that we protect life and care for the health of our neighbors (Lev. "This goes against our religious belief and religious teaching," the letter states without elaborating. For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life. In our COVID-19 debates, we can get so wrapped up in opinions that we forget to ask, "what does the Bible say about vaccines?" Q The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. The chariots come with flashing metal on the day he musters them; the cypress spears are brandished. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. While this fear of Catholics was mostly rhetorical in nature, there were a few moments of violence. The same sound rule must be applied to vaccinations: what is not prohibited is acceptable when it is in harmony with Gods revealed health principles. Maybe like-minded includes respecting each others convictions regarding the role of medicine in maintaining personal health. Last updated September 1, 2021. Stop regarding man in whose nostrils is breath, for of what account is he? And I will bring a sword upon you, that shall execute vengeance for the covenant. I have worked on my health with the great help of a medical community. Agreement with Firefly seeks to promote medical tourism to that Asian nation, leaders said. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Jesus went around healing lepers and touched them without fear of getting leprosy, he said. Getting the vaccine is something to pray about, to discern Gods will for your life and our collective life on this planet. Many pro-life Catholics face a dilemma of conscience over the use of vaccines whose viral agents are grown on a culture of fetal cells derived from abortions. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. Ellen White wisely advises: God's miracles do not always bear the outward semblance of miracles. There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her servant woman, and she took it. 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. Go, you swift messengers, to a nation tall and smooth, to a people feared near and far, a nation mighty and conquering, whose land the rivers divide. Ron DeSantis makes California pilgrimage to woo influential Republicans, With latest donations, Plaza Theatre restoration nears fundraising goal. A Prayer for. Sayings of the Buddha S-4 Table 1C. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. " Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Philippians 4:6 Where Does the Bible Talk About Our Bodies? Scientists are hard at work on developing an effective vaccine against the virus. 103:3; Luke 4:40; 6:18; 7:21). Due to medical studies, there have been enormous advances in healing; however, many medical procedures and medicines come with a high-risk factor. But only the Lord of heaven can be guaranteed to preserve and restore health when He so chooses. As everyone know, there is no guarantee the exemption will be grantedbut where it's not, a denial . God corralled the chaos into creation. Prayerfully consider the following principles: 1. Health is the greatest gain . . 12501 OLD COLUMBIA PIKE, SILVER SPRING, MD 20904 USA. A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Then from the smoke came locusts on the earth, and they were given power like the power of scorpions of the earth. The problem is that the same people who eagerly promote anti-vaccine misinformation are just as eager to misuse religion to avoid . I care for the work of Gods hands(Isaiah 64:8) as a steward to my small part of creation. Though it was true an emperor would be deified after he died, many Greeks living in various cities throughout the eastern parts of the empire jumped the gun; they would worship the Roman emperor while he was still alive. Our view and understanding of people going through a similar situation are forever changed. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? This story that St. Luke tells in his gospel (17:11-19) is not the only Bible verse I have seen and heard evangelical Christians use to justify anti-vaccine convictions. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. Pro-mask or anti-mask? As a result of low vaccination rates in the Dutch "Bible Belt," more than 1,200 people came down with measles in a 2013 outbreak. Romans 15:13. 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. The vestibule in front of the nave of the house was twenty cubits long, equal to the width of the house, and ten cubits deep in front of the house. 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. 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. Considering that Ellen White chose to be vaccinated both for herself and for the benefit of the community, it seems we have been given a good course to follow ourselves. For thus the Lord said to me: I will quietly look from my dwelling like clear heat in sunshine, like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest. For before the harvest, when the blossom is over, and the flower becomes a ripening grape, he cuts off the shoots with pruning hooks, and the spreading branches he lops off and clears away. (Could this be a metaphor for doctor-prescribed drugs today?). And, his angels shall protect you. (No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.). Indeed, the importance of vaccinations from the biblical-theological perspective can be demonstrated from multiple angles. Jesus also preached on a broader view of a Kosher dietrelated to our current dilemma over prescription and non-prescription use of drugsas stated in the passages from Marks gospel and I Corinthians. Man the ramparts; watch the road; dress for battle; collect all your strength. Some are stories, some are songs to bring you joy and hope, some are parables meant to convey his religious message, and some are instructions for our lives to be led with moral character. If anyone destroys Gods temple, God will destroy that person; for Gods temple is sacred, and you together are that temple. Jackie Gale has never had a single vaccination because she believes that the Bible commands Christians to honor God regarding how the care for their bodies and not inject extra chemicals into one's body, according to a letter to UAB President Ray L. Watts and the university's lawyer John Daniel from First Liberty Institute attorney Christine Pratt. But there is another subset of the denomination that describes . Some protesters reacted with violence in Michigan and Washington, D.C. A clean spirit encourages and supports other people with love. God has given into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb. Johnson &. M N Therefore honor God with your bodies (1 Cor. Mindful of the Church's moral teaching, he encourages Catholics to receive a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine for the sake of oneself, our loved ones, and the common good. If our bodies are not our own, and we are accountable to God for how we care for them, and if God will require an account of our love toward our neighbor,then caring for our own health as well as for that of our neighbor is a must. God promised to heal him, yet the very prophet who brought the good news directed that the bandage of figs be applied to his wound. In the same way, it would be presumptuous and arrogant on our part to ask God to give us good health while we neglect health principles, and remain unwilling to study and apply the results of modern medicine that He has enabled us to discover for helping suffering humanity. Such misinformation is connected to confusion about the mRNA basis of vaccinations against the coronavirus and SARS. For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him. When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. During the 1,500-year period that the Bible was written, it did not mention anything about vaccinations because synthetic medicine has not yet been discovered yet. May He graciously grant us discernment and power to act unselfishly according to His will so that we can be blessed by Him and be a blessing to others. Vaccine-induced immunity is acquired through the introduction of a killed or weakened form of the disease organism through vaccination. And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne, and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel. However, the Scriptures teaches that there are natural remedies to various illnesses. It comforts me in my journey with an incurable illness. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? 2. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. Having done all that we possibly can, we are to keep asking in faith for health and strength. God gives us no encouragement that He will do for us what we can do for ourselves.. His Holy Spirit resides in us as redeemed Christians. Check out her blog atBetty by Elizabeth Dunning and her website,www.elizabethdunning-wix.com. There are many Bible verses that convey that if we're saved, we are in Christ and he is in us. It can be verbal. And if you gather within your cities, I will send pestilence among you, and you shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy. Our royal home lies in this future world. So, health advice for the common good should hardly be construed as antagonistic to God. It is before his own master that he stands or falls. A Reflection for the Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Times. For many will come in my name, saying, I am the Christ, and they will lead many astray. One interpretation of this verse could be that vaccinations serve the common good. On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king's palace, in front of the king's quarters, while the king was sitting on his royal throne inside the throne room opposite the entrance to the palace. This dilemma has become increasingly apparent in light of recent . 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). But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. Christian New Testament (1) Passages cited to support immunization S-7 . Until the time is completed for which he separates himself to the Lord, he shall be holy. Prevention is always more important than actual healing. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. And he made side chambers all around. More specifically, he entrusted his disciples to . Many who believe in the sanctity of life sincerely believe it is inappropriate to have even the slightest connection with abortion, even if that connection is remote. And he was preaching the word to them. Unless otherwise indicated, all content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License. White encouraged others to take a smallpox vaccination, and took it herself, according to eyewitness D. E. Robinson, one of her secretaries: Ellen White was vaccinated and urged her helpers, those connected with her, to be vaccinated. She was aware that it would protect her as well as others: She also recognized the danger of their exposing others if they failed to take this precaution. She wisely advised, Those who seek healing by prayer should not neglect to make use of the remedial agencies within their reach. This story that St. Luke tells in his gospel (17:11-19) is not the only Bible verse I have seen and heard evangelical Christians use to justify anti-vaccine convictions. Vaccination should then be applied according to our best knowledge and health conditions. R When a trumpet is blown, hear! If the Holy Spirit cannot dwell in a body that has been contaminated by chemicals or debilitated by injury (let alone in a body injected with a safe and effective vaccine), then countless people who have fallen victim to natural or manmade disasters would be bereft of the presence of God. While viruses are created to protect our health, a number of Christians have been against COVID-19 vaccinations. To avoid being sick is a biblical mandate (John 10:10; 1 Cor 6:20; 3 John 2). And he answered them, Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? President-elect Joe Biden has said he won't make vaccines mandatory nationwide, although employers and states may require people to get vaccinated before allowing them back into workplaces,. 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. See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. K If you need both wisdom and calm about your next steps concerning the vaccine, here are four prayers to usher you into God's presence where you can experience His perfect peace. Can an employee object to mandatory COVID-19 vaccines on religiousgrounds? Jeremiah was lamenting the behavior of Israelites captive in Babylon, who succumbed to worshipping false gods. It was written by: John Fea, Messiah College. It was neither necessary nor practical to enumerate all that was allowed: you may eat from the apple, orange, fig, pear, banana, and so on. Two groups that have been particularly hesitant about getting vaccinated are. It is Christlike to stick to your own prayer-guided convictions. Allowed are activities that are congruent with Gods revelation, though not directly mentioned in the Bible. 5 . December 02, 2021 9:34 AM Vaccine Debates Are Responsible for 2021's Fastest-Growing Bible Search Term: Sorcery December 03, 2020 6:00 AM 2020's Most-Read Bible Verse: 'Do Not Fear' I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments.