But the city has been slow to go through applications for religious and medical exemptions, with just 27% of all requests processed so far, according to city records. This epidemic would take 844 lives before it came to an end. Is It Ok for Christians to Follow Zodiac Signs? Whether it concerns the global pandemic, your health, finances, the economy, or relationships, much of what is ahead of us in life remains uncertain. [1] Matthew Niederhuber, The Fight Over Inoculation During the 1721 Boston Smallpox Epidemic, Harvard University Medical School. 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. As for city employees, their religious and medical exemption applications are reviewed by each agencys Equal Opportunity Commission officer and human resources staffer. Romans 15:13. (2 Timothy 2:15)' Seeking a religious exemption should very clearly rest on apparent and applicable religious beliefs. There were also queries tied to justice, racism and oppression in the week following George Floyds death. Maldonado's approach to COVID-19 is also shaped by the prosperity gospel, a teaching . 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. 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. 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. Getting the vaccine is something to pray about, to discern Gods will for your life and our collective life on this planet. 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. The Lord has blessed Ben and his wife Ricki with three children whom they are homeschooling. 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. This vetting of beliefs should be alarming to any who value religious liberty. So Jesus is our coronavirus vaccine and mask. Let us not insist that anyone receives a medical treatment contrary to conscience, and let us not trample on the consciences of our brothers and sisters. Eric Kruszewski . Fear and trembling have beset me I call to God, and the Lord saves me. . Proud member 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. Download the Religious Exemption Forms (free) for Covid testing and masks . Does the Pandemic Still Affect Church Attendance? [3] Elizabeth A. Fenn. I stay close to God through prayer and reflection. It does not address them as those came out late 2020 and really started being pushed in 2021. I dare not advise; but if she can quietly return at the usual time, and neither run intentionally into the way of the small-pox, nor run out of the way, but leave it simply with the Lord, I shall not blame her. But the president's mandate goes even further. 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). Whether you agree with their decision or not God will accept them regardless of how they choose. Isaiah 41:10 says, So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. heal the sick . You can opt out at any time. However, if ones application of Scripture, wisdom, and conscience leads one to decline a particular medical treatment, this is an application of the doctrine of liberty of conscience. With that in mind, let us look three centuries backward to review how the church responded to the smallpox inoculation controversy of 1721. Government and medical entities recommend vaccinations to slow its course. YouVersion, responsible for one of the most popular Bible Apps, reported an 80 percent increase in search during the pandemic, totaling 600 million worldwide. Staffers do not need to belong to a specific religious group but must prove they have sincerely held religious beliefs that go against the vaccine mandate. The goal isnt about wealth and prosperity, but about the mission of bringing Gods message to the world. YouVersion reported that Isaiah 41:10 was ranked the most read, searched and bookmarked verse on the Bible app. . He warns us against fear because it can get in the way of the blessings and answered prayers that are in store for us. I have faith in the body that God gave me to fight Covid. I've seen 1 Corinthians 6:19 quoted in countless vaccine exemption requests. EDITOR'S NOTE: This article is a resource for many seeking to understand if the Coronavirus pandemic is an End Times plague. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Let me fall into the hands of the Lord, (for his mercies are great,), and not into the hands of men. Those staffers whose names were redacted are also covered by the vaccine mandate. One interpretation of this verse could be that vaccinations serve the common good. The use of aborted human life at early stage of existence for scientific research violates my faith, beliefs, and biblical values.. The ability to work for a living and play for recreation is diminished. It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon (v. 11). 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. It feels as if this vaccine was developed overnight, but in fact scientists have been studying and working with messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines, the basis for the COVID-19 vaccine, for decades. In fact, the purpose of the Tribulation itself is to bring pressure for men to surrender to Jesus and find salvation." When Does Forgiveness Not Lead to Reconciliation? Is it a matter of preference or a matter of conscience? The church has determined 'Covid' to be a fake plague no more dangerous than the flu and that the measures being used for the first time in history to 'combat it' are Satanically-inspired and contravene New Testament scripture - by design. Philippians 4:6 made the top searched Bible verse list. Those who mandate vaccines give little room for liberty of conscience. (Could this be a metaphor for doctor-prescribed drugs today?). 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. In addition to this, Massey argued that medical practitioners are assuming the role of God in intentionally giving the disease to their patients. This is chronicled by his great-grandson, Sereno Edwards Dwight, inThe Works of President Edwards with a Memoir of His Life. However, few company leaders have . It is easy for a spirit of worry to take over. 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. The de Blasio administration has touted the mandate, noting it has pushed nearly 11,000 employees to get vaccinated since the Nov. 1 deadline. 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. 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. 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. God answered Job with a lengthy speech on His creation. We hope it can direct you toward scriptural truths about plagues and a study of the Book of Revelation. Democratic Gov. 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. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination. Join us throughout the week for worship, fellowship, Bible study, meals, community service and fun. It is not rooted in emotions or feelings. In reading multiple sermons and letters from this period, opposing sides of the inoculation debate would manipulate Scripture to advocate for their position, sometimes with both sides using the sixth commandment to argue their case. Hundreds of FDNY members and other emergency responders packed the street outside Gracie Mansion to protest the vaccine mandate for city workers, Oct. 28, 2021. For example, in 1844, nativist Protestants, responding to rumors that Catholics were trying to remove the Bible from Philadelphia public schools, destroyed two of the citys Catholic churches before the Pennsylvania militia stopped the violence. Protestants believed that the former approach was more compatible with the spirit of American liberty. New Testament scholar and charismatic Christian Craig Keener shot down arguments that the COVID-19 vaccine could represent the mark of the beast, noting the medical treatment is not accompanied. Fair enough. I prayed this verse daily, driving to work, sitting on my couch. Tandon v. Newsom didn't center on a traditionally hot-button issue like abortion or LGBTQ rights; it focused on COVID-19. It has become common for Christians to claim that being forced to take the COVID-19 vaccine is a violation of their religious convictions because their body is a temple, and they are commanded to keep it pure. 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. 6. If they reject the filing, city workers can appeal that decision to a panel composed of members from the Law Department, Department of Citywide Administrative Services, and New York City Commission on Human Rights. It is Christlike to stick to your own prayer-guided convictions. by Clarence Haynes Jr.). [5] Sereno Edwards Dwight, The Works of President Edwards with a Memoir of His Life, 10 vols., (New York: S. Converse, 1829). 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. The Protestant Reformation put the Bible in the hands of ordinary people. 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.. Small differences over how to interpret the Bible often resulted in the creation of new sects such as the Latter Day Saints, the Restorationists (Disciples of Christ and Churches of Christ), Adventists and various evangelical offshoots of more longstanding denominations such as Presbyterians, Baptists, Methodists and Quakers. Maybe like-minded includes respecting each others convictions regarding the role of medicine in maintaining personal health. I certainly dont have the answers to solving these huge problems. Another is that God will make good on His promises. While many things continue to remain outside of our control, many find comfort in scripture to cope with difficult circumstances and face the unknown. 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. Luke 21:11 - And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven. of " 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? 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. One particular moment that is worth noting during a subsequent smallpox outbreak is the death of Jonathan Edwards. What Does the Bible Say About Coronavirus: Is it a Sign of the End Times? 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. 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