He collected a lump of fig leaves, boiled them, and let Hezekiah drink from it. 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. Job has a whole new perspective on misfortune in his life. But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood. 1. My hour has not yet come. His mother said to the servants, Do whatever he tells you. Now when the Pharisees gathered to him, with some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem, they saw that some of his disciples ate with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. And he was preaching the word to them. And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. Betty Dunn hopes her articles help you hold hands with God, a theme in her self-published memoirMedusa. ", (Excerpted from "Should Christians Get Vaccinated?" 3. No one had the strength to subdue him. And the angel said in reply, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Job could not understand why a good person like him was punished with so much misfortune. And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. Information on statistics, affected populations, government interventions, health system exhaustion, and concerned citizen protests have become part of our media landscape and conversations for the past two years. 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. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John. Then the Lord said to Moses, Accept these from them, that they may be used in the service of the tent of meeting, and give them to the Levites, to each man according to his service. Visit the Bible online to search for words if you dont know the specific passage yourre looking for. We can easily select and interpret Bible verses that agree with our individual mindsets regarding vaccines. A blessed, Christ-like life now and joy in a future world describes the kingdom of God. One can argue that it may be recommended or even required when health or life is to be preserved. 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. The spread of COVID-19 and the mass rollout of . Some protesters reacted with violence in Michigan and Washington, D.C. A clean spirit encourages and supports other people with love. If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Some Christians have adversity to vaccines, because the original vaccines made relied on use of cells from aborted fetuses. Nothing new to your ears, right? Moses grew and was educated as a noble among Egyptians (1022). Why a 19th-century Russian anarchist is relevant to the mask and vaccinedebate. When she could hide him no longer, she took for him a basket made of bulrushes and daubed it with bitumen and pitch. The Prophet wrote about our human temple of God with the words of Psalm 139:14: "I am fearfully and wonderfully made." Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. These activities point to vaccination when there is a need for it and it is available. S The scatterer has come up against you. While viruses are created to protect our health, a number of Christians have been against COVID-19 vaccinations. Such misinformation is connected to confusion about the mRNA basis of vaccinations against the coronavirus and SARS. And, his angels shall protect you. The Catholic Church concluded, in a 2005 statement, that those who. Labs With science and scripture, a pastor fights Covid-19 vaccine skepticism Health With science and scripture, a Baltimore pastor is fighting Covid-19 vaccine skepticism By Amy Sokolow Reprints. A devout evangelical Christian friend of mine recently texted to explain why he was not getting the COVID-19 vaccine. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. The book of Revelation 18:23 says "The light of a lamp shall. But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short! And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. The ability to work for a living and play for recreation is diminished. 2.Firstto use mRNA vaccine technology against an infectious agent. 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. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. Lectures and studies in this line will prove of the highest value. Vaccination is about preventing a potentially deadly virus from spreading within us or through us to others. 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. 2. The chariots come with flashing metal on the day he musters them; the cypress spears are brandished. They brought them before the tabernacle. 5:10). The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe. 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. The Bible foretells that the advent of the reign of the devil will be marked by humans being given numbers without. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. These so-called Bible riots revealed the deep tensions between the individualistic and common-sensical approach to biblical interpretation common among Protestants and a Catholic view of reading the Bible that was always filtered through the historic teachings of the Church and its theologians. Perhaps the journey through bad health is a gift for all of us. 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. So that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. Perhaps more time in prayer, less time reacting in fear and anger would help bring peace in this difficult, pandemic time. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! 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. However, getting through the initial grief and changes in my life and moving on to a place of greater faith and understanding was not an easy journey. 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. . Perhaps you have a more sophisticated form of this objection. There is some portion of the population who will not receive the vaccine for religious reasons. As Jesus said in Luke 12:31, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness; and all these things will be added unto you. The result may serve missiological objectives: If they [unbelievers] see that we are intelligent with regard to health, they will be more ready to believe that we are sound in Bible doctrines. On the other hand, she clearly warns: But when men advocate reform, and carry the matter to extremes, and are inconsistent in their course of action, people are not to blame if they do become disgusted with the health reform. These men are doing a work which Satan loves to see go on., Covid fatigue can be overcome with God. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. 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. When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 19:18; Ezek. 1. Scientific modeling projections say we may contain the spread of COVID more effectively if everyone is vaccinated. As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. The mark of the beast is about false worship involving spiritually poisonous doctrines that Scripture calls Babylonian teaching, reflecting the confusion of the tower of Babel. During Jesus ministry on earth, someone in the crowd asked him for advice on eating meat offered to pagan idols. There are still unknowns in the long-term research on vaccinations effects, but the benefits far surpass its known and potential problems. While the Bible may not use the word "vaccine," it gives clear principles about medicine and handling disputes with other Christians. 1. Maybe like-minded includes respecting each others convictions regarding the role of medicine in maintaining personal health. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.. 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. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. Assn., 1871), 2:377. The Bible teaches us that the body is created in the image of God 1 4 , the temple of the Holy Spirit 1 5 , a living sacrifice to the Lord. Beyond individual health, staying safe and keeping family and community safe are sound Christian motivations. So, health advice for the common good should hardly be construed as antagonistic to God. 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. Chaos is part of creation, but God didnt bring chaos. J Vaccination: A Biblical and Theological Reflection. And the tempter came and said to him, If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread. But he answered, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. But these evangelicals never developed their approach to understanding the Bible in complete isolation. by Clarence Haynes Jr.). I still repeat this verse from time to time. Saying, If you will diligently listen to the voice of the Lord your God, and do that which is right in his eyes, and give ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, your healer.. All such were included in the general statement of freedom to eat from any tree in the garden. However, the specific prohibition had to be stated explicitly. 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. He became well again, and his life was prolonged for another 15 years. 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. the vaccine's protection could take the vaccine while others who, for whatever reason, might wish to forego the . It is Christlike to stick to your own prayer-guided convictions. Vaccines violate our ability to follow the teachings of the Bible. This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666. the kingdom of God has come near to you(Luke 10:9). Z. Romans 14:23 The Lexham English Bible (LEB) 23 But the one who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not do so from faith, and everything that is not from faith is sin. . As people read the Bible many for the first time they inevitably began to interpret it as well. They are complementary. Publication date: Mar 2, 2023. TopicalBible 1 6 Some of us have children who have suffered vaccine reactions. As Luke 17:21 says, "the kingdom of God is within you.". They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. 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. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established. In the trenches of the COVID pandemic today, fear of contracting COVID has placed many people in an isolated, depressed state. Geocoding It was written by: John Fea, Messiah College. 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. In the incredible wonder, beauty, and complexity of creation, there is chaos. For the life of a creature is in the blood, Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine, If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, Love your neighbor as yourself,. Now a man from the house of Levi went and took as his wife a Levite woman. The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. Prayers for healing and vitality do not annul the use of different remedies, surgeries, medicines, or vaccinations. For 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. 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. And when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she won favor in his sight, and he held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, Come, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who is seated on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality, and with the wine of whose sexual immorality the dwellers on earth have become drunk. And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns. How can we use this teaching to determine what does the Bible say about vaccines? By: JiMoskala, for General Conference Health Ministries Department. The Bible also has something to say about a government mandating vaccines for everyone. 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.. Indeed, the importance of vaccinations from the biblical-theological perspective can be demonstrated from multiple angles. For he is God's servant for your good. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. John Fea does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. M Diligent study is also necessary. God answered Job with a lengthy speech on His creation. Some people argue getting injected with a foreign substance such as a vaccine would defile their bodies, which they say is sinful. Such living integrates and restores our physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, and social life by Gods grace, through His Word, and in the power of the Holy Spirit. With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. Health is the greatest gain . He is the Source and Giver of life for His children; He gives abundant life (John 11:25; 14:6). So while the pope has explicitly called on the faithful to be vaccinated as an "act of love," and while the Archdioceses of New York, Honolulu, Philadelphia, Chicago, and Los Angeles and the. He was already near to his death, when he asked the Lord to remember his obedience and prolong his life. 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. And he made for the house windows with recessed frames. V There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. Can an employee object to mandatory COVID-19 vaccines on religiousgrounds? . Man the ramparts; watch the road; dress for battle; collect all your strength. From my perspective, the response of some evangelicals to the vaccine reveals the dark side of the Protestant Reformation. The Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission compares such use to using organs from a person who was. 4 The city of Pergamum, too, had long been a hotbed for imperial worship. Prayers and support pour out as search and rescue operations are underway. God is the only Healer, the true Physician, who can heal all our diseases (Deut.