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A recent PPRI poll found that 80% of U.S. Catholics support vaccination, with only 7% as "vaccine refusers." In . Two Catholic organizations issued statements in July urging against imposing a coronavirus vaccine mandate without conscience, religious or medical exemptions. I Vaccination: A Biblical and Theological Reflection. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.. Labs Scientists are hard at work on developing an effective vaccine against the virus. Together they lead us to God by teaching us something of the wise and beneficent laws through which He works.. After studying Job, I read the book of the weeping prophet Jeremiah, who stated, Heal me and I shall be healed(Jeremiah 17:4). 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. Various conspiracy theories terribly misapply biblical texts to create fear and dependency on false teachers. Biblical prophets do not speak against vaccinations. 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. On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. We can easily select and interpret Bible verses that agree with our individual mindsets regarding vaccines. 3:16, 17; 2 Cor. It comforts me in my journey with an incurable illness. Paul emphatically states that whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God (1 Cor. 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. The second argument cites a Bible verse that claims that the human body is God's temple of the Holy Spirit and argues that for that reason receiving a vaccine would be a sin. "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. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. But our citizenship is in heaven. What Does the Bible Say about Vaccinations? A segment of the states society protested vigorously. 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. COVID-19 vaccines "have nothing to do with" the term "mark of the beast," according to pastors and experts. What Is the Significance of Not the Letter but of the Spirit? Government and medical entities recommend vaccinations to slow its course. But these evangelicals never developed their approach to understanding the Bible in complete isolation. There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the grape harvest of Abiezer? Of David. This makes policing religious exemptions to vaccination hard - and rightly so. Passages from the Bible including Exodus 21:22-25; Psalm 51:5-6, 139:13-16; Jeremiah 1:4-5; and Luke 1:39-45 affirm the personhood of the unborn. The government policing people's religion raises a number of thorny issues. 1. Health is the greatest gain . . Vaccines preserve health and stop the spread of disease, and It is no denial of faith to use rational remedies judiciously.. As the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines against COVID-19 become available, it is critically important that Catholics and others have an accurate understanding of how these . Vaccine-induced immunity is acquired through the introduction of a killed or weakened form of the disease organism through vaccination. 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. 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. 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. You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. 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. He will also protect His people during the seven last plagues as He protected Israel from the Egyptian plagues (see Rev. The Bible foretells that the advent of the reign of the devil will be marked by humans being given numbers without. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John. As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. Into your hand they are delivered. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.Philippians 4:6, Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? How can we use this teaching to determine what does the Bible say about vaccines? Moses grew and was educated as a noble among Egyptians (1022). And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything. I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. No one had the strength to subdue him. It is Christlike to stick to your own prayer-guided convictions. He collected a lump of fig leaves, boiled them, and let Hezekiah drink from it. U Lets take for example the sickness of King Hezekiah. If there was ever a great opportunity for cherry-pickingusing Gods Word in a way that supports your ideas or lifethis is it. . I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. 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. The passage reads: "Then he said unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: Abd great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and. 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. They brought them before the tabernacle. Your input is important for us to improve it. 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. But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood. Perhaps you keep up with news about the COVID pandemic, shifting daily. 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. Protestants believed that the former approach was more compatible with the spirit of American liberty. Betty Dunn hopes her articles help you hold hands with God, a theme in her self-published memoirMedusa. All the days of his separation he shall eat nothing that is produced by the grapevine, not even the seeds or the skins. 1 Cor. 2.Firstto use mRNA vaccine technology against an infectious agent. God wants us to preserve healthours and everyone elsesin the best possible shape and conditions (3 John 1:2), not only to live longer, but to be able to serve others and be useful for as long as possible. We are rational beings, and our Creator gives us the ability to think and know what works best for our health. 127:1 ESV). 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. Biblical teaching can help to counter mis- and dis-information on health issues, even though it is not a medical textbook on health. Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 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). Today this American approach to reading and the interpreting the Bible is front and center in the arguments made by evangelical Christians seeking religious exemptions to COVID-19 vaccination mandates. This verse told, more than 3,000 years ago, to stay away from vaccine practices. 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?" "Forty-five states. How do we deal with the dilemma of choosing how to use medical intervention to care for our bodies? He is the Source and Giver of life for His children; He gives abundant life (John 11:25; 14:6). We have found nothing biblical that would stop people from being vaccinated. A Timeline of COVID-19 Developments in 2020, A. M. J. M. ANAGED . The Catholic Church concluded, in a 2005 statement, that those who. In other words, he distanced himself from that kind of ethical stance. Everything is lawful, but not everything builds others up. The Prophet wrote about our human temple of God with the words of Psalm 139:14: "I am fearfully and wonderfully made." These preachers built followers around innovative readings of the Scriptures. God commands that we protect life and care for the health of our neighbors (Lev. And we can thank Him and His human agents for the good they do in preserving and restoring life (Dan. 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. OpenBible.info It shall be given you, even to the half of my kingdom. And Esther said, If it please the king, let the king and Haman come today to a feast that I have prepared for the king. Then the king said, Bring Haman quickly, so that we may do as Esther has asked. So the king and Haman came to the feast that Esther had prepared. When a trumpet is blown, hear! While declaring the splendors of creation, God asked rhetorically, Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?(Job 38:4). heal the sick . It's a symbolic way of John saying are you a believer or not?" The mark of the beast is about the distortion of Gods character of love by accepting the non-biblical teachings of Sunday sacredness and the immortality of the soul, including eternal torture in hell. 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. the kingdom of God has come near to you(Luke 10:9). Pharisees protested when Jesus healed on the sabbath. You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 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,. We deeply appreciate each day God gives us after a severe illness. The fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth and upon every bird of the heavens, upon everything that creeps on the ground and all the fish of the sea. Love does no harm to a neighbor. And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth's abominations. And the light of a lamp will shine in you no more, and the voice of bridegroom and bride will be heard in you no more, for your merchants were the great ones of the earth, and all nations were deceived by your sorcery. If they are not allowed to carry out their personal convictions based on what the Bible teaches, they would be sinning against God. But Peter and the apostles answered, We must obey God rather than men. 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. 4 The city of Pergamum, too, had long been a hotbed for imperial worship. W For example, some Christian Scientists may decline to receive the vaccine. 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 he was preaching the word to them. Prevention is always more important than actual healing. Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. 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. The Holy Scriptures present important health principles that are to be (a) the bases of such reflections, (b) beneficial components, and (c) elements we can implement in everyday routines of life. From my perspective, the response of some evangelicals to the vaccine reveals the dark side of the Protestant Reformation. 8. 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. Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church (Mountain View, CA: Pacific Press Pub. 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. Chaos is part of creation, but God didnt bring chaos. December 20, 2020. R One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Without a church hierarchy to reign them in, these evangelical pied pipers had little accountability. E Prayful application of Gods provisions preserves our life and protects others from being harmed. 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. Publisher: OpenBible.info. And he made side chambers all around. First observation: in Romans 3:8, some of Paul's adversaries accused him of "do [ing] evil that good may come." Paul responded to this, that it was a slanderous charge. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. Ah, land of whirring wings that is beyond the rivers of Cush, which sends ambassadors by the sea, in vessels of papyrus on the waters! 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. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. (Isaiah 41:10) And he said to her, Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.. 5. Vaccines prevent complications of health deterioration. Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead. Christianity.com is a member of the Salem Web Network of sites including: Copyright 2023, Christianity.com. However, the Scriptures teaches that there are natural remedies to various illnesses. My dear brothers and sisters in Christ: Debates about mask mandates and required vaccinations are much in the news in light of Governor Pritzker's Executive Order seeking to slow the spread of COVID. The review of possible adverse effects of vaccines found convincing evidence of 14 health outcomesincluding seizures, inflammation of the brain, and faintingthat can be caused by certain vaccines, although these outcomes occur rarely. Back to the Third Commandment. They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. "I have a . Ellen White admonishes, Train the people to correct habits and healthful practices, remembering that an ounce of preventive is more value than a pound of cure. God created humans in His image (Gen. 1:27) as intelligent beings, to use their minds to reason and acquire knowledge and discern what is right, good, and profitable. 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. L Jesus could have healed a blind man by His word, but He used mud mixed with His saliva for this purpose, and had the man also go and wash his eyes in order to receive his sight (John 9:1, 6, 7). So, I kept cross-country skiing, kayaking, and hiking with difficulty. What have I been able to do in comparison with you? Then their anger against him subsided when he said this. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. In some . Isaiah 53:4 and Matthew 8:17 say Jesus took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses. In the 18th century, popular access to the Bible was one way that the British including the North American colonies distinguished themselves from Catholic nations that did not provide such access. You should do the same. Geocoding Our inflexible stands and outrage over whether to vaccinate or not break hearts, and pits people against each other and government health agencies. Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. 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. Their experience of continuous restoration to Gods image is seen in their character and lifestyle. A Reflection for the Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Times. 1 6 Some of us have children who have suffered vaccine reactions. 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. 10:31 NIV). In all these instances, the God of miracles chose to give lessons of collaborating closely between Himself and humans by using available remedies. And he said to them, What have I done now in comparison with you? Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe. 6. Then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth, and there were peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. People with . 12:4). We find purpose in activities that benefit others. Prayerfully consider the following principles: 1. And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. When she could hide him no longer, she took for him a basket made of bulrushes and daubed it with bitumen and pitch. 4. Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues; For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. So glorify God in your body. 6:19, 20, NIV; cf. Now a man from the house of Levi went and took as his wife a Levite woman. During Jesus ministry on earth, someone in the crowd asked him for advice on eating meat offered to pagan idols. It was written by: John Fea, Messiah College. 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. Prayers and support pour out as search and rescue operations are underway. The Lord sustains him on his sickbed; in his illness you restore him to full health. Getting the vaccine is something to pray about, to discern Gods will for your life and our collective life on this planet. . 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. 19:18; Ezek. Scientific modeling projections say we may contain the spread of COVID more effectively if everyone is vaccinated. 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. Job has a whole new perspective on misfortune in his life. Agreement with Firefly seeks to promote medical tourism to that Asian nation, leaders said. Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads. Vaccines save lives by stopping the spread of disease, but waiting too long has often made it too late. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.. 100 Bible Verses about Vaccinations 1 Corinthians 6:19-20ESV / 1,155 helpful votes HelpfulNot Helpful Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? His Holy Spirit resides in us as redeemed Christians. It Is So Painful to Care: How Do I Conquer Apathy? Ellen G. White, The Ministry of Healing (Mountain View, CA: Pacific Press, 1905), 231, 232. Jesus went around healing lepers and touched them without fear of getting leprosy, he said. One can argue that it may be recommended or even required when health or life is to be preserved. 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.. One evangelical Christian staffer's religious exemption request cites the use of aborted fetal . Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for you are my praise. 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. In 1 Corinthians 10:22-27,Paul writes, Everything is lawful, but not everything is beneficial. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. V However, it is not easy to understand Gods Word. Various religious doctrines direct people to take care of their bodies. White was herself vaccinated, and encouraged others to do so for at least two reasons: (1) personal health benefits enable us to efficiently serve others; and (2) vaccination prevents transmission of disease and contamination to others. O Then the men of Ephraim said to him, What is this that you have done to us, not to call us when you went to fight against Midian? And they accused him fiercely. Ellen White wisely advises: God's miracles do not always bear the outward semblance of miracles. So, health advice for the common good should hardly be construed as antagonistic to God. No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.. Prayers for healing and vitality do not annul the use of different remedies, surgeries, medicines, or vaccinations. Man the ramparts; watch the road; dress for battle; collect all your strength. A devout evangelical Christian friend of mine recently texted to explain why he was not getting the COVID-19 vaccine. Reading and praying on the verses below may expand your understanding of Gods intentions regarding our bodily health and the role of vaccines. Topics and verses are auto-generated from user searches. Protestant denominations formed around such interpretations. Vaccination has nothing to do with the mark of the beast or with false Babylonian teaching. 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. Last updated September 1, 2021. Sure he learned about religious practices and, because border was not clear for 301-680-6563. . When I studied the beautifully written book of Job, I heard Gods answer to Jobs misery over losses in health, property, and family. 103:3; Luke 4:40; 6:18; 7:21).