This kind of bible interpretation can justify anything, and itsdangerous. The church has been involved in COVID controversies before, criticized for holding indoor services against public health orders last year and ignoring masking rules. But What Counts as Religious? New York Times, 11 September 2021, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/11/us/covid-vaccine-religion-exemption.html?smid=url-share. Currently in the United States, it is legally permissible for employers to require COVID-19 vaccinations so long as there are medical and religious accommodations available in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Could there be a point that vaccines are a gift of God? He has formerly held a bioethics fellowship at the Paul Ramsey Read we have no idea what is in them that makes them work. Contact Us Email us Church Info Center: 888-843-5267 Staff Switchboard: 800-248-1930 Donor Care Line: 888-930-4438 1333 S. Kirkwood Road, St. Louis, MO 63122-7226 I totally agree with this. Theres a difference between an employee who says, Im unable to work Sundays because its my day of worship, and another who says, I object to working Sundays because I have a religious belief that what I do with my weekends is a matter of personal choice.. But, he must also treat it with respect and care forit. Or loading their plates up in the church luncheon. Instead, she did independent study and looked up sources online. She then quotes 2 Corinthians 7 out of context and assumes a vaccine will contaminate her. Such statements have no place in the edifying speech that God requires ofus. The Bible calls the human body "a temple of the Holy Spirit." The New Testament makes multiple references likening the human body to a temple. But producing high-quality, independent work is not cost-free we rely heavily on your support. Im not arguing Christians should be vaccinated, or that Christians should necessarily acquiesce to employer vaccine mandates. Meeting together in person and singing together are commanded in the Bible, say church leaders. To justify divorce in unwarranted circumstances, sexual immorality, sexual confusion, gender identity, and the like. Will the Equal Rights Amendment Finally Be Added to the US Constitution? They do not contain any tissue from a fetus. To be clear, stating you dont want to get the vaccine because your body is the temple of God is ludicrous. Photo courtesy of Erin Kirschner, Dr. William Tseng from Kaiser Permanente in San Diego. Follow me to be seated." Problem solved. He is warning them about the effect of their own divisive actions on the community. Man will conquer nature. In some cases its deception but, in many cases, its a lack of education. We Must Scream It Down. 3 in 5 white evangelicals believe that the election was stolen, despite absolutely no proof of it. by John Brummett | September 15, 2021 at 3:17 a.m. "There's also a general kind of theological belief in the sovereignty of God, that He is the one who knows best. Pentagon Prepares for Island Combat in the Pacific as US-China Tensions Rise, Bidens Chip War With China Is an Imperial Struggle for High-Tech Supremacy, Republicans Are Working on Making 70 the New Social Security Retirement Age, Rupert Murdoch Admits Fox Hosts Were Endorsing False Election Fraud Claims, I Am Fired Up: Sanders, Warren Join Rally for Student Debt Cancellation, Voter Suppression Laws Are Targeting Youth But They Are Fighting Back, Pences Handling of COVID Is Straight Out of the Christian Right Playbook, A Christian Nationalist Group Is Quietly Shaping Bills for State Legislatures, DeSantis Plans to Skip CPAC, While Trump Remains Featured Speaker. Aaron, I am generally pro-vax but I dont think these comparisons work. Especially in the United States, the belligerent response on the part of many Christians to the public health efforts of the past two years looks rather different from this vision of wisdom. This argument is a non-starter. While not The reasons? These requirements dictate that all employees, whatever their personal reservations might be, must be vaccinated by a specified date or else face repercussions ranging from required masking, testing, and isolation to different assignments to formal termination. A sign of common grace? He explained he wasnt getting the flu shot because he read about it and they put like three kinds of junks in your arm. Should that person be scorned because he couldnt fully understand the science? Church officials did not respond, however. Amy Littlefield is a freelance investigative reporter focused on the intersection of religion and health care. And that was challenged when they mandated that all health care . Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." 2 Corinthians 9:6-7. Im only arguing Christians shouldnt demand religious exemptions if they choose not to be vaccinated. Wrestling with the moral tragedy of vaccines, The problem of an ethically compromised COVID-19 vaccine, Christian ethics and the dilemma of triage during a pandemic, Faraday Institute for Science and Religion. I think that there needs to be room given to those who are just plain ignorant about vaccines. I cant speak for everyone, but I think youre being overly simplistic. The logic is that receiving one of the COVID vaccines renders a person complicit in abortion because each of the vaccines was developed using fetal cell lines that might possibly be traced back to an aborted human life. The biggest thing we can do to those in our church is to help them understand how to discern truth. God hasnt mandated seatbelts, either. 15. Ill provide one over-arching principle, then briefly discuss some common religious justifications we see offeredup. 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 Christian right filed a barrage of cases. I would not say that they are unable to process the data out there. I once had a friend who was a believer in my church. The New York Times reports thefollowing: In rural Hudson, Iowa, Sam Jones has informed his small congregation at Faith Baptist Church that he is willing to provide them with a four-paragraph letter stating that a Christian has no responsibility to obey any government outside of the scope that has been designated by God.[6]. You should then print the exemption form to complete the required information and to sign the form. What Does the LGBT-Discrimination Decision Mean for Religious Employers? If anyone destroys Gods temple, God will destroy that person (3:16-17). Also, whataboutism continues with arguments like, more people would get the vaccine if Biden didnt let thousands of unvaccinated migrants enter the country. In reality, what those seeking exemptions are arguing is that they believe the vaccine will harm them, and therefore they shouldnt be forced to take it. Fair enoughwell get there. Washington, DC 20002 I am pro-drugs, and worked in the pharma industry for nearly 20 years. NBC 7 Investigates reached out to the Awaken Church by phone and e-mail multiple times to ask about their religious exemption letters. live, learn and work. OPINION | JOHN BRUMMETT: Test of faith in exemption. Pre-COVID 19, Maine passed a law saying there would be no religious exemptions for medical workers in the case of vaccinations. The Awaken Church, which has several locations around San Diego County, is offering religious exemptions to its members, however. You dont get to invent your own beliefs and pass them off as Christian. The concern for physical well-beingwhile certainly validis a concern shared by everyone, religious or not. The decision could affect everything from traffic laws to racial discrimination. This vaccine has only been in existence a short time, and even if you think theres almost no chance it could have long term effects, you have no proof of that, and neither does anyone else. To stop meeting or singing would be to disobey God. There is a reason why U.S.A. are God's country. While Im sympathetic to this view, it doesnt provide the basis for a religious exemption. Jesus and Paul were actually muchharsher. Perhaps most chillingly, at a time when Roe v. Wade and a host of other important rights are on the chopping block, the case shows how the Supreme Court can upend decades of precedent with relatively little outcry. Im not claiming religious or conspiracy reasons, and Im not considering them as part of mycalculation. Treating religious exemptions like a wildcard to be played whenever we dont like the rules cheapens the concept and encourages backlash. Three chapters later, Paul returns to the image of the temple, this time with individual Christians in view. Statement of Religious Exemption. In our experience, the reasons appealed to by some evangelicals for refusing vaccinations are not, strictly speaking, religious, but personal, philosophical, or political. As an ordained pastor of (Name of Church), I am writing to affirm (name of individual) sincerely held religious objection to any voluntary or mandatory Covid-19 . One manual circulated by Rita Palma, an anti-vax activist, advises people to include key words such as sacred, holy and blessed.. 8:8 that "food does not bring us nearer to God.". Logically, a Christian does not have solid ground upon which to stand to claim the non-J&J vaccines are tied to an immoral abortion. He also affirms in 1 Cor. 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. These are what defile a person. (Matthew 15:11, 19-20). I know that isnt popular, even in the church, but its nonethelesstrue. In the Bible, those who practice sorcery were those who practiced making or taking mind-altering drugs in order to stimulate hallucinations or visions! [2] Back to the New York Times articlenote that this woman fronts her remarks with a discussion of freedom. Also, notice that she apparently didnt consult her faith community about the veracity of her religious objection. Before you say, he doesnt need to; just trust the experts, how does he know which ones to believe when the internet is telling him that many experts think itsharmful? Please make sure all fields are filled out. Get your FREE eBook about deconstruction: 'Before You Lose Your Faith'. If faced with such a mandate, some Christians will likely consider objecting to vaccination requirements on religious grounds. Mine are nodifferent. You may object and cite an abortion connection, freedom of conscience, and the like. And a Texas-based. There is absolutely no way to measure the impact of the drug has on dopamine and seratonin in the brain. As part of my prayers, I have asked God for direction regarding the current COVID shot requirement. 2 Retrieved from http://ladoj.ag.state.la.us/Article/10941. Moses grew and was educated as a noble among Egyptians (1022). You talked briefly about drugs that affect our mental state, and unless I was forced to take one of those, I would avoid ever taking one. If a Christian is going to feel dirty by being vaccinated, thats the one toavoid. As I have prayed about what I should do, the Holy Spirit has moved on my heart and conscience that I must not accept the COVID shot. Most commentators agree that the purpose of the letter is to urge unity among the Christians in Corinth. As Jesus explains, it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth. He goes on to explain that out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. But if you care deeply about religious liberty, please think twice before demanding a religious exemption. Such a claim might be motivated by the belief that their constitutionally protected rights are being infringed upon and that their religious sentiments are sufficient grounds for refusal. Likewise, putting out a fire on ones body is obviously helpful to ones temple. Injecting something into your body that you dont fully understand is a different case. The argument seems to be that being injected with one of the available COVID vaccineswhich are characterized as manifestly unsafe or, at best, risky experimental potionswould defile the Holy Spirits dwelling. But, it is true for too many Christians. Proponents cite the Apostle Pauls well-known remarks at 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, 6:19. With these goals in mind, in . You must think carefully, very carefully, about why you object to the vaccine. As an ethicist and attorney practicing religious liberty law, we have engaged in dozens of conversations over the past few weeks regarding vaccination mandates, as well as religious exemptions. Far from suggesting that the Holy Spirit cannot dwell in a body that is physically contaminated by illness, microchips, medicines, or other substances, Paul is urging them to keep themselves free from sin. American Baptist Churches USA (ABCUSA) is proud to be a founding member of the national volunteer COVID-19 Community Corps, which encourages people to get a COVID-19 vaccination as soon as it is available to them. But, this woman isnt you. 8 Liberty Counsel, Sample Exemption p.1. The pastor owes it to his congregation to provide a more robust argument than this. You get it. The faith community does not hold authority over a persons beliefs. I think it is 44% of white evangelicals have stated that they will not get thevaccine. Commentators cited Murdoch's deposition as evidence that the network couldn't be trusted to report the facts. It also provides a sample religious exemption letter on its website. It must not be! I think the frustration that is out there, and maybe it isnt directed at this individual, is the lies that are posted out there and the ignorance that people have in trying to discern truth. Look anywhere, and youll find professing Christians using God as justification for their unholy ways. That definitely figures into my risk calculation, as does the fact that most vaccines have proven themselves safe overtime. He blogs as the Eccentric Fundamentalist. Sure he learned about religious practices and, because border was not clear for This is absurd. AstraZeneca, Johson & Johnson, and others used HEK293 cells during both development and testing, but they are not used duringproduction. Johnson & Johnson did use a replicated fetal cell line in the production of its vaccine, and Pfizer and Moderna used them to test the effectiveness of their vaccines. When I was 19-weeks pregnant, during an ultrasound, they identified a mass in his left lung, Kirschner said. In general, non-religious people fear bodily harm just as much. I was recently prescribed a statin after a recent exam, for high (though not ridiculous) LDL, and Im still trying to decide whether I want to start that medication or not. Ive seen 1 Corinthians 6:19 quoted in countless vaccine exemption requests. If he has one, hit didnt make it into the newsarticle. Paul says that the Corinthian church as a whole is Gods temple, and those who cause division among them are threatening to destroy it. It might not be convincing to you or me and we can certainly have that discussion. Photo by Jay Yoo, John Evans is a professor of sociology and religious studies at UCSD. The Liberty Counsel is a Christian legal ministry. -Joseph Grigg (1720-1768). God gave us His word. Fax: (615) 242-0065, 505 Second St., N.E. 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. First, Pauls remarks about the body as a temple were directed to the Corinthian church as a body, as a wholethe you are Gods temple is plural! Ive reviewed many of these vaccine exemption requests. Presuming for yourself that you are doing the same thing when speaking about things that Scripture does not speak at all about is an entirely differentmatter. Requests for religious exemptions from workplace policies were . A lot of things happened. Views expressed are always my own and not my employer's, my church's, my family's, my neighbors', or my pets'. Jackie Gale has never had a single vaccination because she believes that the Bible . My Body Is a Temple I've seen 1 Corinthians 6:19 quoted in countless vaccine exemption requests. The government policing people's religion raises a number of thorny issues. Kirschners son Jonah, who is 13 years old, was diagnosed with congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation before he was born. God bless you all. While the case received little attention outside of the legal world, it marked the culmination of more than 30 years of legal strategy by Christian conservatives who have sought ever-broader leeway to flout the law. But body is a temple actually argues for vaccination. Look anywhere, and you'll find professing Christians using God as justification for their unholy ways. The real problem is that when Christians present contrived demands for religious exemptions, they risk jeopardizing the whole undertaking. God didnt just order us to subdue the earth. Given the near ubiquity of this phrase in the sphere of health and wellness, most people are likely to have forgotten that it comes from the apostle Paul. After all, natural illness is one of the main causes of impurity in Leviticus. What is said in 1 Corinthians 3:16 of the saints in general, is here said of their bodies in particular. He created the earth and man in such a way that mans responsibility and unique capabilities are to subdue the creation. Vaccines to me are unclean. Even so, too much inconsistent behavior justifies questioning whether a persons stated beliefs are sincerely held. Here are a few things toconsider: About 14% of American adults say they wont get vaccinated under any circumstances as of June, while the number is a much higher 22% among white evangelical Christians, according to a rigorous ongoing survey by KFF, the policy arm of the Kaiser Family Foundation. I see pastors offering to sign letters of religious objection. They, by nature and theology, belong to the individual. Bible verses about anxiety and fear 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV) Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. As an attorney, I spend much of my time helping religious organizations understand and maximize constitutional protections and religious exemptions. His views dont necessarily represent those of his employers. 29 times more likely to be hospitalized. From my perspective, what I call the abortion complicity objection is perhaps the strongest case. "There's several different religious beliefs and doctrines associated with evangelicals, especially the belief in inerrancy of scripture, which is the belief that the bible is the literal word of God," Campbell explained. People misuse Gods name for all sorts of sins. I want to do something, so I use God as a blank check, and I get my free pass. The service members argue that both the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) and the First Amendment require the federal government to allow exemptions for their sincerely held religious beliefs, especially since they are willing to take other precautionary measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in lieu of vaccination and the Navy is . This class of drugs impact dopamine and seratonin. The Court had, in effect, ruled that if a government made any exception to a rule like allowing people to grocery shop in a pandemic it had to make an exception for religious activities. He is a supervisor in Theology and Religious Studies in the Cambridge Divinity Faculty, and he teaches courses for Ridley Hall and the Faraday Institute for Science and Religion. John Melcon is an attorney in the religious organizations group at Sherman & Howard LLC, based in Colorado. 4 Liberty Counsel, Sample Religious Exemption Requests For COVID Shot Mandates, 26 July 2021, p. 3. https://lc.org/Site%20Images/Resources/Memo-SampleCOVID-ReligiousExemptionRequests-07262021.pdf. A New Mexico state senator will "help you articulate a religious exemption" by pointing to the decades-old use of aborted fetal cells in the development of some vaccines. A religious exemption played a critical role. If they are legal, they have been processed at the border, given a court date and potentially released into the US. Are you sure you are not violating the 3rd commandment in using God as your justification for condemning someone elsesconscience?
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