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. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. To avoid being sick is a biblical mandate (John 10:10; 1 Cor 6:20; 3 John 2). Prayerfully consider the following principles: 1. Vaccines are 100%, completely against our religion. And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. . Government and medical entities recommend vaccinations to slow its course. 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. Being healthy is not primarily about vaccination, but about establishing and developing a balanced lifestyle, resulting in being in good mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual condition to serve God and others in need in the most efficient way for as long as possible. TopicalBible On the day when Moses had finished setting up the tabernacle and had anointed and consecrated it with all its furnishings and had anointed and consecrated the altar with all its utensils, the chiefs of Israel, heads of their fathers' houses, who were the chiefs of the tribes, who were over those who were listed, approached and brought their offerings before the Lord, six wagons and twelve oxen, a wagon for every two of the chiefs, and for each one an ox. Here are 10 Bible Verses about Fear and Anxiety to help combat feelings of helplessness and worry amid the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The problem is that the same people who eagerly promote anti-vaccine misinformation are just as eager to misuse religion to avoid . It was written by: John Fea, Messiah College. All rights reserved. For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Michigans governor enforced quarantines and mask wearing to slow the spread of COVID-19. God has given into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? 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. Some Christians have adversity to vaccines, because the original vaccines made relied on use of cells from aborted fetuses. Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. BabylonBee.com. W No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?". Please let us go a three days' journey into the wilderness that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God, lest he fall upon us with pestilence or with the sword.. Vaccination, nothing magical, must be supported by other intelligent choices in life such as prayerful, devotional living, a healthy lifestyle, spiritual witnessing, and trust in God. The general rule is plain: what is in harmony with biblical health principles and does not contradict them is permissible. On the contrary, based on the biblical material, we strongly recommend the practice to people who have no specific serious health preconditions. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. ", (Excerpted from "Should Christians Get Vaccinated?" In the four hundred and eightieth year after the people of Israel came out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv, which is the second month, he began to build the house of the Lord. During this period, the United States also grew more democratic. Then they said, The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Assn., 1871), 2:377. 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). Your moral beliefs probably predict yourstance. There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. What Is the Meaning of Psalm 91 and Why Is it Popular? Pro-mask or anti-mask? Last updated September 1, 2021. How can we use this teaching to determine what does the Bible say about vaccines? And he made for the house windows with recessed frames. And he made side chambers all around. 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. The messengers returned to the king, and he said to them, Why have you returned? And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. 1 Cor. He will also protect His people during the seven last plagues as He protected Israel from the Egyptian plagues (see Rev. You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. Either way, if an immune person comes into contact with that disease in the future, their immune system will recognize it and immediately produce the antibodies needed to fight it. God is the only Healer, the true Physician, who can heal all our diseases (Deut. By: JiMoskala, for General Conference Health Ministries Department. We need to work diligently under Gods guidance and blessing: Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. It Is So Painful to Care: How Do I Conquer Apathy? . 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. So glorify God in your body. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. In a nationwide Associated Press survey, 40% of white born-again or evangelical Christians said they weren't likely to get vaccinated, compared with the 25% of all Americans. Continuing our service to God: Receiving safe and effective vaccination allows us to honor God by keeping our earthly temple (our body) as healthy as possible, and our financial situation as . But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood. Prayers for knowledge are not enough to bring success. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. 34:4, 16). Indeed, the importance of vaccinations from the biblical-theological perspective can be demonstrated from multiple angles. 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? 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. All the days of his separation he shall eat nothing that is produced by the grapevine, not even the seeds or the skins. Our inflexible stands and outrage over whether to vaccinate or not break hearts, and pits people against each other and government health agencies. 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. Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. Derek Rota, Nov 16, 2022 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. In a Kaiser Family Foundation poll published last month, 28% of White adults who identify as Evangelical Christians said they definitely will not get a vaccine, 6% said they will only get. Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. 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. 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. But these evangelicals never developed their approach to understanding the Bible in complete isolation. Meanwhile, we all await the ultimate kingdom of God, where there is no sickness or dyingand we all get along. Use the up or down arrow next to each verses to vote for this topic. Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for you are my praise. 38:21). . One interpretation of this verse could be that vaccinations serve the common good. Prevention is always more important than actual healing. Does the Bible Mention What to Give Up for Lent? If anyone destroys Gods temple, God will destroy that person; for Gods temple is sacred, and you together are that temple. Our view and understanding of people going through a similar situation are forever changed. The Bible also has something to say about a government mandating vaccines for everyone. Can an employee object to mandatory COVID-19 vaccines on religiousgrounds? 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. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established. Ellen White wisely advises: God's miracles do not always bear the outward semblance of miracles. And we can thank Him and His human agents for the good they do in preserving and restoring life (Dan. Cite this page: Editor: Stephen Smith. " 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? B Publisher: OpenBible.info. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Of David. The chariots race madly through the streets; they rush to and fro through the squares; they gleam like torches; they dart like lightning. Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law? And he said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. After studying Job, I read the book of the weeping prophet Jeremiah, who stated, Heal me and I shall be healed(Jeremiah 17:4). Philippians 4:4 - Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. There are many Bible verses that convey that if we're saved, we are in Christ and he is in us. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. Z. He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. Jesus, in this statement, taught his followers that a pure heart does not condemn other peoples choices about whatever is ingested (including medicine) into their bodies. Romans 14:23 New International Reader's Version (1998) (NIrV) And for your lifeblood I will require a reckoning: from every beast I will require it and from man. The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality. heal the sick . There are blessings in isolation and in spending more time with immediate family. Indeed, the importance of vaccinations from the biblical-theological perspective can be demonstrated from multiple angles. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. The Bible is filled with scriptures. His Holy Spirit resides in us as redeemed Christians. Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. 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. Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones. What Does the Bible Say about Vaccinations? 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. Love does no harm to a neighbor. And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything. We can thank God for the wisdom He gives for research and invention. As Luke 17:21 says, "the kingdom of God is within you.". You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Job could not understand why a good person like him was punished with so much misfortune. 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. A Timeline of COVID-19 Developments in 2020, A. M. J. M. ANAGED . You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Vaccines prevent complications of health deterioration. Two groups that have been particularly hesitant about getting vaccinated are. In a poll of its members, the . For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on. And while some were speaking of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, he said, That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. 5. Isaiah 54:17 says no weapon that is formed against you shall prosper. . Ellen G. White, The Ministry of Healing (Mountain View, CA: Pacific Press, 1905), 231, 232. Various religious doctrines direct people to take care of their bodies. Whatever the purported. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. They were allowed to torment them for five months, but not to kill them, and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings someone. 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. The New York archdiocese, meanwhile, has warned priests against granting religious vaccine exemptions for Catholics. The New York Times. 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. "This goes against our religious belief and religious teaching," the letter states without elaborating. 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. The house that King Solomon built for the Lord was sixty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and thirty cubits high. They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. The mark of the beast is a false religious system that opposes God, His people, and His law. There is no sickness or disease that He cannot heal. When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 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. Why die prematurely simply because we neglect remedies that are available to protect and prolong our lives, thus enabling us to be a blessing to others? 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. If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. Readings: Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-8 James 1:17-18, 21b-22, 27 Mark 7:1-8, 1415, 21-23 One day, walking home from university along Eighth . Matthew 18:1-4, and Matthew 19:13-15 are just a few verses that illustrate the aforementioned children as blessings from God that are valued and loved by him, Isaiah 53:4 and Matthew 8:17 say Jesus took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses. 19:18; Ezek. Into your hand they are delivered. In the trenches of the COVID pandemic today, fear of contracting COVID has placed many people in an isolated, depressed state. The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe. It took accepting grace from God for me to limit these activities. Until the time is completed for which he separates himself to the Lord, he shall be holy. We are rational beings, and our Creator gives us the ability to think and know what works best for our health. 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.. In all these instances, the God of miracles chose to give lessons of collaborating closely between Himself and humans by using available remedies. The Rev. By the time Protestants started forming settlements in North America, there were distinctly Anglican, Presbyterian, Anabaptist, Lutheran and Quaker reading of the Bible. 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. And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. 1. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? Unless otherwise indicated, all content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License. Humans also need to apply common sense to lifes problems. As people read the Bible many for the first time they inevitably began to interpret it as well. 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. He also built a structure against the wall of the house, running around the walls of the house, both the nave and the inner sanctuary. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. the vaccine's protection could take the vaccine while others who, for whatever reason, might wish to forego the . 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. D Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. "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. Activities like conducting Sabbath School or participating in potlucks on Sabbath; celebrating the Lords Supper every quarter; building schools and hospitals, organizing the church structure with conferences, unions, and so on. God corralled the chaos into creation. They are complementary. And I think we should too. Then Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter. 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. In some . God commands that we protect life and care for the health of our neighbors (Lev. 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. Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. 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?" Grabenstein JD. God could have miraculously and instantaneously healed the dying King Hezekiah by His power, but instead He chose to heal him through the remedy of a fig poultice (2 Kings 20:5-7; Isa. Beyond individual health, staying safe and keeping family and community safe are sound Christian motivations. 30 Verses to Reflect on in the Book of Hebrews. Vaccination: A Biblical and Theological Reflection. 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. Perhaps the journey through bad health is a gift for all of us. . There is still much to creation we cant control in the present time. I have the right to do anythingbut I will not be mastered by anything. Prayer makes the distinction between right and wrong for you and your health situation much clearer. 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. Ellen G. White, Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students (Mountain View, CA: Pacific Press, 1913), 426. Some have children with Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Some protesters reacted with violence in Michigan and Washington, D.C. A clean spirit encourages and supports other people with love. Repent, sinner! He was rebellious at times. These activities point to vaccination when there is a need for it and it is available. 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. 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. L 4.First to have public health officials telling those receiving the vaccination to expect an adverse reaction. 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. 1 6 Some of us have children who have suffered vaccine reactions. This knowledge has been placed within our reach for use. So, health advice for the common good should hardly be construed as antagonistic to God. 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. We could create a much longer list of such good practices not verbally addressed in the Holy Scriptures. Chapter XV - Happiness, verse 204. 6. 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. Paul plainly states, Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any green plant or any tree, but only those people who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. Together they lead us to God by teaching us something of the wise and beneficent laws through which He works.. G I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. But Peter and the apostles answered, We must obey God rather than men. Peter and the other apostles replied: We must obey God rather than human beings! 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. While viruses are created to protect our health, a number of Christians have been against COVID-19 vaccinations. What is your request? The herbs and even the medicines we take are all instruments from God to make us feel better. If there was ever a great opportunity for cherry-pickingusing Gods Word in a way that supports your ideas or lifethis is it. God, then sent prophet Isaiah to give the king the medicine. H In that regard, being vaccinated is an unselfish act aiding the well-being and protection of others. For example, a hospital in Uganda recently received 5,000 doses of a vaccine, but was only able to administer about 400 doses because of vaccine hesitancy among a heavily evangelical population. I They blame the misinterpretations of this Bible passage on social media and people . The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 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.