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Jesus went around healing lepers and touched them without fear of getting leprosy, he said. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 1 6 Some of us have children who have suffered vaccine reactions. 3:16, 17; 2 Cor. Perhaps you have a more sophisticated form of this objection. 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. If our bodies are not our own, and we are accountable to God for how we care for them, and if God will require an account of our love toward our neighbor,then caring for our own health as well as for that of our neighbor is a must. In other words, he distanced himself from that kind of ethical stance. And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything. The ability to work for a living and play for recreation is diminished. This dilemma has become increasingly apparent in light of recent . 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.. "Forty-five states. For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. Ellen G. White, Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students (Mountain View, CA: Pacific Press, 1913), 426. Contact me: openbibleinfo (at) gmail.com. Vaccines are 100%, completely against our religion. When I studied the beautifully written book of Job, I heard Gods answer to Jobs misery over losses in health, property, and family. December 20, 2020. Protestants believed that the former approach was more compatible with the spirit of American liberty. Pharisees protested when Jesus healed on the sabbath. The most common side effects are mild, such as redness and swelling where the shot was given. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! I prayed this verse daily, driving to work, sitting on my couch. 6. There are blessings in isolation and in spending more time with immediate family. Multiple positives overwhelmingly outweigh their minimal negatives and health risks. You are not your own. But he answered them, You see all these, do you not? 7:15; 28:60; Ps. Repent, sinner! Johnson &. 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. But our citizenship is in heaven. Jesus also preached on a broader view of a Kosher dietrelated to our current dilemma over prescription and non-prescription use of drugsas stated in the passages from Marks gospel and I Corinthians. 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. Indeed, the importance of vaccinations from the biblical-theological perspective can be demonstrated from multiple angles. God has given into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb. "Do you have a vaccine card or a religious exemption?". Prevention is always more important than actual healing. F However, the Scriptures teaches that there are natural remedies to various illnesses. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. Ellen G. White, Counsels on Health (Mountain View, CA: Pacific Press, 1923), 142. Chapter XV - Happiness, verse 204. All the days of his separation he shall eat nothing that is produced by the grapevine, not even the seeds or the skins. December 02, 2021 9:34 AM Vaccine Debates Are Responsible for 2021's Fastest-Growing Bible Search Term: Sorcery December 03, 2020 6:00 AM 2020's Most-Read Bible Verse: 'Do Not Fear' Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. God commands that we protect life and care for the health of our neighbors (Lev. 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 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. 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. The author is NOT a scientist, nor does she claim . 5:10). 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. Labs 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. One interpretation of this verse could be that vaccinations serve the common good. Job has a whole new perspective on misfortune in his life. Ellen G. White affirms such an approach. Prayers and support pour out as search and rescue operations are underway. And he answered them, Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? While the Bible may not use the word "vaccine," it gives clear principles about medicine and handling disputes with other Christians. Now Ahaziah fell through the lattice in his upper chamber in Samaria, and lay sick; so he sent messengers, telling them, Go, inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, whether I shall recover from this sickness. But the angel of the Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite, Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say to them, Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron? 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. Now the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river, while her young women walked beside the river. He is a better man after his trial of earthly suffering. According to the Apostle John in the New International Version Bible, a pair of beasts will rule the Earth with cruelty. Thus, becoming vaccinated is an act of kindness, because vaccinations are helping to protect others from serious sickness, hospitalization, and death. Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. Christians and the general public are divided on the need for vaccines to prevent illness, particularly regarding the vaccine for COVID-19. Several examples come to mind from the biblical material. It can be verbal. Christianity.com is a member of the Salem Web Network of sites including: Copyright 2023, Christianity.com. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? 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. You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. A Timeline of COVID-19 Developments in 2020, A. M. J. M. ANAGED . Man the ramparts; watch the road; dress for battle; collect all your strength. She put the child in it and placed it among the reeds by the river bank. But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood. But when he heard it, he said, Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 3. Various religious doctrines direct people to take care of their bodies. Ellen G. White, The Ministry of Healing (Mountain View, CA: Pacific Press, 1905), 231, 232. 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. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. 2. 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. Now therefore thus says the Lord, You shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die. So Elijah went. Therefore honor God with your bodies.1 Corinthians 6:19-20, It is an honor to have a body that is the temple of the Holy Spirit. They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. Evidence-based science is beneficial in this decision process, allowing us to choose the best available options in given life situations. 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. 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. Maybe like-minded includes respecting each others convictions regarding the role of medicine in maintaining personal health. . Due to medical studies, there have been enormous advances in healing; however, many medical procedures and medicines come with a high-risk factor. Discovering that ordinary is the best we can be. Your input is important for us to improve it. Into your hand they are delivered. One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast. Beyond individual health, staying safe and keeping family and community safe are sound Christian motivations. heal the sick . Lets take for example the sickness of King Hezekiah. Agreement with Firefly seeks to promote medical tourism to that Asian nation, leaders said. 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. TopicalBible They brought them before the tabernacle. 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. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For many will come in my name, saying, I am the Christ, and they will lead many astray. Now a man from the house of Levi went and took as his wife a Levite woman. All rights reserved. 5. Let's take for example the sickness of King Hezekiah. Job could not understand why a good person like him was punished with so much misfortune. Being vaccinated will give glory to God by helping us and others to have a safer life. The New York archdiocese, meanwhile, has warned priests against granting religious vaccine exemptions for Catholics. In a case that could have implications for the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine, an employee has filed a complaint against the UVA Health System for refusing to exempt him from getting a flu shot . 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. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established. Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. Bishop Paprocki also notes that Catholics in other states still need to check on their specific rules for vaccine exemptions. In addition to spreading anti-vaccine ideology in America, this belief in the supreme authority of God has also affected vaccine efforts abroad. 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. . This verse has been a mantra for me since I was diagnosed with a severe health problem in middle age, pre-COVID. Topics and verses are auto-generated from user searches. Our inflexible stands and outrage over whether to vaccinate or not break hearts, and pits people against each other and government health agencies. A segment of the states society protested vigorously. 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. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. These two principles are plainly in harmony with the first two commandments God gave to Adam in the Garden of Eden: The LORD God commanded the man, You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die" (Gen. 2:16, NIV). 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. C K Indeed, the importance of vaccinations from the biblical-theological perspective can be demonstrated from multiple angles. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. God is the only Healer, the true Physician, who can heal all our diseases (Deut. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. 16). 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 . 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?" 3 It is interesting to note that this was true of Ephesus (just like the letter to the Ephesians). After studying Job, I read the book of the weeping prophet Jeremiah, who stated, Heal me and I shall be healed(Jeremiah 17:4). 1. One can argue that it may be recommended or even required when health or life is to be preserved. 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.. Those bearing the seal of God love, honor, and give Him glory as their Creator and Savior. God, then sent prophet Isaiah to give the king the medicine. Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church (Mountain View, CA: Pacific Press Pub. It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. In the incredible wonder, beauty, and complexity of creation, there is chaos. Therefore honor God with your bodies (1 Cor. Here are several reasons why: The seal of God, on the other hand, is heavens confirmation of the believers experience of true rest in Jesus Christ; such rest, in its fulness, involves living and keeping the biblical Sabbath as a sign of God as our Creator and Redeemer, expressing faithfulness to the comprehensive range of biblical doctrines centered in the Triune God. After the death of Ahab, Moab rebelled against Israel. Medical science and faith work closely together and must be applied hand in hand. D 4.First to have public health officials telling those receiving the vaccination to expect an adverse reaction. He lived among the tombs. 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. Two Catholic organizations issued statements in July urging against imposing a coronavirus vaccine mandate without conscience, religious or medical exemptions. Then Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter. Paul emphatically states that whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God (1 Cor. And the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star fallen from heaven to earth, and he was given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit. Some Christians have adversity to vaccines, because the original vaccines made relied on use of cells from aborted fetuses. Neither God nor we always need a thus says the Lord to know what to do or not to do, because He can show, and we can see, the benefits or disadvantages of many of our decisions and actions. Unless otherwise indicated, all content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License. Ellen G. White, Selected Messages (Washington, D.C.: Review & Herald, 1958), 2:346. On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. U The chariots come with flashing metal on the day he musters them; the cypress spears are brandished. 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. In that regard, being vaccinated is an unselfish act aiding the well-being and protection of others. He remembers his officers; they stumble as they go, they hasten to the wall; the siege tower is set up. God answered Job with a lengthy speech on His creation. He was already near to his death, when he asked the Lord to remember his obedience and prolong his life. What have I been able to do in comparison with you? Then their anger against him subsided when he said this. 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. It was written by: John Fea, Messiah College. 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. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. The government policing people's religion raises a number of thorny issues. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. Theoriginal versionof this commentary was posted by theHealth Ministries Department of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. (No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.). 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. 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. We need divine wisdom to know how to be best informed and make mature decisions. 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. She then quotes 2 Corinthians 7 out of context and assumes a vaccine will "contaminate" her. Again, it is not enough to ask for Gods intervention for reaping a good harvest and then not be willing to till the fields and work hard on maintaining the crop. 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. If anyone destroys Gods temple, God will destroy that person; for Gods temple is sacred, and you together are that temple. 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). It is Christlike to stick to your own prayer-guided convictions. 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. I The Bible celebrates the role of government exercising care for society. If the Holy Spirit cannot dwell in a body that has been contaminated by chemicals or debilitated by injury (let alone in a body injected with a safe and effective vaccine), then countless people who have fallen victim to natural or manmade disasters would be bereft of the presence of God. T 103:3; Luke 4:40; 6:18; 7:21). Publisher: OpenBible.info. (Could this be a metaphor for doctor-prescribed drugs today?). Their evil . 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. His Holy Spirit resides in us as redeemed Christians. Some Christians believe if they get the vaccine, they will be marked for hell, but some pastors are trying to stop those rumors. The book of Revelation 18:23 says "The light of a lamp shall. . O Until the time is completed for which he separates himself to the Lord, he shall be holy. "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace by the power of the Holy Spirit." A devout evangelical Christian friend of mine recently texted to explain why he was not getting the COVID-19 vaccine. And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. Z. Pro-mask or anti-mask? 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.. For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. And he said, Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. 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! 5. 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. 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. Jesus replied, addressing this topic of putting questionable agents into our bodies: "Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, 'Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. 301-680-6563. Then they said, The God of the Hebrews has met with us. So, I kept cross-country skiing, kayaking, and hiking with difficulty. 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. In a poll of its members, the . "This goes against our religious belief and religious teaching," the letter states without elaborating. 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. 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 herbs and even the medicines we take are all instruments from God to make us feel better. Blog, A There is no sickness or disease that He cannot heal. What is your request? My faith became stronger due to praying and searching for an answer to this popular question. We are rational beings, and our Creator gives us the ability to think and know what works best for our health. In the 16th century, Martin Luther and other Protestant reformers translated the Bible from an already existing Greek text into the languages of common people. "There is no basis for a priest to issue a religious exemption to the vaccine . . Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. 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.