Mine are nodifferent. Theres more at stake here than whether any particular religious exemption request is approved or denied (no doubt many employers are rubber-stamping these simply to avoid labor shortages). There are also a lot of Bible verses exhorting believers to "do not fear," "do not be afraid." That's been a really common theme in objections to a lot of the pandemic restrictions. Evans said the threshold for religious exemptions comes down to proving whether the person attempting to obtain one has sincerely held beliefs against getting vaccinated on religious grounds. They may not statistically do much, we may not understand what they do, and they may not have had safety testing. This is associated with what God calls sorcery and divination. NBC 7 Investigates reached out to the Awaken Church by phone and e-mail multiple times to ask about their religious exemption letters. 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. Thats one reason why I go out of my way to keep the amount of any kind of medicine I take to an absolutely minimum. 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. If you have to resort to hermeneutical gymnastics to prove God doesnt want you to get vaccinated, youve already lost, and other believers should be the first to confront you aboutit. AstraZeneca, Johson & Johnson, and others used HEK293 cells during both development and testing, but they are not used duringproduction. Here are nine things you should know about revival and the history of revivals in America. Kirschners son Jonah, who is 13 years old, was diagnosed with congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation before he was born. Youth voting blocs are so powerful that most schools have enough students to easily tip an election in key states. To justify divorce in unwarranted circumstances, sexual immorality, sexual confusion, gender identity, and the like. It is free for your use with no guarantees that it will do anything for you other than successfully line your hamster's cage. Religious exemption forms have no legal standing The exemption forms being produced by some churches and by Liberty Counsel have no legal standing and do not have to be honored by employers or schools, according to lawyers contacted by BNG for confirmation. But we must stop government intrusion now, some will say. (It should be noted that some versions of these requirements do allow for individuals to forgo the vaccine in exchange for submitting to routine COVID-19 testing.). Paul warns the Corinthians not to deceive themselves, but to have true wisdom (1 Corinthians3:18). 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. Could there be a point that vaccines are a gift of God? His views dont necessarily represent those of his employers. Maybe that isnt you. Ashli Arbo has been practicing law since 2007 and is a graduate of Union University and Liberty University School of Law. Fax: (202) 547-8165, there is little to no evidence that they do. Employers must grant the religious accommodation request so long as doing so does not pose an undue burden to the employer, either economic or non-economic. Its like mowing over the dandelions in your grass instead of digging them up at the roots. Bible verses about anxiety and fear 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV) Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 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. This makes policing religious exemptions to vaccination hard - and rightly so. Claiming a religious exemption to the covid vaccine is not only asinine but it also weakens true religious exemption claims over legit issues forbelievers. God gave us His word. And this leads him to ask: Do you not know that you are Gods temple and that Gods Spirit dwells in you? This class of drugs impact dopamine and seratonin. I think it is 44% of white evangelicals have stated that they will not get the vaccine. I once had a friend who was a believer in my church. A service of Logos Bible Software. In most jurisdictions, employers are legally permitted to require vaccination as a condition of employment (and many employers may soon be required to do so under the anticipated OSHA emergency standard). The first reason cites a Bible verse that says the human body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. The letter states, We are commanded to take good care of it, not to defile it, and certainly not introduce something into it. It goes on to say that taking this vaccine actually makes modifications to the body. This, in essence, would be trying to improve or alter what God made perfectly which is clearly a sinful practice., The most common argument against being vaccinated against the coronavirus is that aborted fetal cell lines were used in the production process. Jeffrey Denny. It is a challenge that a lot of pharma companies are having to deal with. But we certainly can explain the known facts to help them understand better, especially if they are being coerced into getting a vaccine they currently believe has immoralorigins. Since then, the Christian right has been trying to do away with Smith in order to win ever-broader exemptions from laws that apply to everyone else. Not to mention it is a bit ironic that people are insisting on the vaccine for others for fear of someone else making themsick. 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. Moses grew and was educated as a noble among Egyptians (1022). Austin Stevenson is a PhD Candidate in Theology at the University of Cambridge. Religious Exemptions and the COVID Vaccine, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/11/us/covid-vaccine-religion-exemption.html?smid=url-share, http://ladoj.ag.state.la.us/Article/10941, https://healthfreedomidaho.org/sample-letter-for-religious-vaccine-exemption/, https://lc.org/Site%20Images/Resources/Memo-SampleCOVID-ReligiousExemptionRequests-07262021.pdf, A violation of the equal protection clause, https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2021-08-10/white-evang, https://www.wsj.com/articles/white-evangelicals-resist-covid-19-vaccine, Some vaccines are no longer connected to aborted fetalcells, The cells used today are in some cases 15,000 generations away from the aborted cellsthemselves, Practically every major anti-abortion groups have not raised concerns with the current vaccines and all provide recommendations to take thevaccine, I religiously object to stop, drop, and roll because falling on the ground harms my body and my body is a temple of the HolySpirit, I religiously object to wearing a seatbelt because the belt chafes my skin and my body is a temple of the HolySpirit. Some people have a deeply held belief that Arbys makes good roast beef sandwiches. The move is a gamble, as the gathering is seen as a means for presidential hopefuls to gain support among conservatives. Seeking a religious exemption should very clearly rest on apparent and applicable religious beliefs. Paul follows this with fitting words for our time: So let no one boast about human leaders (3:21). Do mandatory vaccinations violate human rights? A seatbelt and a life preserver are worn on the outside of the body and are visible. Copyright 2023 The Gospel Coalition, INC. All Rights Reserved. The temple of God objection is not a matter of conscience, itscowardice. Encouragement for Anglican Pastors, Downplaying the Sin of Homosexuality Wont Win the Next Generation, 9 Things You Should Know About Revivals in America, When You Dont Feel Like Having Sex with Your Spouse, The Burning Question from Asbury Isnt About Asbury, Megachurch Marriage for the Bachelor Pastor: A Story of Love that Lasts, Ordinary and Extraordinary: A Day at the Asbury Awakening, Tim Keller on the Decline and Renewal of the American Church. They are concerned with what they put in their bodies, but they are taking 5 different medications, with very little understanding of what they do, just what the doctor has told them. You are right. That being said, if a Christian thinks it is wrong to take a vaccine that involved a cell line that came from a miscarriage, then, logically, that Christian would also have to be against organ donor/recipient situations. PER.C6 came from an elective (immoral) abortion at 18weeks. It was just an illustration of a bigger problem: People say things that arent true to cast an issue in a differentlight. And we think that not only violates the equal protection clause, but its just fundamentallywrong.. Many people are using Bible verses to justify their stance against vaccines. 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. You get it. Get the news you want, delivered to your inbox every day. God hasnt mandated seatbelts, either. Therefore, we can claim and live in all the promises of the Bible which he, by the power of the Holy Spirit, inspired men to write (II Timothy 3:16,17). Such statements have no place in the edifying speech that God requires ofus. Treating religious exemptions like a wildcard to be played whenever we dont like the rules cheapens the concept and encourages backlash. I appreciate your comments here of late about theissue. But, be a man and face the consequences for your decision. During the pandemic, religious entities, often supported by influential right-wing firms like the Alliance Defending Freedom, Thomas More Society and Liberty Counsel, filed a barrage of religious objections to rules aimed at protecting people from COVID, culminating in more than 100 decisions, according to a preliminary tally by the Law, Rights, and Religion Project at Columbia Law School. 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. The Corinthians have been drawing lines of separation based on who brought them to the faith. 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. The decision could affect everything from traffic laws to racial discrimination. Views reflected in this article may not reflect those of their current or previous employers. The difference is that you dont have people screaming that blood pressure medication has computer chips, aborted fetal cells, changes your DNA, safety was skipped.. In the context of vaccinations, this certainly includes seeking counsel, acknowledging the mounting evidence to the safety of vaccines, and contemplating the risks in refusing them, not only to oneself but also to ones neighbor. The challenge facing those making the abortion-complicity argument is that the relationship between tainted fetal cell lines and at least two of the available COVID vaccines is highly attenuated. Their conscience may still bind them because it is true that no man knows for sure if HEK293 involved an immoral abortion, and we would be wrong to try to convince them otherwise. The biggest thing we can do to those in our church is to help them understand how to discern truth. The abortion connection has the most merit, but I again caution believers to avoid misusing Gods name and violating the ThirdCommandment. Unless you're a member of a Dutch Reformed church or a Christian Science church, making a claim for a religious exemption to the COVID-19 vaccine as a Christian is going to be hard to prove.. Writing religious exemption letters would be the truly pastoral approach. He doubts they will break new legal ground, however. There is a scriptural case to be made for not taking this vaccine. This is a violation of the ThirdCommandment. If our non-Christian neighbours come to see us as people who think the rules dont apply to us, or as people for whom the well-being of the wider community is irrelevant, their tolerance for our beliefs is likely to wane. But if youre a federal employee, if youre a marshal, a Border Patrol agent, wherever you work, you have to get it. Essentially all of the conspiracy theories. The failure of the government to grant religious objectors an exemption from nearly any law or policy now amounts to religion-based discrimination, no matter the importance of the public interest being protected by the law even the publics interest in staying healthy during a global pandemic, concludes the report, titled, We The People (of Faith): The Supremacy of Religious Rights in the Shadow of a Pandemic. Under this broad conception of religious liberty, policymakers could be constitutionally required to exempt religious adherents from regulations enacted to protect labor and workers rights, public health, civil rights, and other critical policy goals., The report outlines chilling examples that could result from this broad new religious power. If you loathe COVID vaccine mandatesas many dothen engage in public advocacy, use politics, and vote with your feet. A faith community might help someone discover them or learn to think about them, but the individual is the one who matters. It's unclear as of yet whether the two will attempt to oppose the subpoena orders. Some Christians claim the various COVID vaccines have a connection to abortion. The Senate Judiciary Committee will meet Tuesday to discuss a joint resolution to finally affirm the amendment. Plenty of biblical precedent for making those remarks. Here is a sample of a Religious Exemption letter. I know that people are concerned about what they put into the body. Your information is being handled in accordance with the, How conspiracy theories undermine the common good. The issue of food sacrificed to an idol does not actually affect one's interactive relationship with the Lord. Psalms 23:4 - Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. And yet, Paul sees no reason for this to cause strife: We are Gods servants, working together; you are Gods building. Paul and Apollos cooperate in building on the foundation that Christ himself laid. Its a symptom of what Scot McKnight has described as a puzzle piece hermeneutic rather than a contextual reading of the bible as a story. Similarly, if physical cleanliness was in view, then surely the COVID-19 virus itself would do at least as much to contaminate ones body. Church officials did not respond, however. While 1 Cor 3 is the church corporately, 1 Cor 6 is quite clear the individuals body. Christianity is not a subjective religion with scripture that shape-shifts according to taste, like an Etch-a-Sketch. Im happy to see how things play out first (and yes, time figures into my risk calculation aswell). Phone: (202) 547-8105 If youre using God as a free pass to escape a vaccine mandate, then youre violating the ThirdCommandment. Sin isnt concrete anymore, itssubjective. 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. So, do not. Look anywhere, and youll find professing Christians using God as justification for their unholy ways. We are not our own because we belong to the crucified and resurrected Lord. It was a challenge that we and many other pharma companieshave. "Religious exemptions provide an all-too-easy way for people who don't want to get vaccinated for some reason or other to wiggle out of a vaccine mandate and do so on the basis of what they claim to be a deeply held religious belief, which is largely unpoliced," Feldman told Insider. The concern for physical well-beingwhile certainly validis a concern shared by everyone, religious or not. Rajesh, would you prefer I describe them as foolish () and needing to act like men ()? Im reminded of an old public service ad campaign long ago that emphasized stop, drop, and roll if you find yourself on fire. If anyone destroys Gods temple, God will destroy that person (3:16-17). Universities have so far indicated nervousness about religious claims, even though a judge has ruled that Indiana University, which did offer religious exemptions, could implement neutral COVID . At present, the unvaccinated are 29 times more likely to be hospitalized. Furthermore, refusing vaccination could lead to others experiencing bodily harm as the unvaccinated are at increased risk of transmitting the virus to others. Bishop Paprocki also notes that Catholics in other states still need to check on their specific rules for vaccine exemptions. Ive seen 1 Corinthians 6:19 quoted in countless vaccine exemption requests. *** *** Religious Exemption Letter (Template) *** It is also important to remember that illegitimate appeals to religious liberty are perhaps the greatest threat to legal protections of religious liberty. If claims like the latter were adequate for religious exemptions, people could excuse themselves from nearly any rulesomething no one thinks is sustainable. And why should they do this? The temple of God objection is not a matter of conscience, its cowardice. So we all know that the focus among Christian right law firms has been on culture war issues making sure that marriage equality, LGBTQ anti-discrimination laws, reproductive health laws, dont apply to conservative Christians. And I am not so sure the church is acting properly toward ittoday. On a Friday evening in April, the Supreme Court quietly issued a short decision that opened the floodgates for religious entities to claim an exemption from just about any law. A religious exemption played a critical role. Washington, DC 20002 Moderna, Pfizer/BioNTech, Novavax - HEK293 cells are not used in production of the vaccine. God didnt just order us to subdue the earth. people cite religious reasons for their reluctance to receive the shot. Until we understand better the origins of this virus, every way it may have been modified, and what it can do, Im not convinced that even those studying it full-time have a complete handle on it. All rights reserved, San Diego and California's COVID-19 Emergency Declarations Expire Tuesday. People misuse God's name for all sorts of sins. Believe in divine immunity," Maldonado said in a bilingual sermon that was translated live and streamed on Facebook. 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. No other U.S. military branch has yet approved any religious exemptions to the COVID-19 vaccine. That definitely figures into my risk calculation, as does the fact that most vaccines have proven themselves safe overtime. People seeking an exemption on this basis are declaring themselves unwilling to harm their bodies, but this concern for physical well-beingwhile certainly validis a concern shared by everyone, religious or not. U.S.A. grants Religious Exemptions to not to take Vaccines. But, he must also treat it with respect and care forit. Follow me to be seated." Problem solved. Many are not, and every ridiculous fight over an spurious religious objection does more harm to religious liberty than many measures fromsecularists. Why imperil the vitality of religious exemptions when theyre about to be needed most? It might not be convincing to you or me and we can certainly have that discussion. What were doing (using we loosely here) is increasing our rapidly secularizing societys aversion to Christianity even as we win court battles here and there. Little matter, since such aid is not necessary in requesting a religious exemption. He's had, you know, reduced breathing capabilities since then, Kirschner said. Help! People misuse Gods name for all sorts of sins. I know that isnt popular, even in the church, but its nonethelesstrue. As Christians, we have a vested interest in ensuring that it is not. 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