If anything, the primary message from religions in America is that you have a moral obligation to take the vaccine through the idea of love of neighbor. . There is no Christian belief that the body must be kept free from physical contamination in order to be a fitting vessel of the Holy Spirit. In general, non-religious people fear bodily harm just as much. "The most notable example was during the Vietnam and Korean [wars], people claiming religious exemptions from the draft.. A religious exemption played a critical role. 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. Ive seen 1 Corinthians 6:19 quoted in countless vaccine exemption requests. Amos 1:13, 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, their Creator, in . Indeed, courts are already rebuffing COVID-related religious-exemption requests, creating a harmful precedent that will be used against Christians in future cases. But if you care deeply about religious liberty, please think twice before demanding a religious exemption. The government policing people's religion raises a number of thorny issues. Injecting something intramuscularly is significant safer than ingesting a medicine. Also, whataboutism continues with arguments like, more people would get the vaccine if Biden didnt let thousands of unvaccinated migrants enter the country. Kirschners son Jonah, who is 13 years old, was diagnosed with congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation before he was born. Follow me to be seated." Problem solved. Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. I want to do something, so I use God as a blank check, and I get my free pass. 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. Phone: (202) 547-8105 While Im sympathetic to this view, it doesnt provide the basis for a religious exemption. It must not be! The Awaken Church, which has several locations around San Diego County, is offering religious exemptions to its members, however. Not every directive during a public health crisis represents a curtailment of religious liberty. 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. Similarly, if physical cleanliness was in view, then surely the COVID-19 virus itself would do at least as much to contaminate ones body. [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. 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. Some may feel concern or anger at being told how they must handle important and personal medical decisions. A religious owner of a massive corporation could refuse to hire women to positions of authority over men because a workplace anti-discrimination law has an exemption for small businesses. We take pharmaceuticals (over the counter or prescription) all the time without pulling the temple of God card, and we have no idea what is in them that makes them work. "Do it for yourself, do it for your family, do it for those around you., Baby Jonah in the hospital in 2007. Instead, data suggests that refusing vaccination risks severe illness and possibly death. 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). So, you and your family are going to risk unnecessary hospitalization and death because Juan Pablo crossed the border without getting a vaccine? You must think carefully, very carefully, about why you object to the vaccine. It would take many people (say those in the lowest 25% quartile) an incredible amount of work to understand if the vaccines are harmful or not. Were proud to publish real news 365 days of the year, completely free of charge to our readers. It also provides a sample religious exemption letter on its website. Why imperil the vitality of religious exemptions when theyre about to be needed most? On the body as a temple argument, Tyler has missed the point of 1 Cor 6:19. The author wishes to make sin Play-Dough; its anything the Holy Spirit impresses upon him to be wrong. She just cant pull the God told me card or defend her position by twistingScripture. Nashville, Tennessee 37203 Religious liberty is precious and should be protected. 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 . Sin is anything that violates the will of God, as set forth in the Bible, and as impressed upon the heart of the believer by the Holy Spirit. More importantly, stop blaming God for your moronicdecisions. Religious liberty is precious and should be protected. Vaccine mandates have arrived, and so have questions about religious exemptions. The answer, it would seem, is that there is a long-standing precedent for exempting religious communities from government mandates, so people have reached for religious exemption as a ready-made solution for their fears. What has your faith community said? Religious Exemption. What should Christians think about them? He also works in State government. There is absolutely no way to measure the impact of the drug has on dopamine and seratonin in the brain. Setting aside the exegetical issues with this objection, it simply isnt enough to merit a religious exemption under our existing legal framework. As it turns out, a large number of everyday productsincluding over-the-counter medicines, prescription drugs, and cosmeticsall have a similar attenuated relationship to these cell lines. That dont make it so. He was a very intelligent man who nevertheless was poorly educated. Once downloaded, review all of the information and requirements for the exemption type you have selected. Johnson & Johnson uses PER.C6 in production of thevaccine. live, learn and work. These are what defile a person. (Matthew 15:11, 19-20). Supposedly thats actually a known side effect but who knows. I am pro-drugs, and worked in the pharma industry for nearly 20 years. To justify divorce in unwarranted circumstances, sexual immorality, sexual confusion, gender identity, and the like. In still rarer cases (it seems like) there is a risk/reward calculation that causes them to skipit. Its like mowing over the dandelions in your grass instead of digging them up at the roots. I also think that many people would be surprised at the how rapid the placebo affect is getting better. It would be unreasonable for employers to expect people of faith to live by their religious beliefs with 100 percent consistency. 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. The abortion exemption, in my mind used to be the strongest, but what you are finding isthat: The other exemptions, I agree, are very weak at thispoint. There is a reason why U.S.A. are God's country. 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. But anyway, imagine thisargument, The situation isnt precisely parallel, but the similarities are interesting. Its biblicalanthropology. 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. A Christian student at the University of Alabama-Birmingham has challenged the university's mandatory vaccine policy after being blocked from registering for classes this semester despite having been allowed to register past semesters with no vaccinations. 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. Paul warns the Corinthians not to deceive themselves, but to have true wisdom (1 Corinthians3:18). I mean, a cold for him is a big deal," Kirschner said. Should Christian Parents Send Their Children to Public Schools? What is the conscience issue with the vaccine? Its in thebible! which is in you, which ye have of God; meaning the Holy Spirit which was in them, as in his temple; which dwelt in their hearts, and influenced their bodies, lives, and conversations; and which they received of God as a wonderful instance of his grace and love to them; that he should be bestowed upon them, to regenerate, renew, and sanctify them, to implant every grace, to make them a fit habitation for God, and meet for the inheritance of the saints inlight: and ye are not your own: their own masters, at their own dispose, to live to their own lusts, or the lusts of men; men have not power over their bodies to abuse them at pleasure by fornication, or such like uncleanness, neither single nor married persons; see 1 Corinthians 7:4 and of all men, not the saints, who are neither their own nor other mens, nor Satans, but Gods; not only by creation, but by choice and covenant; and Christs by gift, by purchase, and powerful grace, and in a conjugal relation to him; wherefore fornication ill becomesthem. You should then print the exemption form to complete the required information and to sign the form. This is absurd. 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. While sin has allowed creation to kick back, man still has the ultimately ability and responsibility to subdue it. Its about the bigger picture that has been talked about all through COVID. Views expressed are always my own and not my employer's, my church's, my family's, my neighbors', or my pets'. 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. 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