Biblical Health and Wellness: 2013

Saturday, September 14, 2013

Healing is in the Atonement

Most Christians believe that Jesus died for sin, but very few believe he died for their own sin. Still fewer yet believe that Jesus died so they could be healed! I want to show from Scripture that salvation and healing, as well as deliverance are included in the atonement. It's a package deal!

First of all, Isaiah said, “Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed.” (Isa 53:4-5, NASB). I encourage you to read the whole chapter, if you can!

Then the apostle Peter quoted the prophet Isaiah saying, “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.” (1Pe 2:24, NASB)

I realize that some people misunderstand these passages. Some may think the two passages contradict one another. Others may say that Peter was only referring to forgiveness of sin, not literal healing from sickness. Therefore, I’d like to do a side-by-side comparison of what the prophet Isaiah said about Jesus and what the apostle Peter said, in order to see the similarities and differences:

Isaiah	Peter	Comments
“Surely our griefs He Himself bore” (Is 53:4) "He bore the sin of many" (Is 53:12)	“He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross”	1. “bore” is “nasah” in Hebrew, meaning “to carry, take, receive, bear or accept” (Isaiah); “bore is anaphero in Greek, meaning “to take up (literally or figuratively): - bear, bring (carry, lead) up, offer (up).” (Peter) 2. “griefs” in Hebrew is "chŏlı̂y" meaning “sickness, affliction, disease, griefs, or illness,” (Isaiah); “sins” in Greek is hamartia, meaning “offense, sin” (Peter) 3. “Sin” in Hebrew is "chêṭ'," meaning, “a crime or its penalty: - fault, offence, (punishment of) sin.” “Sins” in Greek is hamartia, meaning “offense, sin” (Peter)
“Our sorrows He carried”	(Not in 1 Peter)	1. “sorrows” is “makob” in Hebrew meaning “pain”. 2. “carried” is the Hebrew word “sabal” meaning “to carry or bear a heavy load”
“We ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted”	(Not in 1 Peter)
“He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities”	(Not in 1 Peter)	1. "Pierced" comes from "chalal" in Hebrew, meaning “wounded,” “dissolved,” “profaned,” “broken,” “polluted,” “slain,” “stained.” 2. “crushed” is “daka” in Hebrew, meaning “to crumble; transitively to bruise (literally or figuratively): - beat to pieces, break (in pieces), bruise, contrite, crush, destroy, humble, oppress, smite.”
(Not in Isaiah)	“so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness”	Since Jesus bore our sins, we should die to sin. In this way, we are enabled to live righteously and be saved.
“The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him”	(Not in 1 Peter)	1. “chastening” is “musar” in Hebrew, meaning “chastisement; figuratively reproof, correction, discipline, rebuke.” 2. “Well-being” is “shalom” in Hebrew, meaning “safe, that is, (figuratively) well, happy, friendly; also (abstractly) welfare, that is, health, prosperity, peace.”
“By His scourging we are healed”	“By His wounds you were healed”	1. “Scourging” is “chabburah” in Hebrew, meaning “properly bound (with stripes), that is, a weal (or black and blue mark itself): - blueness, bruise, hurt, stripe, wound.” The word “wounds” is “molops” in Greek, meaning “a mole (black eye) or blow mark: - stripe.” 2. “healed” in Hebrew is “rapha” meaning “to mend (by stitching), that is, (figuratively) to cure: - cure, (cause to) heal, physician, repair, thoroughly, make whole;” “healed” is “iaomai” in Greek, meaning “1) to cure, heal, 2) to make whole, and 2a) to free from errors and sins, to bring about (one’s) salvation”;

When the prophet Isaiah said, “Our griefs He Himself bore,” the Hebrew word for griefs is "chŏlı̂y" meaning “sickness, affliction, disease, griefs, or illness,” according to the NAS Exhaustive Concordance (NASEC). When the prophet said that Jesus “bore” our griefs, the Hebrew word is "nasah," which means in this context “to carry, take, receive, bear or accept” (Strongs). Jesus actually received our sicknesses, our diseases, and our illnesses in His body on the cross.

When the prophet said that Jesus carried our sorrows, the Hebrew word for sorrows is "makob," meaning “pain” (NASEC). When it says He carried our pain, the Hebrew word is "sabal," which literally means to carry or bear a heavy load (NASEC).

It is repeated in the New Testament. In the gospel of Saint Matthew, it says, “When evening came, they brought to Him [Jesus] many who were demon-possessed; and He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were ill. This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: ‘HE HIMSELF TOOK OUR INFIRMITIES AND CARRIED AWAY OUR DISEASES.’” (Mat 8:16-17, NIV). So Matthew states that when Jesus healed all who were ill, He was fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 53 that we have just cited. Therefore, the Holy Spirit through Matthew confirmed that the prophecy of Isaiah is about Jesus Christ, and that this prophecy includes the Lord's healing and deliverance ministry.

Jesus Christ rose from the dead and lives forever. Just as He healed all who were ill during His earthly ministry, He continues to do so today. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Heb 13:8).

Furthermore, the apostle Peter wrote, “and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.” (1Pe 2:24). While Isaiah says Jesus bore our griefs, Peter says He bore our sins. Although Peter did not use the exact same words as the prophet, Isaiah did say "He bore the sin of many" (Is 53:12). So both passages say the atoning sacrifice was for both sin and sickness. And Peter affirms this by saying "you were healed."

The Greek word for “healed” is iaomai, which means “1) to cure, heal, 2) to make whole, and 2a) to free from errors and sins, to bring about (one’s) salvation” (Thayer). Therefore, Peter affirms that by the wounds that Jesus received in His passion and crucifixion, we His sheep are healed, made whole, cured, forgiven, freed from the power of sin, and saved. Jesus Christ not only paid for the forgiveness of our sins and our salvation from hell through His atoning sacrifice, He also paid for our healing and deliverance. This means that there is not only salvation but healing in the atonement.

Here is my own composite blend of both verses from Isaiah and Peter combined together into one verse, using the various definitions of the original Hebrew and Greek words:

“Surely our griefs He Himself bore, including all our sins, offenses against God, sicknesses, afflictions, diseases, griefs, and illnesses. He carried them on the cross, took them up, received them, bore them, and accepted them in His body all for us. He carried our heavy load of sorrows and pains, too. We ourselves esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. He was pierced through for our transgressions and rebellion -- wounded, broken, profaned, polluted, and stained with blood, all for us. He was crushed and bruised for our iniquities, faults, mischief, and sins. In fact, He was beaten to pieces for the punishment that was due to us for our sin. He did all of this, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him. The chastisement and reproof that we deserved -- the correction, discipline, and rebuke that were rightfully ours – were directed upon Him. He bore the penalty for sin that was due to us. It all hit Him, so that we could enjoy safety, wellness, health, prosperity, and peace. He did it all so you could be set free from errors and sins, in order to bring about your salvation and deliverance. He took every one of those black and blue marks, bruises, hurts, stripes, and red, swollen marks left on His flesh by the blows, so that you could be mended back together, cured, repaired, and completely made whole. For by His wounds received from scourging you were healed.”

It is not God’s will for His children to have disease. We have seen the Lord heal many various sicknesses and diseases through the laying on of hands with prayer in Jesus' name. He has done this in our own lives, our children’s lives, as well as the lives of other people. We have not only read about this happening through others like Smith Wigglesworth, Reese Howells, Kathryn Kuhlman, Charles and Frances Hunter, and Dr. T.L. Osborne, who saw tens of thousands healed in every corner of the earth during his sixty-five years of ministry, but we have seen it first hand.

Going back to our text in Isaiah, the prophet began his message with the words, “Who has believed our message, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” (Is 53:1). It’s such an amazingly wonderful message that it may seem too good to be true. But if anyone does not believe God, he has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning His Son (1 Jn 5:10). Who has believed our message? Have you?

Just as one must believe in Jesus as His own personal Lord and Savior in order to be saved, one must also believe in Jesus as His own personal Healer to be healed. Jesus often said to those whom He healed, “Your faith has made you whole” (Mat 9:22; Mat 15:28; Mar 5:34; Mar 10:52; Luk 8:48; Luk 17:19).

It’s not enough to believe that Jesus died for the sins of the world. In order to be saved, you must believe he died for your own sin, and that He actually bore your sin in His body.

While few people who consider themselves Christians believe this, even fewer believe that He died for sickness and disease. And of those who do believe He did so, there are even fewer who believe He died for their own pain, sickness, and disease. You must believe he died for your own pain, sickness, and disease, and that He actually carried your sickness in His body. It was condemned there, along with your sin, two thousand years ago. You need to accept this and believe it is for you personally, in order to be healed.

If you are suffering from pain, sickness, or disease today, you don't have to. It doesn't matter whether it is AIDS, cancer, heart disease, arthritis, fibromyalgia, or migraines. You need only believe what God's Word says and appropriate it for yourself. Believe it with all your heart without any doubting. It was all paid for by the Lord Jesus Christ, God's Son, two thousand years ago.

James said, "Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord." (Js 5:14). If you are a believer, who knows Jesus, let me encourage you to do that. Call upon the elders of your church, asking them to anoint you with oil and pray for you to be healed. When you do so, the Scripture says, "The prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven." (Js 5:15).

Scripture says the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well. You can depend on God to keep His promise. And it also says, "If they have sinned, they will be forgiven." That's why I think it is always good when you are ill to ask the Holy Spirit to show you if you have opened the door to the enemy in your life through some sin and disobedience. Ask Him to expose you, so that you can get it right with Him. Repent and confess your sin to the Lord, asking Him to forgive you, and He will. That's important, because if He heals you, and you continue in disobedience, it'll be even worse. Jesus would say, "See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you." (Jn 5:14; 8:11)

However, not everyone reading this article belongs to a church where the elders believe in divine healing, and your elders may not believe it is God's will to heal every sick person. In fact, some of you reading this blog may not yet belong to a church. I encourage you to get connected with one. But until you do, if you are a born again believer, and believe this message with all your heart, you can even be healed right where you are sitting now. I want to encourage you to lay your hand on your body over the area that needs to be healed, and confess your faith out loud to God right now. Call that sickness by name, and in the name of Jesus, boldly command it to leave your body. Then praise and thank the Lord Jesus for healing you. Receive it by faith from Him, just as you received His payment for your sins when you gave your life to Jesus. If you did that, then I declare you are healed!

Attribution notice: Most Scripture quotations taken from the NASB. Most other Scriptures taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®, unless otherwise noted.

Author's note: Please don't forget to leave a testimony of your healing in the comments below. This post is part of a series. It is not medical advice, and I do not claim to be a physician. If you enjoyed it, you may also like the other posts in this blog available through the links in the side bar, especially Power of God to Heal, Going from Cursed to Cured, What Does the Bible Say About Vaccines?, The Name of Jesus, and Scriptural Guidance About Blood Transfusions. I also recommend my daughter's poem, Faith Should Not Depend on Feeling, which she wrote the same day she received a divine healing in her body. You may also access my blog directory at "Writing for the Master."

Do You Want to Know Him?
If you want to know Jesus personally, you can. It all begins when you repent and believe in Jesus. Do you know what God's Word, the Bible says?

“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15). He preached that we must repent and believe.

Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?"

_________________________________________________

Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International. He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org.

Friday, September 6, 2013

Going from Cursed to Cured

A leper once came and bowed down to Jesus saying, “If you are willing you can make me clean.” Scripture says, “Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. ‘I am willing,’ he said. ‘Be clean!’ Immediately he was cured of his leprosy.” (Mt 8:3).

The Greek word for cured in Mt 8:3 is katharizo, meaning “to cleanse (literally or figuratively): - (make) clean (-se), purge, purify.”

In Deut 28:16, and throughout that chapter, Moses warned that anyone who did not obey God’s Law would be cursed. In other words they would be one on whom a curse has been invoked, accursed, doomed to destruction. And he listed all the sicknesses that were part of that curse.

“However, Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us--for it is written, ‘CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE’”-- (Gal 3:13)

Christ redeemed us from the curse. Hallelujah! The Greek word for redeemed in Gal 3:13 is exagorazo, meaning “to buy up, that is, ransom; figuratively to rescue from loss (improve opportunity): - redeem.”

In English there is only a one-letter difference between the words “cursed” and “cured.” I say the letter “S” in that word should remind you of the Savior! He became a curse for us! It’s amazing but true that through faith in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, we go from cursed to cured!

He became the sacrifice for our sin, so you could say the "s" is also for "sin." Through His sacrifice, our Savior bore our sin. If you repent and put your faith in Him, asking Him to forgive you, He will remove your sin and even give you power over sin. You'll go from cursed to cured!

If you have a pain, sickness or disease today from which you cannot be healed, there is One who can heal you. If you are a sinner in need of forgiveness today, there is One who can save you. His name is Jesus Christ. He alone has the power to save you from your sin and heal you from your disease. He alone can make you whole spiritually and physically.

Attribution notice: Most Scripture quotations taken from the NASB. Most other Scriptures taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®, unless otherwise noted.

Author's note: This post is part of a series. If you enjoyed it, you may also like the other posts in this blog available through the links in the side bar, especially Power of God to Heal. I also recommend my daughter's poem, Faith Should Not Depend on Feeling, which she wrote the same day she received a divine healing in her body. You may also access my blog directory at "Writing for the Master."

Do You Want to Know Him?
If you want to know Jesus personally, you can. It all begins when you repent and believe in Jesus. Do you know what God's Word, the Bible says?

“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15). He preached that we must repent and believe.

Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?"

_________________________________________________

Friday, August 30, 2013

Scriptural Guidance About Blood Transfusions

The transfusion of blood has become a standard practice in modern medicine, which society and the Church have generally accepted. It purportedly saves lives, so the end result seems to justify the means. Blood banks are constantly seeking donors through their blood drives, and many donors give their blood, thinking they are doing something good for mankind.

But as disciples of Christ, we must know the will of God concerning blood transfusions. We don’t make decisions based on what the world does, or based on the efficacy of a practice, even if it seems good in our own eyes. Neither do we make decisions based on what the majority of other Christians believe. Rather we make our decisions based on a correct understanding of Scripture, along with wisdom and guidance from the Holy Spirit.

Scriptural Injunctions Concerning Blood
Before the Law was given, God told Noah, "Every moving thing that is alive shall be food for you; I give all to you, as I gave the green plant. "Only you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood.” (Gen 9:3-4). This also became part of the Law, and Moses taught that meat must always have the blood drained out before it is eaten.

Scripture teaches that the life of all flesh is in its blood:

"'For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement.'"(Lev 17:11)

In the Septuagint, which is the ancient Greek version of the Old Testament, the word for life in this verse is psuche. This is where we get the English word psyche, which is a soul or personality.

According to Thayer’s Greek definitions, the Greek word psuche means
1) breath

1a) the breath of life
1a1) the vital force which animates the body and shows itself in breathing (of animals; of men)
1b) life
1c) that in which there is life (a living being, a living soul)

2) the soul

2a) the seat of the feelings, desires, affections, aversions (our heart, soul etc.)
2b) the (human) soul in so far as it is constituted that by the right use of the aids offered it by God it can attain its highest end and secure eternal blessedness, the soul regarded as a moral being designed for everlasting life
2c) the soul as an essence which differs from the body and is not dissolved by death (distinguished from other parts of the body)

So when the Scripture says, “the life of the flesh is in the blood,” it literally means the soul or the vital force that animates the body is in the blood. Since the life of a human is its blood, it must be kept pure. Nothing unclean may be put into the blood. Since the life of every creature is in its blood, we must not put it into our own blood. This is the same as putting their life into our blood. Since their lives are not pure, their life weakens us.

Bleeding finger (credit: Wikimedia Commons)

Notice God did not say, “The life of every living thing is in the brain.” Although that’s what society seems to think, it’s not true. A human can go on living with brain damage. In fact, we can mechanically circulate blood through the body and keep a person alive, even in a comatose state. But if you take out all of a person’s blood, then their life ends and their soul departs from their body.

Since the life of every living thing is in the blood, the LORD told the people of Israel that they shall not eat any meat with blood still in it. "For as for the life of all flesh, its blood is identified with its life. Therefore I said to the sons of Israel, 'You are not to eat the blood of any flesh, for the life of all flesh is its blood; whoever eats it shall be cut off.'” (Lev 17:14).

This injunction was carried over in the New Testament by the apostles and elders.

"Therefore it is my judgment that we do not trouble those who are turning to God from among the Gentiles, but that we write to them that they abstain from things contaminated by idols and from fornication and from what is strangled and from blood.” (Act 15:19-20)

Unlike food going into the body, which is broken down, blood going into the blood stream remains whole. It contains genetic material, DNA, as well as other components like blood cells, germs, bacteria, and somatids (see footnote about somatids). From a spiritual perspective, the blood also contains other components that cannot be viewed beneath a microscope. It has a supernatural life force within it.

Based on these Scriptures above, and other ones about blood, some Christians sincerely believe that it would be sinful to allow anyone to inject any substance containing human or animal blood into their bodies, such as vaccines or blood transfusions. (For more on vaccines, see What Does the Bible Say About Vaccines?).

Arguments in Support of Blood Transfusions
Some people argue against that interpretation by saying that vaccines and transfusions are never mentioned in Scripture. They argue that Scripture never forbids these modern medical practices. They argue that there is a vast difference between ingesting blood through the stomach (digestive system) and injecting blood or blood-containing products into the bloodstream (circulatory system). Those who make such arguments do so from the assumption that blood transfusions are medically necessary.

However, it is interesting to note that Northeast Baptist Hospital in San Antonio, Texas is a “bloodless” hospital. In other words, it performs even complicated open-heart procedures without transfusing any blood. They say it is safe, less expensive, and the patients recover faster. Their goal is to perform 90% of their surgeries without blood. There are bloodless hospitals in other parts of the country that have been doing this for years, and this is not an experimental practice. Since one unit of donated blood can cost around $700 or more, it’s less expensive not to use it. There’s also less chance of having a problem with the blood, such as infection, and you feel better, too. So even from a medical and practical perspective, it is not as necessary as some would like us to believe.

Quality Control within Blood Banks

Donating blood (by MartinD, Wikimedia Commons)

It’s important to note that the blood banks do not routinely test donated blood for THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. Street drugs, even marijuana, are often contaminated with many other things, the least of which would be pesticides, etc. Those things, as well as the chemicals of the drugs themselves, can interact with other medicines the person receives. They depend on donors to be honest in answering the questions and honest with themselves about if they really should be a donor. But people who use drugs do donate their blood for a variety of reasons, including incentives from the blood banks.

Here are some guidelines on blood donations the Red Cross considers acceptable, and it is all done on the honor system, relying on the honesty of the donor answering the questions:

“Taking antibiotics to control acne does not disqualify you from donating.”
“Acceptable if you have a positive skin test for tuberculosis, or if you are receiving antibiotics for a positive TB skin test only.”
“In almost all cases, medications will not disqualify you as a blood donor.”
Regarding use of marijuana, the Red Cross states the blood is: “Acceptable as long as you are not under the influence of marijuana at the time of donation.” (Note: drug use is an occult practice).
Regarding herpes: “Acceptable as long as you are feeling well.”
“Donors are only required to wait 12 months after treatment for syphilis or gonorrhea.”
Women on hormone replacement therapy for menopausal symptoms and prevention of osteoporosis are eligible to donate. The hormone replacement pill, Premarin, comes from PREgnant MAres' urINe. Animal hormones. When estrogens and other steroid hormones go inside a cell, they can unite with a receptor to form a hormone/receptor unit that moves into the nucleus, attaches directly to special DNA binding sites, and activates protein-producing genes. The proteins drive the cell changes guiding estrogen-controlled growth and development
“Surgery: Acceptable once the wound is healed and stitches are dissolved or removed, as long as the underlying condition is also acceptable in a blood donor.”

These rules for eligibility give new meaning to the expression, "They strain out a gnat and swallow a camel"! It should also be noted that making donations for your own use during surgery (autologous blood donation) is considered a medical procedure and the rules for eligibility are even less strict than for regular volunteer donations. If this self-donated blood is not used, it is uncertain whether it is later put into the blood bank for others to receive, or what its final disposition is.

However, a former, high-ranking satanist has revealed that most donated blood around the world is intercepted by the satanists and used for drinking in their rituals. It’s a well-documented fact that satanic rituals involve animal and human sacrifices, as well as drinking blood, which is an occult practice. Some convicted criminals have confessed to murdering their victims in order to get more blood to drink in their satanic rituals. This is why there are so many abductions, including children. So it is not impossible that other criminals obtain the blood they need through blood banks. There is a risk for an illegal market.

Making Blood a Commodity
As I've already mentioned, blood is very expensive for hospitals, and in the U.S. the final cost to the patient for the blood can be double what the hospital pays for it! This can be as high as $1,500 USD for a unit of blood.

Due to the dramatic increase in the demand for blood, the brief shelf-life, and the constant shortages of blood supplies, the practice of offering incentives has increased in recent years, according to studies. Blood banks throughout the world offer both monetary and non-monetary incentives to donors, which can include cash, as well as things like gift cards, tax relief, travel reimbursement, paid time-off from work, and tickets to an event or museum, entry into sweepstakes to win expensive cars, or other material gifts. Studies in the U.S. have shown that over half of all blood donors received some sort of incentive in 2001. Sometimes legal defendants are given the option of a reduced fine, if they donate blood, or delinquents may be given the option to donate blood as part of their community service sentence.

Blood has now become a commodity that is bought and sold on the market. Since we know that the life or soul of a person is in their blood, then the blood centers, hospitals, patients, and criminals in the black market are buying and selling the souls of men (Rev 18:13). Human blood and the life in it has become merchandise, which is carried as cargo in cars, trucks, planes, and trains. Men are paying for blood. Yet few care whether that is the will of God.

Lastly, studies have shown that infectious diseases among donors who are recruited by monetary incentives are more prevalent. Therefore the safety of the blood is affected, and it's quality is reduced by this trend toward incentivized blood donors. Paying for blood donations is a risk.

Questions for Prayerful Consideration
In light of what Scripture teaches about blood, and the perpetual controversy over vaccines and blood transfusions, here are some questions:

Why do satanists drink blood?
What if a Christian’s donated blood were being used in satanic rituals?
Can a blood donor be sure of the final disposition of his blood?
Although many modern practices are not mentioned in Scripture, such as cigarette smoking, vaccinations, and blood transfusion, does that mean they are not sinful? Does it mean that God is neutral about these things, or can we deduce from Scripture what God’s will is?
Since we do not know about the life of the person who donates their own blood, then what if the blood comes from someone living in sin, such as a sexually immoral person, an adulterer, a homosexual, an incestuous person, a satanist, a pedophile, a pornographer, an atheist, a rebellious person, a hateful or bitter person, etc.?
What if the blood donor was the product of an incestuous relationship or whose birth was illegitimate in some other way?
What if the blood donor suffered from depression, anxiety, or some other mental disorder?
What if the blood donor has epilepsy?
What if the blood donor had cancer either previously or unknowingly at the time of donation?
What if the donor was sick with flu or had just taken antibiotics for a respiratory infection?
What if the donor had been vaccinated?
What if the blood donor had been taking psychotropic drugs (Antidepressants are a broad category of psychotropic drugs)?
What if the donor had been using cocaine?
What if the blood donor had recently had their ears or body pierced with a non-sterile instrument?
What if the blood donor recently had an elective abortion? (Note: the Red Cross says this blood is acceptable).
What if the blood donor were taking birth control pills (i.e., the hormones estrogen and progesterone)?
What if the blood donor were taking other hormones?
What if the blood donor had a sexually transmitted disease or herpes?
What if the donor had undergone Sexual reassignment surgery (SRS)?
What if the blood donor had themselves been the recipient of a blood transfusion from a foreign country with more lax screening and had received bad blood?
Since the life of a person is bound up in their blood, how would the life of these donors spiritually, physically, and emotionally affect the recipient of their blood?
If a Christian knew that the blood they were getting through transfusion or in a vaccine was once part of the life of a wicked person such as the kind mentioned above, or some other example mentioned above, would they still want that blood?
If a Christian received that blood, knowing where it came from, would it constitute sin?
If a Christian received that blood, realizing that he could not be certain where it came from, would it constitute sin?
If God does not want His people ingesting blood into their bodies through the mouth, why would He want us injecting it into our bodies? If it still ends up inside our bodies and becomes part of our life, what is the difference?
Whether by injection or ingestion, would a Christian want to receive a stranger’s bodily fluid -- other than blood (e.g., whole urine or components of it, sweat, mucous secretions, saliva, semen, or other bodily discharges)? If not, why then would a Christian want to receive a stranger’s blood?
Is it holy? Is it pure?
Is it ethical to buy and sell blood?
Is it morally right in God's sight to do so?

I am not going to answer these for you. These are for your own prayerful consideration. Ask the Lord to speak to you and give you wisdom. You can discuss them with your pastor, too. If you are married, discuss them with your spouse. If you have children, ask them what they think? Sometimes the Lord will use little children to speak nuggets of wisdom.

Putting it All Together
In light of the uncertainty surrounding the sources of the blood in blood banks, and the quality of the blood, it presents many difficult questions of both an ethical and spiritual nature. In light of God's Word, each disciple of Christ must determine the will of God pertaining to blood transfusions, as well as other medical matters like vaccines and the use of hormone-based products. But they cannot be left to make those decisions alone. Pastors must provide those who are under their care with the Biblical guidance to make right decisions before God. For we will all have to give an account one day of everything done while in the body, whether good or bad.

This is not something to be dismissed or taken lightly. And you don’t want to wait until you or your child has a medical emergency to decide what God’s will is about blood transfusions. In a medical emergency, there may be too much pressure from the immediate situation and the medical professionals to search the Scriptures and make a sound decision. In fact, if you are unconscious, you cannot make a decision for yourself or your loved one at all. You need to prayerfully seek the Lord’s guidance now to know God’s will.

In my opinion, the Scripture has some clear guidelines about receiving the blood of another living creature into your body. The life of every living thing is in the blood, and we are to avoid ingesting it. It seems to me that injecting something directly into the blood stream is just as bad as ingesting it, if not worse.

Man wants to disregard those guidelines, thinking he knows best. But God’s wisdom is supreme. I believe blood transfusions present a significant risk, and there are no guarantees of the purity of the blood in the blood banks. Likewise, there are no guarantees of the spiritual, physical, and emotional consequences of donating or receiving blood. At best, receiving a blood transfusion is somewhat like playing Russian roulette. At worst, it may be a direct violation of God’s will. You need to decide for yourself before God.

As you make your decision, please bear in mind that if any man wants to see God, he must walk in truth, righteousness, and holiness (see Heb 12:14; Eph 4:24; Act 17:31; 1 Tim 6:11; 2 Tim 2:22; 1 Pet 2:24; 1Jn 2:29; 1Jn 3:7; 1Jn 3:10; 1 Pet 1:15-16; Mat 5:20; Rev 21:8; 22:11, 14-15). That is the only standard for heaven. The Lord Jesus Christ still loves you. But His standard is high! And His mercy is only attainable in the world.

In case you didn't know, Jesus gave his life on the cross for you. He gave His blood on your behalf. He took your place. His blood was pure, holy, and undefiled. If you will repent, give up your life of sin, ask God to forgive you, and put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ, He will save you. He'll wash away your sin in His blood, and give you His perfect righteousness as a gift.

Footnote: Somatids are the tiniest life form. They are visible in living human blood, as well as reconstituted dried blood. When healthy blood is viewed in an electron microscope, somatids appear as little dots of light, which seem to dance around the motionless red blood cells. They are living and indestructible, which means they cannot be killed either by heat or by any chemical product.

References: Rewards and Incentives for Blood Donation Work, by Healthline News, Blood donor incentives: A step forward or backward, by the Asian Journal of Transfusion Science, American Red Cross, The Project Avalon Forum, HIV via blood transfusion on the rise, by Pakistan Defense, Now Five found with HIV+ after blood transfusion at Assam hospital, by Pakistan Defence, Thayer’s Greek definitions, and Blood donation by Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Attribution notice: Most Scripture quotations taken from the NASB. Most other Scriptures taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®, unless otherwise noted.

Author's Note: This is not to be construed in any way as medical advice. Consult a physician for professional advice. Please be advised that I am NOT a Jehovah's Witness. If you enjoyed this post, I recommend the articles by Pakistan Defence cited in the references above, as well as my articles called What Does the Bible Say About Vaccines? and The Bible is our Guide. There are more articles of mine on the Home page of this blog. You may also access my complete blog directory at Writing for the Master.

Do You Want to Know Him?
If you want to know Jesus personally, you can. It all begins when you repent and believe in Jesus. Do you know what God's Word, the Bible says?

“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15). He preached that we must repent and believe.

Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?"

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Monday, August 26, 2013

What Does the Bible Say About Vaccines?

In this age of forced immunizations, there are still some states that allow home schools to obtained an exemption based on their religious convictions. If you have such convictions, then this article may assist you in explaining your reasons for not immunizing.

Do Not Contaminate God’s Temple
The body of a Christian is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1Co 3:16; 1Co 3:17; 1Co 6:19; 2Co 6:16; Eph 2:21). As such, the believer is to purify himself from everything that contaminates both body and spirit (2 Co 7:1). Vaccines may contain various ingredients that contaminate the body, including aluminum hydroxide, aluminum phosphate, ammonium sulfate, formaldehyde, various toxoids and antibiotics, as well as heavy metals like mercury contained in thimerosal, which is used as a preservative.   Mercury is a highly toxic element, second only to radioactive plutonium. When it is combined with other ingredients, specifically aluminum and formaldehyde, the synergistic effects increase 10,000-fold. Scientific studies have connected thimerosal with autism. To inject known neurotoxins into our children, which have known health risks, would be a violation of these biblical teachings.

Some vaccines such as the “measles - mumps – rubella” (MMR), the “measles – rubella” (M-R-Vax), and the Biavax rubella vaccine, all produced by Merck & Co., Inc., as well as the Imovax rabies vaccine produced by Connaught Laboratories, and the Havrix hepatitis A vaccine by GlaxoSmithKline, contain human diploid cells from aborted fetal tissue. We believe that according to God’s Word, life begins at conception (Ps 139:13), and abortion of a human life in the womb constitutes murder. This is an abomination to God. The Bible says, “Thou shalt not murder” (Ex 20:13). It would be unconscionable for us to inject the remnants of a murdered baby into our children or ourselves.

Some vaccines even contain DNA, such as ProQuad, the “measles, mumps, rubella and varicella” vaccine by Merck & Co., Inc.

The authors of a study published in 1980 by "Mutation Research" came to the conclusion that smallpox vaccination has a "mutagenic effect" on human chromosomes. [Neil Z. Miller's 1999 book Vaccines: Are They Really Safe and Effective?, p. 46] "Viruses and viral vaccines are agents for the transfer of genetic imprints from one host to another. In other words, because they contain pure genetic material (DNA and RNA) from a foreign organism, once injected into a human recipient, the new genetic material is incorporated into the invaded cells." [Miller, p. 48] In the 1960s, Joshua Lederberg, Dept. of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, said that "live viruses are ... genetic messages used for the purpose of programming human cells". Lederberg said that "we already practice biological engineering on a rather large scale by use of live viruses in mass immunization campaigns." [Miller, p.49]

"No one knows the long-term effects of tampering with the genetic codes and delicate structure of the human organism. However, the physical invasion of the human body by foreign genetic material may have the immediate effect of permanently weakening the immune system, setting in motion a new era of autoimmune diseases. For example, research indicates that psychotic disorders may be caused by viral infections. The incidence of schizophrenia is on the rise compared to earlier times, and studies now indicate that about one-third of all cases are autoimmune in nature. Once again, some authorities implicate the childhood vaccine programs." [Miller, p. 49]

We believe that God is our Creator and He put the DNA in each person, containing the exact codes needed to instruct the cells of our bodies how they should build. Scientific research has revealed that the genetic material contained in the vaccines is incorporated into the invaded cells of the vaccinated recipient. This constitutes crossing the DNA of humans and animals. It would be unconscionable to allow someone to inject the DNA of an animal or another person into the blood of our children or into our own blood. This would constitute a type of sorcery, which is forbidden by God. We believe that vaccines contaminate our body and spirit, God’s temple, thereby weakening us, and we must purify ourselves of such things, as a means of perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

The Life is in the Blood
The life of all flesh is in the blood, so the blood must be kept pure. The Lord said, “For the life of the flesh is in the blood…” (Lev 17:11a). He also said, “For the life of every creature is its blood: its blood is its life…” (Lev 17:14a, ESV).

Since the life of a human is its blood, it must be kept pure. Nothing unclean may be put into the blood. Since the life of every creature is in its blood, we must not put it into our own blood. This is the same as putting their life into our blood. Since their lives are not pure, their life weakens us.

It’s a well-documented fact that satanic rituals involve animal and human sacrifices, as well as drinking blood. This is an occult practice. In both the Old Covenant and the New Covenant, God forbids His people to eat blood (Lev 17:14; Act 15:20). Since they did not have vaccines when Scripture was written, nothing is mentioned about them. But since God forbids eating or drinking blood, we know that He does not want us putting animal blood into our bodies by any means, whether ingestion or injection.

Pharmaceutical Roots in Sorcery
In a day when there are huge numbers of deaths caused by adverse drug effects (ADEs) from prescribed pharmaceutical drugs, it is interesting to note the biblical reference to sorcery: "But the cowardly, unbelieveing, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolators, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." Revelation 21:8 (New King James)

In this passage, the word 'sorcerers' comes from the Greek word 'pharmakos' (Strongs) which is derived from the Greek word 'pharmakon' and is defined as: “a druggist (‘pharmacist’) or poisoner” (Strongs).

An interesting passage in the Bible refers to the methodology used to deceive the nations in the end times: "...For your merchants were the great men of the earth, for by your sorcery all the nations were deceived." Revelation 18:23

The word 'sorcery' (Strongs) in this passage is the Greek word 'pharmakeia'. It is defined in as “medication” (pharmacy). Drugs that the government considers illegal, like marijuana, cocaine, LSD, and heroin, are connected with the occult and sorcery. And so are many of the drugs the government considers legal. We do not necessarily believe that every medicine produced by a pharmaceutical company is considered sorcery. But pharmaceuticals have their roots in sorcery. And it is obvious in the case of vaccines that these are connected with sorcery, since they are poisonous (toxic), rely on the blood of dead animals, and they consist of ingredients that we are forbidden by God to put into our bodies.

For example, some vaccines may contain pig blood, horse blood, rabbit brain, dog kidney, vesicle fluid from calf skins, rhesus monkey fetal diploid cells, bovine fetal serum, rhesus monkey fetal lung cells, bovine serum, chicken embryo, monkey kidney cells, calf serum, chick embryonic fluid, washed sheep red blood cells, and mouse serum proteins. Many vaccines are made from the blood of diseased animals, decomposed animal parts, and are not sterile. The Bible teaches that there are clean and unclean animals and that God’s people are not to put the unclean into their bodies.

Luke 13.1-5 states that those who mix human blood with the blood of sacrificed animals are 'sinners.' This is precisely what pharmaceutical industrialists do in order to produce many vaccines, by mixing the blood of animals with that of humans. And it is what medical practitioners do when they inject vaccines containing animal blood into the bloodstreams of humans. The human and animal blood is mixed together, which is an abomination to God (Lev 20:16).

It is Not God’s Will for His People to Be Sick
Vaccines may also contain other ingredients that contaminate and harm the body, such as deadly viruses (both live and inactive). The human body’s reaction to these (i.e., fever, aches, pains, nausea, inflammation, coma, death, etc.) show that the immune system accurately recognizes these components as foreign and harmful. The pharmaceutical companies call these “adverse drug effects” (ADEs). Scripture teaches that it is not God’s will for believers to have sickness or disease. The psalmist said, “Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits; Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases;” (Psa 103:2-3). God is willing and able to heal all our diseases.

Do Not Destroy God’s Temple
In some cases, vaccines can even result in death to the patient. A top Merck vaccine scientist (Dr. Maurice Hilleman) openly admits the presence of AIDS and deadly SV40 in vaccines. If you or your child dies, “They” cannot be held liable! Why would they protect themselves from lawsuits if it wasn’t harmful? They do so, because they know that it is. And the Scripture says that “If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are.” (1Co 3:17). We must never be accomplice to any man who destroys the temple of God, even if the intent was to prevent disease, because His temple is holy, and we are His temple.

The Lord is Our Healer
Jesus Christ not only paid for the forgiveness of our sins and our salvation from hell through His atoning sacrifice, He also paid for our healing and deliverance. The prophet Isaiah said, “Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed.” (Isa 53:4-5).

When the prophet said, “Our griefs He Himself bore,” the Hebrew word for griefs is chŏlı̂y meaning “sickness, affliction, disease, griefs, or illness,” according to the NAS Exhaustive Concordance (NASEC). When the prophet said that Jesus “bore” our griefs, the Hebrew word is nasah, which means in this context “to carry, take, receive, bear or accept” (Strongs).   Jesus actually received our sicknesses, our diseases, and our illnesses in His body on the cross.

When the prophet said that Jesus carried our sorrows, the Hebrew word for sorrows is makob, meaning “pain” (NASEC). When it says He carried our pain, the Hebrew word is sabal, which literally means to carry or bear a heavy load (NASEC).

It is repeated in the New Testament. In the gospel of Saint Matthew, it says, “When evening came, they brought to Him [Jesus] many who were demon-possessed; and He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were ill. This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: ‘HE HIMSELF TOOK OUR INFIRMITIES AND CARRIED AWAY OUR DISEASES.’” (Mat 8:16-17). So Matthew states that when Jesus healed all who were ill, He was fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah that we have just cited.

Jesus Christ rose from the dead and lives forever. Just as He healed all who were ill during His earthly ministry, He continues to do so today. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Heb 13:8).

Furthermore, the apostle Peter wrote, “and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.” (1Pe 2:24). The Greek word for “healed” is iaomai, which means “1) to cure, heal, 2) to make whole, and 2a) to free from errors and sins, to bring about (one’s) salvation” (Thayer).   Therefore, Peter affirms that by the wounds that Jesus received in His passion and crucifixion, we His sheep are healed, made whole, cured, forgiven, freed from the power of sin, and saved. This means that there is not only salvation but healing in the atonement.

Just as one must believe in Jesus as His own personal Lord and Savior in order to be saved, one must also believe in Jesus as His own personal Healer to be healed. Jesus often said to those whom He healed, “Your faith has made you whole” (Mat 9:22; Mat 15:28; Mar 5:34; Mar 10:52; Luk 8:48; Luk 17:19).

Since it is not God’s will for His children to have disease, then it is not God’s will for them or anyone else to inject disease in any form into their bodies. The child of God is supposed to walk in the perfect will of God, and never do anything he knows to be contrary to God’s will (Mar 3:35; Rom 12:2; 1Pe 4:1-2; Heb 10:36; Eph 6:6; 1Jn 2:17; Mat 7:21).

We have seen the Lord heal many various sicknesses and diseases through prayer and the laying on of hands. He has done this in our own lives, our children’s lives, as well as the lives of other people. We have not only read about this happening through others like Smith Wigglesworth, Reese Howells, Kathryn Kuhlman, Charles and Frances Hunter, and Dr. T.L. Osborne, who saw tens of thousands healed in every corner of the earth during his sixty-five years of ministry, but we have seen it first hand.

This is not a gift reserved only for a select few believers. Healing is a covenant promise of God to His people. God keeps all His promises and cannot lie. Not one word of all His good promises has ever failed. In Saint Mark’s gospel, he records the words of our Lord Jesus to His disciples when He commissioned them to preach the gospel, make disciples, and baptize them. He said, "These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." (Mar 16:17-18). This is part of the Great Commission. He not only called us to preach salvation, but healing and deliverance also. We cannot take only the parts of the Bible we like and leave out other parts. We have a mandate from the Lord of the Universe. He said that believers would lay hands on the sick. And when He said, “They shall recover,” this reveals it is His will for those upon whom believers lay their hands shall recover.

As disciples of Jesus Christ, we believe that if we are walking faithfully in obedience to Him, then He will put none of the diseases upon us that He put upon the Egyptians. For He said, "If you will give earnest heed to the voice of the LORD your God, and do what is right in His sight, and give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I, the LORD, am your healer." (Exo 15:26).

We do not rely on vaccines to prevent diseases, we rely on our great God. He has revealed Himself to His people as “Yahweh Rapha,” the Lord your Healer (Ex 15:26), and we have come to know Him personally as such. To deny this would be to deny Him.

Sometimes believers do get sick. When they do, they are to call upon the elders of the church, not the doctors. And the Lord promises to heal them, if they do so. The apostle James wrote, “Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him.” (Jas 5:14-15). He says, “the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up.” We have faith that the Lord will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise Him up.

Futility of Seeking Physicians Rather Than God
The role of physicians has its place in society. But a godly physician knows that only God can heal his patients. Many people have sought physicians rather than God and either gotten worse or died as a result. There are examples of this in Scripture for our instruction. One was Asa, King of Judah.

“In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa became diseased in his feet. His disease was severe, yet even in his disease he did not seek the LORD, but the physicians. So Asa slept with his fathers, having died in the forty-first year of his reign.” (2Ch 16:12-13)

One more example will suffice, and that is the woman with the hemorrhage. “A woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years, and had endured much at the hands of many physicians, and had spent all that she had and was not helped at all, but rather had grown worse…” (Mar 5:25-26). Although she spent all she had seeking the care of physicians, they could not help at all. In fact, she only grew worse. It was only when she put her faith in Jesus and touched the hem of his garment that she was healed, and her bleeding stopped immediately.

We believe that when people seek physicians rather than God, they will end up like King Asa or like the woman with the issue of blood. We see this happening today in the rise of diseases, of which vaccines are suspected by scientists to be the cause, such as autism, schizophrenia, and various autoimmune diseases. Not to mention all the so-called "adverse drug effects" resulting from vaccines. The immunization campaign deceives people into thinking that physicians can protect them from disease without seeking God, when in fact this program only makes them worse.

Cause of Disease and Plagues
Scripture records that the following diseases came upon the people because of disobedience to God’s Law: plague, hemorrhoids, itch, consumption, fever, inflammation, boils, tumors, scabs, blindness, confusion, and madness. (Deut 28; cf., Num 14:12; Lev 26:25; Am 4:10; Jer 24:10). And since this list is not exhaustive enough, the Scripture goes on to say, “He [the Lord] will bring back on you all the diseases of Egypt of which you were afraid, and they will cling to you. Also every sickness and every plague which, not written in the book of this law, the LORD will bring on you until you are destroyed.” (Deu 28:60-61). On the other hand, God promises His blessings of prosperity, or overall well being, upon His obedient children (Deut 28:1-14).

Divine Protection from Plagues
We are keenly aware that we are under the protection promised in Psalm 91, which says, “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, ‘My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!’ For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper And from the deadly pestilence.” (Psa 91:1-3). The deadly “pestilence” in this verse is from the Hebrew word deber, meaning the destroying “plague” (Strong). The Lord -- not the pharmaceutical company -- delivers us from the deadly plague.

We don’t need to live in fear of plagues. God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of love, power and a sound mind (2 Tim 1:7). Though a thousand fall at our side, even ten thousand at our right hand, it shall not approach us, because He will give His angels charge over us.

The Lord has promised us, “You will not be afraid of the terror by night, Or of the arrow that flies by day; Of the pestilence [plague] that stalks in darkness, Or of the destruction that lays waste at noon. A thousand may fall at your side And ten thousand at your right hand, But it shall not approach you. You will only look on with your eyes And see the recompense of the wicked. For you have made the LORD, my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place. No evil will befall you, Nor will any plague come near your tent. For He will give His angels charge concerning you, To guard you in all your ways.” (Psa 91:5-11).

The Lord promises that if we love Him and call upon Him, He will deliver us and satisfy us with long life (Ps 91:14-16). Man cannot give us long life, since he himself is subject to sickness and death. But we know that God who is Life Himself has the power to do so, and will do what He promised.

The Scriptures also command God’s people to come out of Babylonian the Great whore, so as not to partake of her sins. “I heard another voice from heaven, saying, "Come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues.” (Rev 18:4).

We believe the government immunization program is part of the Babylonian system that God commands us to come out of. So rather than participate in this program in an attempt to avoid plagues, we believe it would actually be sin to participate in the program, since it is based on sinful activities. We believe that if we are obedient to come out of her, we will not receive of her plagues. We have divine protection only if we come out.

A Nation’s Proper Response to Plague
Scripture teaches that when God sends a plague to His people, the solution is for them to humble themselves, pray, seek His face, and turn from their wicked ways. God says: "If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people, and 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, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2Ch 7:13-14). God promises to heal the nation in response to this kind of prayer.

When God sent a plague to the nation of Israel as a result of King David’s sinful census, it took the lives of seventy thousand men (2 Sam 24:15). Then David repented of his sin and prayed to the Lord (2Sa 24:17). He obeyed God’s command and sought the Lord:

“David built there an altar to the LORD and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. Thus the LORD was moved by prayer for the land, and the plague was held back from Israel.” (2Sa 24:25)

When David confessed his sin and sought the Lord for forgiveness, prayer for the land moved the Lord, and the plague was stopped. This is the way God’s people, especially the national leaders, are to respond to plague.

But wicked men want to devise schemes so that they can avoid sickness without turning from their wicked ways. They want to mix their potions and inject them into human beings in an attempt to defy God.

Obey God Rather Than Man
As Sherry Shriner states: "The Bible teaches that there have been times in history when evil government and government employees have attempted, through force or color of law, to intimidate, harm or destroy the children of God’s people. (Exodus 1 and 2; Matthew 2).   The Bible teaches that when man’s law contradicts God’s law, His people must obey God over man. (Acts 5:29) Therefore, be it known, should any policy, edict or legislation of man decree our children must be vaccinated, we must obey God rather than man just as Moses’ parents of old, we will do so without fear (Exodus 2)."

The Bible teaches us that we are not to harm or wrong our neighbor. (Romans 13:10 and James 2:8) When a family decides to decline vaccines, it does not do wrong or threaten their neighbors. If vaccines were truly effective, the neighbor who has been vaccinated would not be in danger from someone who is not vaccinated.

Conclusion
After having seriously considered the Scriptures and the suppressed facts about vaccines, you may elect to forego these risks, by faith in God and enjoyment of His blessings, among which are health and natural immunity. For anyone with deeply and sincerely held religious convictions about this matter, it would violate conscience to allow their children to be vaccinated.

Attribution notice: Most Scripture quotations taken from the NASB. Most other Scriptures taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®, unless otherwise noted.

Author's Note: This is not to be construed in any way as medical or legal advise. Consult a lawyer and/or physician for professional advice. If you enjoyed this post, also see Scriptural Guidance About Blood Transfusions. More of my articles on Biblical Health and Wellness may be found on the Home page of this blog. I also recommend you read the book called Plague by Kent Heckenlively and Dr. Judy Mikovits, PhD. You may also access my complete blog directory at Writing for the Master.

Image credit: Image taken from article called Vaccines: Is Your Pediatrician a Bully? by Healthnutnation.

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