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Response to a Zealous Pastor’s Defense of COVID “Vaccine” Mandates

Response to a Zealous Pastor’s Defense of COVID “Vaccine” Mandates

Recently, one of our online followers emailed us to say that their local church had implemented a mask-mandate, despite their state and local governments not requiring it. The pastor who is requiring masks then presented a sermon arguing for COVID “vaccine” mandates, while also making the case that those who have been advocating for freedom of conscience and against mandates are misguided and are being disobedient to the Bible and the will of God. Our online follower asked me to review the sermon and share any facts that could help them refute what they believed to be serious errors on the part of the pastor.

While the sermon is about 50 minutes long, I stopped watching it a little after 30 minutes, because there were already so many errors, falsehoods, and misapplications of both science and Bible facts that further review seemed unnecessary in order to render a reasoned critique. Below is my assessment of the sermon’s main points.

First Falsehood:  Equating SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-CoronaVirus-2 or SARS2, the cause of COVID) with other serious and virulent diseases

The pastor opens his sermon with a review of smallpox, the devastation it caused when it first appeared, the controversy when the smallpox vaccine first became available, and the eventual success of that vaccine in eradicating the illness. He later lists other examples of serious illnesses successfully treated with vaccines—such as polio, measles, and tetanus.

The problem, however, is that these illnesses are not really comparable to COVID. Smallpox kills up to 50 percent of those who contract it, whereas less than 0.5 percent of people who contract COVID die from it. In other words, more than 99.5 percent of the at-large population who contract COVID recover from it. And for those under age 20 who contract COVID, essentially 100 percent recover. Thus, COVID is not a virulent disease like smallpox, and is no more dangerous to adults than the seasonal flu, and much less dangerous to children than seasonal flu.

Second Falsehood:  Equating the vaccines for smallpox, polio, and tetanus with so-called SARS2 “vaccines”

While the injections given for COVID are being called “vaccines,” they are most certainly not vaccines by the clear definition commonly used for that word prior to COVID. The vaccines for smallpox, polio, and measles are sterilizing vaccines, meaning they provide actual immunity to the disease such that the vaccinated do not get infected. (Thus, those vaccinated from polio don’t need to fear getting exposed to the polio virus; they are immune.)

But the “vaccine” injections for COVID do not provide sterilizing immunity and, in fact, were never designed to do so. Despite early government pronouncements supported by mass media, they don’t prevent infection, reinfection, or spread. They were designed to prevent the very few people at risk from the disease (less than 0.5 percent of the population) from having a serious/deadly case of the disease. The absolute risk reduction of the Pfizer injection is 0.84 percent, meaning that taking the injection provides less than 1-percent risk reduction from dying of COVID. Moreover, the risk of harm from these injections is still being calculated because more cases of injury and death from the injections are being reported every day, and the multiple reports now suggest that the risk of harm is multiple times greater than the benefit provided.

Thus, this pastor makes two false comparisons (COVID is virulent and deadly like smallpox and the “vaccines” are protective) to create the fantasy that injections for COVID make us safe from a terrible, life-threatening disease. Both points are false and mislead his congregation.

Because the injections are not sterilizing vaccines and were never intended to prevent infection, reinfection, and spread, but only to reduce symptom severity, they are more accurately designated as “injectable therapeutics.” A therapeutic is something designed to treat, not prevent, an illness. Furthermore, the therapeutic benefit of these injections wane with each mutation.

This pastor failed to present this truth to his congregation, perpetuating the fantasy that these injections are vaccines. Further, he failed to compare the therapeutic benefit of a 0.84 percent risk reduction with other well-documented therapeutics that do have long term safety data and that reduce hospitalizations and deaths by up to 84 percent with prophylaxis and over 80% with early treatment after infection.

Third Falsehood:  Mandating military personnel be vaccinated against smallpox during the Revolutionary War equates to mandating the citizenry be “vaccinated” against SARS2

The pastor, expounding on his misapplication of smallpox and its vaccine, reviews the history of the smallpox epidemic during the U.S. Revolutionary War and General Washington’s mandated vaccinations of soldiers in his direct military command. He then uses this historical fact as justification for the government mandating the COVID “vaccine” upon its civilian population today.

The problem here, beyond the falsehoods already noted, is that he misses the larger legal reality of the United States Constitution in regard to health mandates on the populace. Despite the Continental Army enduring two epidemics (the forces in the North suffered a smallpox epidemic, from 1775 to 1782, while forces in the South suffered from a malaria epidemic), and despite these outbreaks severely hindering the army’s ability to carry out the war effort for the very existence of the nation, the Framers of the U.S. Constitution chose not to include any medical exceptions to the Bill of Rights.

Thus, there is no legal justification for vaccine mandates on the citizenry; simply put, it’s not constitutional. Yet the pastor fails to take note of this and, instead, uses this very history to support the opposite conclusion—that it is justifiable for the government to mandate medical treatments upon the citizenry.

This pastor, by advocating from the pulpit an endorsement of governmental mandates to violate the consciences of people, is advocating the methods of the beast of Revelation. Note, I am not speaking of promoting voluntary vaccines or injectable therapeutics while leaving people free to decide for themselves. Rather, I am speaking of using coercive power—fines, arrest, and restrictions of the liberties of healthy people (quarantining, travel and dining bans, and termination from employment)—to cause people to take a treatment against their will, including injections into their bodies (spirit temples). Bodily autonomy, governing one’s own spirit temple, is vital to our sense of self; removing it via a “vaccine” mandate goes against the principles of God’s kingdom.

Fourth Falsehood:  Those who don’t want to be injected with SARS2 “vaccines” are rejecting science, natural law, and are thereby refusing to follow the Bible

The pastor makes the case that we are to live by the laws that God has made, including the laws of nature, and even goes so far as to state that for those who don’t, their prayers are an abomination to the Lord. While we eagerly agree that we are to live in harmony with God’s design laws for life, we equally encourage this pastor to include Romans 14:5 into his understanding of God’s law—that “every person should be fully persuaded in their own mind.” This is the principle (law) of liberty, which teaches that love can exist only in an atmosphere of freedom; take away liberty and love is destroyed. God gives humans real freedom; thus, those who live in harmony with God’s laws grant others freedom in the governance of their own lives as dictated by their consciences. Perhaps this pastor would be benefited from this passage in the book The Desire of Ages:

God could have destroyed Satan and his sympathizers as easily as one can cast a pebble to the earth; but He did not do this. Rebellion was not to be overcome by force. Compelling power is found only under Satan’s government. The Lord’s principles are not of this order. His authority rests upon goodness, mercy, and love; and the presentation of these principles is the means to be used. God’s government is moral, and truth and love are to be the prevailing power (759.1).

When we use coercive power to compel the consciences of others, we advance Satan’s kingdom; in using Satan’s methods, we actively oppose the work of God. Forcing people to take medical treatments against their conscience is beastly. We are to present truth in love and leave others free—yet this pastor endorses using governmental power to coerce people.

The pastor also employs a strawman (a logical fallacy) suggesting that those who are opposed to the “vaccine” mandates are opposed to science or natural law. (i.e., “If you are against mandates, then you are not following the science.”) But you can oppose mandates and support science! In reality, those opposed to mandates are the ones who are the true lovers of science; they are the ones who want openness, examination of the evidence of effectiveness, both short- and long-term safety data, and an accurate accounting of potential injuries from the “vaccine.” True science loses nothing by investigation and inquiry. In fact, the more questions, more evidence, more research, more studies, and more data, the clearer the truth becomes.

Only those without truth and who have something to hide find it necessary to obstruct an investigation. Instead of true scientific inquiry, they advance a cause based on mere claims, and use authority of office and power of position to silence opposing voices—to censor; to obstruct investigation, inquiry, and evidence that refute their narrative; to fire from jobs, and deplatform from social networks. Those with truth don’t need to do these things. Which group is utilizing which method? It is the pro-COVID vaxxers who are obstructing evidence, truth, science, and facts—not those opposed to the mandates.

Sadly, his sermon misrepresents those who oppose the mandates as being against science and natural law; nothing is further from the truth—in fact, it is the opposite of truth.

Fifth Falsehood:  Using the Bible’s instructions to quarantine lepers as justification for quarantining the unvaccinated

The pastor makes another false equivalence when he cites the biblical example of quarantining lepers to support the various COVID restrictions and mandates, such as mask wearing, social distancing, or the quarantining of unvaccinated people. But vaccine status is irrelevant; what is relevant is actual health status.

The salient point in regard to lepers is that they were contagious, and actively contagious people should be quarantined. That has been the historical standard of medical ethics and care—quarantining the actively sick. We have never before quarantined the healthy!

In his fear-induced zeal, the pastor has unfortunately misapplied Scripture to create support for the unethical, ungodly, coercive, and erroneous policies of beastly world governments.

Sixth Falsehood:  In order to be safe, one must receive the SARS2 “vaccine”

The science shows that it is the unvaccinated who have recovered from a COVID infection that are the safest in our society—they are the least likely to be reinfected, the least likely to spread it, and the least likely to have a serious future case, while it is the vaccinated who are the most dangerous in our society when it comes to spreading COVID to others.

The unvaccinated recovered have broad, robust, and long-lasting immunity with their naturally occurring antibodies to multiple sites of the COVID virus; these antibodies are also ultra-potent to most variants. This means, again, that the unvaccinated recovered are the least likely to be spreaders.

A Cleveland Clinic Study found that “not one of the 1359 previously infected subjects who remained unvaccinated had a SARS-CoV-2 infection over the duration of the study” despite working in a hospital and being exposed to COVID patients.

But the “vaccinated” have limited immunity in antibody diversity (only to the spike protein), limited longevity of antibody production (6 to 12 months requiring repeated boosters), and limited antibody type and bodily location (IgG and IGM, no IgA at mucous membranes—the site of infection).

The unvaccinated recovered have broad, long-lasting antibodies, including IgA at the mucous membranes, the site of COVID infection and, thus, they are the least likely to get reinfected and spread it. The unvaccinated who haven’t yet been infected, when they do get COVID, get sick, the experience real symptoms and know they are sick, so they choose to stay home until they are recovered and, therefore, don’t expose their friends, family, and coworkers. (Just like humans always did with every flu season prior to COVID).

But the inoculated get the “vaccine” injection designed to reduce symptoms and illness severity without IgA antibodies at the mucous membranes in the oropharynx. Thus, when they get infected, the virus reproduces in their oropharynx, but because they have IgG and IgM antibodies circulating in their bodies, they don’t get as sick. Often, they don’t even know they are sick, so they don’t choose to stay home and, instead, they interact with and spread the virus to others.

But this pastor, rather than presenting the actual science, instead, gave an impassioned sermon advancing the government’s propaganda.

God’s People Will Advocate for Freedom of Conscience

It is truly sad how many people have surrendered their minds, their thinking, to others, to the authorities, whether state or church. But God has created each of us in His image, with our own individuality, ability to think and act, and we each have the responsibility to think for ourselves, to weigh the evidence for ourselves, to come to our own conclusions and “be fully persuaded in our own minds” (Romans 14:5), and then to act on our conclusions.

We at Come and Reason Ministries are not here to tell you what to think. We practice God’s methods of presenting the truth (as we currently comprehend it) in love, while leaving you free to come to your own conclusions—including disagreeing with us. Our love for you will not change if you disagree. We are all finite; it is okay that we see and understand things differently. And in heaven, we will meet many people who believed differently than us about many things, both in Scripture and science. But what is not okay, what will separate the saved from the lost, is the methods we apply to our lives in how we treat others (Matthew 25:31–46).

Those in God’s kingdom live by the principles of truth, love, and freedom. They hunger to grow in truth (knowing they don’t know all truth, they are open to correction with more evidence and truth); they lovingly present the truth to others, always respecting the God-given individuality of others and never seeking to coerce, compel, or control the consciences of others.

The lost, however, whether they have various truths or not, practice the methods of Satan; they use their power to coerce the consciences of others—often employing some just cause (to “save lives”) to control people and retain power. But in so doing, they corrupt their own character, harden their own heart, and become like their beastly father, the devil. This is exactly what those who crucified Christ did. They had various truths—Sabbath, health message, belief in a coming Messiah, God as Creator, etc.—but the methods they preferred and practiced were coercion, force, and authority over others.

We at Come and Reason Ministries reject these beastly methods and invite you to join us in standing for the kingdom of God—to be a lover of truth, presenting it in love, while leaving others free.

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Testimony 51

I Love This Ministry!!!!!!! I see first hand how this message is desperately needed, how erroneous beliefs about God and His Character negatively affect humanity at every level. I thank God for your ministry, as I was searching on my own and was discovering some of your same beliefs and was blown away when I found your ministry. I know you hear it all the time, but it is truly life changing. May God continue to reveal His Will to you and Bless you!

Eric S., Sanford, FL, USA

 

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Testimony 26

Your teachings about our heavenly Father have changed my life. Thank you sooooooo very very much! I know He’s doing some serious healing in my heart and life and I look forward to each new day to learn something new about Him and to just hear you speak about Him. Thank you, forever.

Nancy S.

 

Testimony 43

Two years ago I stumbled upon your book, “Could It Be This Simple,” and then found “The God-Shaped Brain” videos on YouTube, your bible study class, and the ‘Come And Reason’ mobile app. I shared your book with a friend and after nine months of showing love, patience, and kindness this person has been changed by the love of God, too. The same love that healed me, I now express to other women in tangible ways, such as to a Baptist woman with high anxiety and childhood trauma. She was extremely happy and relieved when I shared about the so-called “judgment of God” and burning in hell. She had no desire to serve a God that was so harsh. I have repeated the phrase dozens of times to her. “What we believe has power over us, but we have power over what we believe…”

This message that you are sharing has changed my life. I will continue to serve other women and bring this message of God’s healing love to their lives by sharing your books, YouTube videos, and The Remedy Bible app. Keep up the good work. Don’t be discouraged. God is doing a mighty work in and through this ministry!

Jill L., Midwest, USA

 

Testimony 59

I’m a native Ghanan, but am currently in France for my master’s degree. Prior to this, during my final years at undergraduate studies in Ghana, I was introduced to your ministry and I’ve been immensely blessed by what you share, especially about the Design and Imposed Laws. God richly bless you for that.

One of the first things I did when I arrived in France was to buy all four of your books. They not only helped me, but those I shared them with. I shared the message with an atheist student and I marveled at how God worked mightily in his life. Today this person shares the Love of God with others and debunks theories of who God is not. I want to share what you present in your “Heavenly Sanctuary and Investigative Judgment” pamphlet, because the message brought rest to my soul and I live today as a healthy person.

God bless you so much and your ministry.

Michael A., Ghana

 

Testimony 35

I am so pleased with the response your message is receiving at my church from the middle-aged to the young adults. I have given out 100 copies of the first two seminars and there are more request every week. One of my [class members] came to me after viewing the series, grateful and impressed with how easy the message was retained. He had been a Seventh-day Adventist in fear all his life, and felt like the scales were removed from his eyes after viewing the seminars. I am so impressed by the change I see in members who have received this message, we are in one accord. However, I am sadden by the negative response of the older people. I am verbally attacked anytime I talk about imposed laws, but I believe my mission is to enlightened everyone I can. I watch your Bible Study Class on YouTube every Friday night and I feel like I am apart of the class. All of you are in one accord and I am so blessed to have found you. I pray that all of you continue to spread this message and I am committed to doing my part.

Clara S., Westfield, MA, USA

 

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I truly believe that to know who God really is the first step to understand ourselves in a balanced and kind way, so the healing can take place. Your approach really makes sense – Thank you for your ministry!

A.M., Pittsburg, PA, USA

Testimony 69

After reading your book, ‘Could It Be This Simple,’ someone was explaining Christianity in a way that made sense to me for the first time in my life. One morning, I simply prayed “I’m sorry and I love you.” As soon as I silently said that, I could literally feel God’s presence and light flood down on me from above and fill me up with love and joy. I sat there crying my eyes out, because I was so overpowered with this feeling of love and joy. It was just so incredible. I hope that more people can read this book and get a blessing from it. It’s really amazing.

Rachael H.

Testimony 61

I grew up in a prominent protestant church and had what I like to call religious anxiety. I’ve always had questions about God and Salvation that no one could seem to answer.  I didn’t know how to find resolution. During 2020, at the height of my anxiety, I fell to my knees and begged God to show me truth and light and to give me the hope that I’ve been longing for. Days later, I stumbled upon your online videos and it was like a veil was lifted and EVERYTHING made sense! For the first time in my almost 39 years of life, my religious/spiritual anxiety has lessened. I feel a sense of freedom and peace I’ve NEVER had before… and it’s all because my view of God has changed. Thank you!

Ashleighn C.

 

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We listen to your bible studies lessons in our class in Montana. You actually were the main reason I decided to get a laptop, so I can go to your site and listen, read, learn, and print the class notes. I am so grateful to learn the correct view of God and his character. Now, to just have others have an interest in knowing, so I can share it with them. Good thoughts your way.

R. N., MT, USA

 

Testimony 42

I am just writing to say that I have been so blessed by the teachings of Come And Reason Minitries recently. I watched last week’s bible study lesson on Youtube and am thankful that the error in the printed lesson guide you use was pointed out and this week’s study was of equal benefit, if not more so. My understanding of God’s nature has been very confused of late and I am so grateful for clarity in this matter. I have never really fully understood previously how a good God can cause bad things to happen and now I realise that He doesn’t, it’s a natural consequence of sin. May the almighty Father and His Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, continue to bless your ministry.

Laura P., United Kingdom

 

Testimony 21

I am absolutly on fire with the message at Come and Reason! I can’t get enough! I’ve read your book, blog, and articles. I’ve listened to your Bible study podcasts, your radio show, and your series – all excellent! It wasn’t until the past couple of years that I have I like I’m becoming “healthy,” with more to share with others than just beasts and commandments! I used to be a Bible worker and preached when the pastors were gone until I had had enough. I didnt realize at the time what the problem was, but i know now… the message wasn’t properly focused. Now my flame is rekindled. All of your little examples are so perfect in explaining something “complicated” and making it easily understood! Now I’m trying to shape it into a life changing evangelistic series! Thank you!

M.T., USA

 

Testimony 22

I have found your Bible study class lectures to be very inspiring and useful as I prepare to teach class every other week. I subscribe to the podcast and download your notes on the weeks I teach. The audio and notes are such a great help in preparing. My own understanding of God’s character has grown as I teach the class. Commendations on the thought-provoking and well-prepared material Come and Reason provides. Personally, I get excited by the tie you make between the spiritual and mental/physical domains.

A.A. Corrales, NM, USA

 

Testimony 24

I wanted to thank you very much for presenting your understanding of God. I’ve always been troubled by this question: Why did Jesus have to die? Since my conversion I understood that The Father & Jesus are one, I did not have issues with that. But was there not any other way to save us than for Jesus to die? I guess I actually had a question about God – if He is so wise, how come He did not find another way? I did not see the real ‘beauty’  in the cross. Only when you explained the picture in the medical context, Jesus providing medicine for my selfishness, have I started to finally ‘see the light’. Thank you so much. Your seminar, “Healing the Mind,” are absolutely marvelous & have shared them with my family and many other people, including colleagues at work. Thanks, thanks, thanks. May God bless you abundantly in your ministry.

M. W., Australia

 

Testimony 34

I was introduced to Come and Reason Ministries by accident, via a passing comment made in a bible study class we were visiting. I checked this website out and my life was changed. The understanding of the truth of God’s character, and how we apply it, is so right. The tricky part is consistently applying which “lens” to look through. As I began to understand, I started sharing the basics of this understanding with a discussion group I was leading and, suddenly, a lot of things started to make sense that never used to. At the same time, I enjoyed an amazing opportunity. I was able to conduct a full bible study at WORK! What an amazing experience! It is such a joy to share the truth about God and to share how it all fits in the war between God and Satan. So many people benefit when we have a correct understanding about how God works and who He really is! Thank you for this transformational understanding. Keep up the good work! God Bless you!

Tony P., CA, USA