Response to Letters received over the Pandemic
Response to a Letter by Rev. Imani
I frequently get letters mailed to me telling me I am not saved if I pastor a church or preach the Bible since I went to seminary. Often, I get mail stating that I, as a woman, cannot have authority over men as a pastor. The most recent letter I got from a clergy couple encouraged me to teach people of God to avoid COVID vaccines and preach against them. I want to share my response to their thoughts in their letter. My thoughts are based on John Wesley's four points to help Methodist people to make decisions: Scripture, Tradition, Reason, Experience. 1In addition, I want to inform you of the United Methodist Church's stance about medicine, pandemics, and health.
Letter point #1-Christians that receive the vaccine show a lack of faith in God's healing power.
• Rev. Imani: In the Bible, there are many ways that God, the Father, God the Son, and God Holy Spirit heal people. These two ways in the Christian scripture are well known. In Luke 10:30-37, the Good Samaritan used "medicine in the form of torn cloths bandages and oil to heal the wounds of an injured person. In John 9:1-12, Jesus used spit and mud to heal a man's eyes. In both cases, outside elements are used to heal the body. (Scripture, Tradition, Reason Experience.) so it is not unbiblical or against God to seek
medicine.
Letter point #2-Christians wearing masks stop God's holy breath in believers.
• Rev. Imani: While some bible texts about wearing masks as bad things that hide evil, the Bible does not refer to COVID-19. (Scripture)
Letter point #3-Christians wearing a mask hide the face that is the instrument God has given to us to reveal ourselves to him. So Christians cannot wear a mask in church services because it stops full communication with God.
• Rev. Imani: God can communicate with us in all ways and at all times. God can see us in the light of day and the darkest night. God sees us on the inside as well as on the outside. We can communicate with God by moving our lips under our masks when we pray in church (Scripture, Tradition, Reason, Experience)
Letter point #4 What if one person I know refuses to take a COVID Vaccine for medical or other reasons?
Rev. Imani: Often, people are concerned about risks in taking the vaccine. No vaccine is 100% risk-free, just as no medical procedure is 100% risk-free. However, if we take the vaccine, we lower the risk of passing on the virus to others or being sick ourselves. Some people refuse the vaccine based on false information, such as vaccines containing the cells of aborted or dead fetuses. The individual human cells used used for some vaccines' development today are not, and have never been, part of an actual human body or fetus nor aborted fetal cells. The cells in vaccines came from human cells used to create an "immortalized" cell line. These lab-grown cells are used to understand how the cells interact with medicines. We can only provide medical information to others so they can make decisions, and we can pray for others' decisions making. (Tradition, Reason, Experience)
What are members of the United Methodist Church encouraged to understand about health and medicine?
• Rev. Imani: John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, set an example for all Methodists. "John Wesley not only preached spiritual health but worked to restore physical health among …people. He wrote Primitive Physick, a primer on health and medicine for those too poor to pay for a doctor."1
• Rev. Imani: The Social Principles of The United Methodist Church "call on national governments and international health organizations and medical groups to work cooperatively and expeditiously to address global pandemics…as well as outbreaks of contagious diseases that threaten the health and well-being of entire countries and regions… while continuing research in infectious disease prevention and treatment…
(Scripture, Tradition, Reason, Experience)1
Please note: Based on the Social Principles, the Bible, the Scripture, Tradition, Reason, Experience guidance of the United-Methodists- Church, clergy nor officers can provide vaccine exemptions.
Rev. Imani: I remind you that we are called by Jesus in Mark 12 to "Love your neighbor as yourself. "Loving our neighbor means protecting others the way you want to be protected from sickness and disease. When you're protecting yourself with the vaccine, you're also protecting your community. Let's continue to pray for each other and protect each other with the love of God.
Let's approach all in need with kindness and not blame or shame. Let's care for those who are sick and suffer to the best of our ability in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Rev. Imani