The things that are happening in our world today.
TO MY FELLOW GUYANESE and SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST BROTHERS AND SISTERS:
It’s not very often that I would use any online media platform to express my concerns (disappointment or feelings). However, I believe this is a matter of "freedom of conscience and religious liberty." As a Bible believing Seventh-day Adventist, we have been counselled: "If God abhors one sin above another, of which His people are guilty, it is doing nothing in case of an emergency. Indifference and neutrality in a religious crisis is regarded of God as a grievous crime and equal to the very worst type of hostility against God" (1).
The question might be asked, what is the emergency?
Allow me first to give a prelude. We read in the Bible in the book of Matthew, where some religious leaders sought to "entangle" Jesus' speech by asking him a question regarding paying of tribute/taxes to the worldly government (2). Knowing little that Jesus had perceived their thoughts and hypocrisy, he actually thought them an important lesson of which my concerns will be centered upon in this post. After, reviewing a penny of which had Caesar's inscription, he said, "render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's and unto God the things that are God's." (3) The most salient point that Christ brought out here was that there must be a separation between Church and State. In simple terms, give the state/government what belongs to them and give God what belongs to Him.
It is quite clear that we are to be obedient to the laws of the land. In like manner, it is doubly important that we be obedient to God's words. One might say that there is a conflict of interest here but I would make it quite clear that God has given us answers to all life's problem. In the book Counsels for the Church it reads, "I saw that it is our duty in every case to obey the laws of our land, unless they conflict with the higher law which God spoke with an audible voice from Sinai, and afterward engraved on stone with His own finger. “I will put My laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to Me a people.” He who has God's law written in the heart will obey God rather than men, and will sooner disobey all men than deviate in the least from the commandment of God. God's people, taught by the inspiration of truth, and led by a good conscience to live by every word of God, will take His law, written in their hearts, as the only authority which they can acknowledge or consent to obey. The wisdom and authority of the divine law are supreme. (4) It can be concluded here that obedience is required to the government but even more "strict obedience" is required to God. Allow me to insert this notion here: Although God requires strict obedience, HE DOES NOT FORCE US.
In some recent released "Official Gazettes" from the government of Guyana, it has been noted that the citizens of the country are being "coerced" to comply with government orders to take an "experimental vaccine." Here is where lies my deepest concerns. I would not mention the fact that, "all clients have the RIGHT to refuse any medication," nor the fact that the Nuremburg Code protects persons from experimentation. (5). These notions have already been manipulated by the very corrupts health organizations around the world and "big tech" companies. How does this issue then stand as a matter of freedom of conscience and religious liberty? According to the Holy Spirit-inspired and most authentic words on EARTH - the Bible, we have been counselled that that our bodies are the temple of God. (6) On this premise, putting anything into or on our bodies (by whatever route) is a decision between the person and God. This makes it a situation of your freedom of conscience. Additionally, the fact that our body are not our own but it belongs to God, then the state/government should NOT be dictating to citizens what they should take or not take but God Himself. Whatever side of the issue you (the reader) might be on, it is very clear that "coercion" is not of God but of the devil.
Has God given us remedies other than what the state/government is mandating upon citizens to deal with diseases? The answer is unequivocally, YES. We have multiple in the Bible, the book counsels on health, Ministry of Healing, From Heaven with Love and many other. Allow me to share with you a few quotes from some of the previous mentioned books. First, we have been told that DRUG do not cure diseases. "People need to be taught that drugs do not cure disease. It is true that they sometimes afford present relief, and the patient appears to recover as the result of their use; this is because nature has sufficient vital force to expel the poison and to correct the conditions that caused the disease. Health is recovered in spite of the drug. But in most cases the drug only changes the form and location of the disease. Often the effect of the poison seems to be overcome for a time, but the results remain in the system, and work great harm at some later period." (7). Also, "In the Saviour's manner of healing there were lessons for His disciples. The cure could be wrought only by the power of the Great Healer, but Christ made use of simple and natural remedies. He taught that disease is the result of violating God's laws, both natural and spiritual. The great misery in the world would not exist if men lived in harmony with the Creator's plan. He taught that health is the reward of obedience to the laws of God. The Great Physician had spoken to His people from the pillar of cloud: “If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in His sight, … I will put none of these diseases upon thee, … for I am the Lord that healeth thee.” Exodus 15:26." (8).
Having said all of this, the question beckons: where are the Seventh-day Adventist leaders in such a crisis? Are they sitting in quietude waiting for this to "pass? " In my opening statement, it was shown that such a stance God abhors. My appeal to faithful Seventh-day Adventist leaders and regular members is that you stand up and DISREGARD such policy/law by any government that tramples upon our religious rights and freedoms. We do have a choice in the matter and the choice is Jesus.
References
2. Matthew 22: 15 -18
3. Matthew 22: 21
4. White, Ellen: Counsels for the Church PP. 314 para 3
5. Nuremburg Code, (1996). British Medical Journal No. 7070, Vol. 313. PP. 1448
6. 1 Corinthians 6:19 and 1 Corinthians 3:16,17
7. White, Ellen: Counsels on Heath PP 89 para. 2
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