A Biblical View on Vaccination – Church of God Webcast Download the Article with complete footnotes and scripture references: A Biblical View on Vaccination – Church of God Webcast (1) Vaccination was a concept introduced into Western medical history in the 1700’s in an effort to prevent lethal cases of smallpox. The application of vaccination in its many forms created numerous stories, both of success and disaster. The resulting debate over the safety and efficacy of vaccination has continued for 300 years. But the history of smallpox goes back thousands of years. “Smallpox plagued human populations for thousands of years. Researchers who examined the mummy of Egyptian pharaoh Ramses V (died 1157 BCE) observed scarring similar to that from smallpox on his remains.” To gain a biblical perspective we can go back to an even earlier time period in biblical history to examine what the scriptures have to say on this topic of virulent communicable disease. The scriptures do not give us a definitive statement on “Thou shalt not vaccinate!” But they do provide us with the knowledge we need to make an informed decision based on sound biblical precepts. It is these precepts that will keep us safe, and help us maintain physical and spiritual wellbeing. Knowing that the Egyptians suffered from these communicable disease plagues we can appreciate God’s instructions to Moses:
August 28th, 2021
A Biblical View on Vaccination – Church of God Webcast
Comments Off on A Biblical View on Vaccination – Church of God Webcast, Articles, Rebecca Stewart, by CGP.February 27th, 2021
Vaccination – A Religious Dilemma
Comments Off on Vaccination – A Religious Dilemma, Healthy Living, Rebecca Stewart, by CGP.The Church has a Role to Play What is the role of the church when it comes to this divisive issue of vaccination? Should the church have an ‘opinion,’ or a recommendation, or a mandate for their brethren? I read the letter that follows this blog, from the Catholic Church on this topic, and this paragraph seemed to sum up their position. “…it is clear that the making of effective vaccines against diseases such as these, as well as their use in the fight against these infections, up to the point of eradication, by means of an obligatory vaccination of all the population at risk, undoubtedly represents a “milestone” in the secular fight of man against infective and contagious diseases.” Following this assertion the letter presents an interesting well-reasoned argument about the moral implications of the use of aborted fetal cell lines in some vaccines. However, they see vaccination as a ‘public good’ on the whole, and this church supports the efforts of the state to mandate vaccination. However, they understand the ‘moral dilemma’ for individuals who object to abortion, and so their recommendation is to create vaccines that do not have aborted fetal cell lines. Nowhere in their brief do they mention the scripture and biblical instructions. So what does the bible say? If you are a follower of Jesus Christ you want to know! God in scripture tells his people that they are to ‘judge righteous judgment’ and to this end he provided many teachings and examples to help us when new…
December 17th, 2018
Healing Mind Body and Spirit
Comments Off on Healing Mind Body and Spirit, Healthy Living, Rebecca Stewart, by CGP.I am looking out on an ethereal scene of sunlight through the fog illuminating mottled tree trunks and backlighting golden autumn leaves. But I could not do this except for the wonders of a brain and nervous system that allow me to fathom my world and react to it. This amazing integrated system of intricate structures functions to help me experience life on many levels. These structures were designed to be inextricably linked through complex feedback loops. Working interdependently through a system of bio-electrical impulses, neurons send and receive messages using an amazing array of chemical transmitters and elemental gatekeepers. This interplay of structure and systems allows me to think, feel, and express myself in many different ways.
September 23rd, 2017
Lessons from the Feast: What Really Matters
1 Comment, Articles, Rebecca Stewart, by CGP.Lessons from the Feast: What Really Matters God Loves You (the most important lesson) In the months before my father died, I would go with my youngest son, JJ, who was 6 years old, and give Grandpa a big hug and a kiss before bed. This had been my nightly ritual from my earliest childhood. But, in his last months, my usually undemonstrative Dad , perhaps as a way of saying goodbye if that night were to be his last, said every evening, “Always remember I love you. ” It was something that has stuck with me…
February 22nd, 2014
Prophetic Trends: 2014
Comments Off on Prophetic Trends: 2014, Rebecca Stewart, Sermons and Media, Videos, by CGP.God gives his prophetic message to his friends, to those who walk in covenant with Him, like Abraham who did all of God’s will. Are you a friend of God? Are you doing what Jesus has commanded, so that He can give you wisdom and understanding of his prophetic writings?
December 2nd, 2011
Does What You Believe Really Matter?
Comments Off on Does What You Believe Really Matter?, Blog, Rebecca Stewart, by CGP.Does what you believe Really matter? Two streams of my life converged this week in an interesting way to challenge me on the question of, whether what I believe is important. It’s easy to take an academic philosophical point of view on such things, but this week it has become more of a pragmatic challenge. In my role of teacher I am being challenged to find ways to help students learn, who would really rather not…at least not in class, or not on topics that the adults in their lives think are valuable for them to know now. It would probably be easiest for me to fall back into a regimented worksheet oriented program with lots of reading of the text and answering comprehension questions, but my belief, based on some success in other venues, is that ultimately more learning goes on in a project–based approach where students must search out knowledge and create something new with that knowledge. So my belief is important in two ways.
July 11th, 2011
God Loves You: What Really Matters
Comments Off on God Loves You: What Really Matters, Articles, Rebecca Stewart, by CGP.Feast Blog 2009 As we look forward to the Feast of Tabernacles let’s remember the lessons of previous festival seasons, and prepare for our best Feast yet. Today’s sermon about “Does God hear your Heartbeat,” spoke to my heart and brought to mind the struggle I have with feeling loved by God. In the months before my father died, I would go with my youngest son, who was 6 years old, and give Grandpa a big hug and a kiss before bed. This had been my nightly ritual from my earliest childhood. But, in his last months, my usually undemonstrative Dad , perhaps as a way of saying goodbye if that night were to be his last, said every evening, “Always remember I love you. ” It was something that has stuck with me and made me realize in times of stress and difficulty that if my human father could speak to my need and know how much I needed to hear those comforting words, then my heavenly Father knows that and much more. The Feast in Kelowna in 1998 was one of those times of great stress for our family. Though the Feast has not always been a happy time, the lessons learned are always valuable. One of my husband’s favourite little sayings about this time of year comes from a comic in the Jerusalem Post a few years ago. We Anglos wish each other a “Happy year” but the Jews wish each other a “Good year” and the punch line is, “What is…