What Does Faith Exempt You From? (A Response to Keith Marshall's Article)

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Keith Marshall, a pastor of a liberal Lutheran church in Washington State, wrote a short article for a local paper that went viral on social media.

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He was asked if Christians should be able to claim religious exemption to avoid getting the COVID shot.

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Marshall said, what does my faith in Jesus Christ exempt me from? Then he gave three examples.

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My faith exempts me from, one, putting my wants above the needs of others. In humility, value others above yourselves,

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Philippians 2. Two, claiming my freedom in Christ as liberty to act without responsibility.

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Do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh, rather serve one another, Galatians 5. Three, refusing to protect the most vulnerable in our midst.

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Whatever you did for one of the least of these, you did for me, Matthew 25. Therefore, Marshall said, my religious exemption requires

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I receive the COVID vaccination to safeguard life and wear a mask to care for my neighbor.

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Brethren, he is a twister of the word. First, neither the shot nor a mask will save your neighbor's life.

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Second, you are under no biblical obligation, no command of God whatsoever, to get vaccinated against anything.

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Marshall said, by invoking the name of Jesus to claim exemption, you are using the Lord's name in vain. No, if you invoke the name of Jesus to command what

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God has not commanded, you are using the Lord's name in vain. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for making up commands.

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Mark 7, 7 says, in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.