Opinion
Baptist Faith, Freedom of Conscience, and the Current Vaccine Mandate
The COVID-19 crisis has led to several mandates that are of deep concern to Americans and the liberties we enjoy through our nation’s Constitution. Notably, the forcing of employees to receive a COVID-19 vaccine against their will, or potentially lose their job.
Freedom of conscience is a right guaranteed by our Constitution, enjoyed by American citizens throughout the two and one-half centuries of our history, and cherished by us all. Freedom of conscience, a Baptist would argue, is more than the right of an American. It is a biblical doctrine, and one our Baptist ancestors have suffered for all the way to the first three centuries of this current era.
Romans 14:5-12 (KJV)
One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.
For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.
For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.
For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
The principle of freedom of conscience is this, each of us will give an account of himself to God; therefore, each of us must be free to choose for ourselves the best course of action for our life.
Provision:
We understand that our personal freedom of conscience must not infringe upon another’s same freedom.
Regarding the issue that this is a government and health-related mandate and not a religious one.
The earliest exercise of freedom of conscience had to do with the Roman government, which had taken charge of religious practice. Every government is, in some way married to religion (or the attempt to dismiss it). Because this vaccine is unproven, has credibly documented health risks, and is being forced up the population by “faith” we do hold that every man ought to have the right to either accept the vaccination and reject it of their own will and conscience.
Pastor Marvin McKenzie
In the fields
