Rev. Ruben Diaz: Why people of faith opt out of getting vaccinated

Council Member Rev. Rubén Diaz Sr.

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
By Councilman Rev. Ruben Diaz
18 District, Bronx

You should know why so many people of faith, especially Christian Evangelicals, are opting out of getting Covid Vaccines. The causes are several, but the main reason is due to the tenets that followers of Jesus Christ hold sacred when it comes to our bodies. According to the Holy scriptures, our bodies are the Temple of the Holy Spirit.

As a result, it is strictly prohibited for believers to submit their bodies to any behavior or substance, be it legal or illegal that can bring harm, not only to our bodies, but that which can risk the temple wherein the Holy Spirit resides. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us, according to (Phillipians 4:13). However, this is only possible because we believe in the power of the Holy Spirit who takes up residence in our bodies when we repent, recognize that we are sinners, and invite Him into our hearts.

It is written in {1 Corinthians 6:19-20} “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies.” Christian believers want to honor God with their conduct and with their bodies.

You should know that as the pastor of the church I was vaccinated. However, our church does not pressure anyone, be they members or visitors, to get vaccinated. We respect the decision of individuals who choose NOT to get vaccinated. We recognize that many choose to not to get vaccinated because of deeply rooted religious beliefs, fears, confusion or simply because they already have acquired “natural herd immunity.”

We recognize that people are different. Some people may suffer adverse side effects after having been vaccinated, while others may not have any side effects. Who is liable, when one gets vaccinated under pressure and as a result suffers a serious complication? Is no one liable?

Therefore, as a church we empower our brothers and sisters to do what THEY feel is right and beneficial for them, be it spiritually, emotionally, or physically. Respect and love for one another override’s all else in our community of believers as mandated in scripture.

You should also know that regarding “Natural Herd Immunity” an article in the American Spectator, dated 08/22/2021, states that “More and more research confirm the predictable superiority of natural immunity over artificial immunity…That’s not a surprise. In immunology….that means infection beats injection.”

A peer reviewed study, published in the Journal Nature, states that patients who have recovered from Covid develop “long-lasting immunity, with antibody-producing cells that live and produce antibodies for the rest of people’s lives.”

There was also a massive study by Cleveland Clinic conducted on 52,238 employees, that “concluded categorically that individuals who had Covid….do not get additional benefits from vaccination.”

During the height of the covid pandemic, prior to the development of the vaccine, persons who had been infected and survived covid were asked to donate blood because it helped save lives due to the antibodies present in their blood. So why are these people with “Natural Herd Immunity” now being ignored and mandated to get vaccinated or else?

To ensure that the tenets of our faith are not violated, during these difficult times, I would like to ask our elected leaders, employers, businesses, schools, colleges, etc, to take our community of faith into consideration when deciding on matters regarding covid vaccine policies or anything else that can affect the emotional, and religious state of a person’s faith. Also please acknowledge the millions of people who have “natural herd immunity.”

This is Councilman Rev. Ruben Diaz and this is what you should know.

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