Statement on Religious Exemption
We believe that the Triune God who revealed Himself in His dealing with the people of Israel, and then
most particularly in the coming of the Son of God, Jesus the Messiah, and today in the ministry of the
Holy Spirit in His Church, made mankind in His image and gave to man dominion over the world as His
steward and representative. In opposition to the assertions of secularism, we assert that man’s life has
transcendent value because of this act of special creation on the part of God. God’s law, therefore, is the
highest standard by which man, God’s creature, is called to live and abide.
For this reason, we condemn as a blatant act of rebellion and murder the destruction of the lives of unique
preborn humans in the womb. The plague of abortion brings God’s judgment upon any nation or people
who would place their self-claimed sexual liberty above that of the value of human life as God has
proclaimed and defined it. Obedience to the commandment to preserve life is multi-faceted and provides a
broad and deep understanding of how Christians are to seek to honor God by honoring life itself.
We also assert that while we are to preserve life, we are to do so in accordance with God’s will. God’s
law provides for freedom, for the liberty of conscience, and these realities are to be exercised by mankind in
light of God’s revealed will that man is to live for His glory always recognizing his own mortality and the
briefness of life. We are not to live in constant fear of death, and indeed it is for this reason that the gospel
removes our dread of death and gives to us life eternal.
Christians, therefore, proclaim Christ’s Lordship over all realms, for, as He claimed, all authority has been
given to Him in heaven and upon the earth (Matthew 28:18). In light of His Kingship, we assert that men and
women have the right to refuse mandatory medical procedures, actions, medications, or injections,
whether these actions are ordered by the highest government authorities, or lesser authorities, such as an
employer or local magistrate. They may do so when they are convinced that these medical procedures
could threaten their life, their future health, their future fertility, and their wellbeing. Further, parents have
the right and responsibility to make said decisions for their children as well, without external interference.
We believe and assert that a Christian’s conscience can properly and validly submit to medical
procedures, such as in the taking of tested and proven medications and vaccines, giving thanks to God
whose ordering of His creation has allowed such wondrous advancements. At the same time, we believe
and assert that many sound bases may exist for a Christian to refuse similar treatments, such as when they
lack long-term safety information, have deleterious and dangerous side-effects, possible unknown impacts
upon pre-existing medical conditions, and originate from fetal stem cell lines via abortion. Likewise, one
may be convinced that the demanded procedure arises not from a public health concern, but from political
machinations and activities that are opposed to God’s truth and ways, and hence are to be resisted. We
assert that the conscience cannot be coerced and that all such attempts to do so are in opposition to divine
truth.
Therefore, we assert in the name and authority of our Lord Jesus Christ that we and our members have the
right and the responsibility to research fully the issues relevant to all such medical matters; that free flow
of information must be guaranteed and protected; and that we have the right to refuse such
experimentation and mandatory procedures, including vaccination, upon sound religious grounds. We
likewise call upon all governmental agencies, businesses, schools, employers of all types, to respect these
deeply held religious conclusions and convictions, and to honor our religious liberty and freedom by
granting religious exemptions as requested.