The latest addition to the Greenmarket Square church’s series of yellow banners was unveiled on Thursday and the pro-vaccine message reads “The blood of Jesus will not save you from COVID”.
Cape Town’s Central Methodist Mission previously showcased a Queer Banner that reads “To all the Queers of Africa: Thus says the LORD: “I love you as you are.”
But this year took a different turn as it encourages people to get vaccinated. As the Central Methodist Mission expressed on Facebook:
“Vaccines are therefore to be celebrated as a gift from God that saves lives… Yet sadly there are some individuals who assert that vaccination is at odds with their religious faith. They promote the false binary of: Faith in God or faith in vaccines. They use their religious authority to mislead people to place their faith in “God’s providence” rather than medical best practice.”
“Some Christian pastors have promoted Holy Communion as “COVID medicine”. Others have stated that “Jesus is my vaccine” securing immunity from COVID. Others have said because of the “blood of the Jesus” COVID will “Passover” without touching me or my family,” the Central Methodist Mission adds.
They went on to explain that this form of religious pressure can shift people from vaccine hesitancy to anti-vaccination.
“It is “Prayer and Vaccines”. Not, “Prayer or Vaccines”. Refusing to take life-saving vaccines is a sign of foolishness, not a sign of faithfulness,” they conclude.
Since then, people have taken to Facebook to express their views on this unveiling with one person saying “This is a Christian church??? Absolutely shocking” while another said “Blasphemy! You will shake in your boots!!!”.
Have a look at some of the Central Methodist Mission’s yellow banners over here.
Picture: Facebook / Central Methodist Mission, Cape Town
