Author Archives → Michael Pircio

Weekly Thoughts | A Personal God

The God we worship is a personal god. Day in and day out, He reveals Himself to us through the infinite number of ways that we can meet Him. You see, God exists beyond time and space. When we read the Bible or pray, we are reading about the Infinite One who has already come to meet us in our time of need. Whether you believe in Christ or not, He offers you a personal relationship that no one else can. For many people, this might seem like such an obvious thing to say about God. After all, it’s something that every single Christian believes, right? But how many times have we heard people speak negatively about their experience with God? That’s because true connection with God isn’t something that happens automatically – it takes hard work and constant self-examination. And if you’re ready to begin your journey towards true connection with your Creator, keep reading!

The God we worship is a person who wants to know us personally.

The idea that God exists beyond time is a surprisingly new concept to most people. In fact, many people believe that God doesn’t exist at all outside of themselves! Because people are so focused on the creation of themselves, they tend to forget that they are created in the image of a Creator who is far beyond the limitations of space and time. This fact is crucial to understanding the nature of God. God wants to know us personally. He loves us, and He desires to know our desires, our hopes, our dreams, and our fears. But the problem is that we (humans) don’t know ourselves very well. We tend to be blind to our own shortcomings and limitations. We are also so busy creating our own lives, we tend to miss out on the opportunity to learn from our Creator.

Belief in a personal god is not the same thing as belief in God.

Belief in a personal god is a foundation of faith. People who claim to believe in a personal god but also claim that this god doesn’t exist are missing the point. The concept of a personal god is simply a way of explaining the difference between the human and divine perspectives. Humans, who exist in a limited context, see things in terms of our own limitations – but God sees everything from the infinite perspective of infinity. When we pray, God doesn’t just understand the words that we speak. He sees our thoughts and our desires, but we don’t see these things because we are too busy focusing on our own existence.

The God we worship is a holy and righteous person.

God is holy. He cannot be tempted by evil. He cannot be jealous or envy others. He cannot be angry. He cannot be a person who is proud or self-righteous. He cannot be a liar or a cheat. He cannot be a thief. He cannot be selfish or greedy. He cannot be disrespectful towards others. He cannot be wasteful. He cannot be a person who is lazy or who is too busy living their own life without looking outside of themselves to see the needs of others. Yes, God is holy. And yes, he is just. God is a righteous person.

Conclusion

The God we worship is a person who wants to know us personally. The God we worship is a caring person. The God we worship is a holy and righteous person. So, what does all this mean? The God we worship is a personal god. He exists beyond time and space. He wants to know us personally. He is holy and just. He isn’t too busy living His own life, but rather He sees us as important and worthy of His time and attention. So what does this mean for you? It means that you have the opportunity to meet a person who only wants to know you and love you. You have the opportunity to experience unconditional love, and it doesn’t cost you a thing. You have the opportunity to experience all of these things without any effort on your end, because God is a personal god. You don’t need to earn God’s love. It’s freely given.

Weekly Thoughts | The Resurrection

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is one of the most central and significant events in the entire Bible. It stands as a cornerstone of the Christian faith, and its importance cannot be overstated. As C.S. Lewis famously said, “I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic—on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg—or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse.”

The historical evidence for the resurrection is strong. As a matter of fact, there is more evidence for the resurrection of Jesus than for any other event in ancient history. There are multiple sources that attest to the fact that Jesus rose from the dead, including both Christian and non-Christian sources. These sources all point to the truth of the resurrection.

The early Christians were willing to die for the truth of the resurrection, despite the fact that they could have saved their lives by renouncing their belief. This willingness to lay down their lives for what they believed to be true serves as evidence of the reality of the resurrection. Furthermore, there were many eyewitness accounts of Jesus’ resurrection, including those of His disciples. Many of these accounts were written down and passed on to future generations. Finally, we have archaeological evidence that corroborates certain details of the resurrection narrative. This serves as additional evidence for the historicity of the resurrection.

The disciples’ transformation from cowards to bold evangelists is difficult to explain apart from the resurrection. Before Jesus’ death, the disciples were afraid and unsure of what to do. However, after Jesus’ resurrection, they were suddenly filled with courage and conviction, boldly proclaiming the good news of the gospel. This transformation can only be explained by the reality of Jesus’ resurrection. The resurrection was the event that changed the disciples from cowards to bold proclaimers of the gospel.

The empty tomb serves as evidence for the resurrection. All four gospels record that on Easter morning, Jesus’ tomb was found empty by his followers. This empty tomb serves as evidence that Jesus had indeed risen from the dead, as no other explanation can adequately account for it. Furthermore, the Jewish leaders, who had so desperately sought to discredit the resurrection, were unable to explain the empty tomb. This serves as further evidence of the resurrection.

The testimonies of those who encountered the risen Jesus are significant. The gospels record multiple accounts of people who encountered the risen Jesus and were transformed by the experience. These testimonies serve as powerful evidence for the truth of Jesus’ resurrection. For example, the apostle Thomas was initially skeptical of the resurrection, but changed his mind after encountering the risen Jesus. This is just one of many examples of how the testimonies of those who encountered the risen Jesus serve as powerful evidence for the resurrection.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is an event that has had a profound impact on history and continues to shape our lives today. Its validity and importance cannot be denied, and it stands as a cornerstone of the Christian faith. With all of this in mind, we can confidently affirm that Jesus did indeed rise from the dead and is alive today.

Weekly Thoughts | Random Chance

Random chance is a concept that has been around for centuries. It is the idea that events and outcomes are determined by luck or fortune, rather than by skill or intelligence. In the Christian worldview, this idea is fundamentally wrong because it fails to take into account the sovereignty of God.

The Bible teaches us that God is in control of all things. In Proverbs 16:33, we are told that “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.” This verse is clear in teaching us that God is ultimately in control of our lives and the outcomes of our decisions. We may think that chance or luck are at work in our lives, but God is always at work.

God has a plan and purpose for our lives. He has a specific plan for each of us, and He uses all things to accomplish His will. Romans 8:28 says “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” This verse tells us that even though we may not understand what’s happening in our lives, God is using it all for our good and His glory. We may not always understand why things are happening, but we can rest assured that God is using it all for His good purposes.

Random chance also fails to take into account the power of prayer. We may think that random chance is what determines events and outcomes, but the Bible teaches us that prayer has the power to shape the course of our lives. James 5:16 says “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” This verse tells us that when we pray, God is listening and will act on our behalf. We may feel like random chance is in control, but we can be sure that God hears our prayers and answers them according to His will.

Finally, random chance fails to take into account the power of faith. We may think that luck and chance are what determine our outcomes in life, but the Bible teaches us that faith has the power to shape our lives. Hebrews 11:1 tells us that “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” This verse tells us that when we have faith in God, He will work in our lives in ways we cannot see. We may not understand why things are happening in our lives, but we can trust that God is at work behind the scenes, shaping our lives according to His plan.

Random chance is a concept that has been around for centuries, but it fails to take into account the sovereignty of God, the power of prayer, and the power of faith. These three elements are essential components of a Christian worldview and should be taken into account when considering random chance. Ultimately, we can trust that God is in control and He will use all things for His good purposes.

Weekly Thoughts | The Importance of Church Attendance

Attending church regularly is essential for Christians to experience the fullness of their faith. It is not just an opportunity to worship and fellowship with other believers, but also provides a number of spiritual benefits. Regular church attendance offers a number of advantages, including developing and nurturing a relationship with God, creating a sense of community, staying focused and disciplined in our faith, and allowing us to stay accountable to God. Through regular church attendance, we can deepen our understanding of God and His plan for our lives, grow in our faith, stay grounded in our faith, stay motivated and energized in our spiritual journey, and feel supported by those who are also on their spiritual journey. For Christians, attending church on a regular basis is an essential part of their faith journey.

First, regular church attendance allows us to develop and nurture a relationship with God. Worship services provide an opportunity to learn more about God and His Word, as well as to spend time in prayer and meditation. Regular worship also allows us to grow in our faith and deepen our understanding of God and His plan for our lives.

Second, regular church attendance provides a sense of community. Going to church provides a safe and welcoming environment where believers can connect and build relationships with others. This helps us to stay grounded in our faith and encourages us to grow in our relationships with each other.

Third, regular church attendance can help us stay focused and disciplined in our faith. We can become easily distracted by the world and its temptations but attending church can help keep us focused on God and His will. Additionally, hearing a sermon or participating in a devotional can help us stay motivated and energized in our spiritual journey.

Finally, regular church attendance can help us stay accountable to God:

We can be challenged to live out God’s Word and be held accountable for our actions. Additionally, we can be encouraged by others in our congregation and gain a better understanding of what it means to be a faithful follower of Jesus Christ.

Through regular church attendance, we can develop and nurture a relationship with God, create a sense of community, stay focused and disciplined in our faith, and stay accountable to God. We can also deepen our understanding of God and His plan for our lives, grow in our faith, stay grounded in our faith, stay motivated and energized in our spiritual journey, and feel supported by those who are also on their spiritual journey. By attending church regularly, Christians can live out their faith in a way that honors God and serves as an example to others.

The Divinity of Christ at Christmas

Introduction

Christmas is a time for celebration, joy, and peace. It is a time for families to come together and to reflect on the beauty of life and the people in it. It is a time to take stock of the things that matter most, like love, faith, and hope. The Christmas season also serves as an important reminder of the birth of Jesus Christ and God’s plan for the world. The Christmas story begins with the promise of a Messiah who would be sent by God to save the world from sin and bring salvation to mankind. This promise is fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ, who Christians believe to be the one and only son of God. The divinity of Christ has long been a source of debate among theologians and scholars. However, when one looks at the biblical accounts and other historical evidence, it becomes clear that Jesus was always intended to be more than just a moral teacher or prophet – he was and is God himself. In this essay, I will make a case for the divinity of Christ by discussing the prophecies of his coming, the fulfillment of those prophecies in his life, his miracles and other supernatural acts, his ministry on earth, and his resurrection from death.

Prophecy Fulfilled: The Coming of the Messiah

The prophecy that God would send a messiah can be found throughout both the Old and New Testaments. As far back as Genesis 3:15 there are predictions about a savior who will set humanity free from sin and death: “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” In fact, there are over three hundred prophecies in Scripture that detail events in the life of Jesus Christ before they occurred. These prophecies were fulfilled in Jesus’s life in remarkable ways. He was born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2), descended from King David (Isaiah 11:1), lived a sinless life (2 Corinthians 5:21), performed numerous miracles (John 10:37-38), was rejected by his own people (Isaiah 53:3), was betrayed by one of his own disciples (Zechariah 11:12-13), was crucified (Psalms 22:16-18) and rose from the dead (Psalms 16:10). Each one of these prophecies concerning Jesus’s life were fulfilled in him, making it impossible to deny that he was indeed God’s chosen Messiah.

Miracles & Supernatural Acts

Throughout Jesus’s ministry he performed numerous miracles – from feeding five thousand people with five loaves of bread and two fish (Matthew 14:13-21) to raising Lazarus from death (John 11:43-44). These miraculous acts are evidence that Jesus had divine power over nature, an ability that only God could possess. Additionally, he had knowledge about things only God could know – such as what people were thinking (John 2:24-25) or who was going to betray him (Matthew 26:21-25). Moreover, Jesus claimed to be equal with God in other ways too. He said he could forgive sins (Mark 2:5-10) which only God has authority to do, he claimed authority over death (John 8:51-57), and he said that anyone who had seen him had seen the Father (John 14:9). All this provides further evidence that Jesus was much more than just a teacher or prophet – he was truly divine.

Ministry on Earth

Jesus did not come simply as a teacher or prophet; he came as Savior and Redeemer. He preached about love for others, mercy towards sinners, forgiveness for wrongdoings, hope for those who are lost, compassion for those in need, faith in God’s goodness, humility towards one another and so much more. He also healed countless people, cast out demons and inflicted justice where it was needed throughout his travels on earth. By doing all these things Jesus showed us how we should live our lives according to God’s will. Not only did he preach about it but he also practiced what he preached through his ministry on earth. These acts are further proof that Jesus is more than just a man – he is indeed divine as well.

Resurrection

Perhaps most importantly of all is Jesus’s resurrection from death after being crucified on the cross. His resurrection serves as proof that God accepted Jesus’s sacrifice for our sins which means we are now able to have everlasting life with him in heaven if we accept him as our Lord and Savior. In addition to this biblical evidence of this incredible miracle there is also evidence from non-biblical sources such as Jewish historian Josephus Flavius who wrote about Jesus Christ around 95 AD which serve as further proof that Jesus really did rise from death after being crucified on the cross.

Conclusion

When viewed together all this evidence serves to strongly support the case for the divinity of Christ. From prophecy fulfilled in his life to his resurrection from death – we see clearly how Jesus is not just another prophet or teacher but truly divine as well. This truth is fundamental to Christianity and at no time is it more apparent than during Christmas when we celebrate Christ’s birth into this world – a birth that marked not just an event but a turning point in history as well. So let us take this season as an opportunity to remember this incredible truth – that Jesus was always intended to be God himself – so that we may forever keep faith in his love and grace for us all!

Mars Hill Offensive | Part 1: Wordly Wisdom

I’ve often heard over the years that God’s Word is the only thing we need to reach a lost world. If people are receptive to it, or would otherwise call themselves church goers or religious, I can see the appeal in that statement. What about those that don’t prescribe to a certain religion or to a philosophical view of God? Or how about those that see the Bible as irrelevant to them, just plain fake or created to control mankind?

The Apostle Paul ran into this exact issue when He visited Athens during His ministry. Greece has a long history of being the philosophical capital for the world, especially Athens and even under Roman rule, this was no different. While preaching in the markets to the Jews and the Gentiles, some philosophers approached him. These philosophers were Stoic and Epicurean (Acts 17:18) and had never heard of Jesus, the one true God, or the resurrection. You see both of those schools of philosophical thought are ironically extreme opposites looking for the same goal (which is probably why they were together, for discussion). 

Epicureanism is a sad ideology which has gripped the modern world. We can see it in our book stores, on television and in the types of businesses and events that are run. Epicureanism advocates that hedonism will save you from pain and anxiety and the needless fear of death and the gods. Basically they prescribe that pleasure is our salvation from all of the horrible things that happen to us and around us. Our current world tells us that we need to put “me first” and that we “need” to shop for things, we have bars filled with alcohol that encourage drunkenness, we have clubs that encourage promiscuity, and we have the internet that encourages everything else. 

Paul saw the danger of this ideology, and no doubt was slightly perturbed that it existed still, even 400 years after Epicurus (the founder) lived. However, there was another group that was with them and they were equally dangerous. Not that they encouraged blatant sin in order to cure the pains of this world, no, the Stoics advocated for much different; however, the Stoics had a lot of things right about the world as well and Paul used that to his advantage. 

Stoicism: A quick overview

Stoicism comes from the greek word Stoa, or painted porch where the founder of the philosophical school of thought, Zeno of Cyprus, would teach. True to the modern epithet of “Actions speak louder than words”, the Stoics believed that a person’s behavior in relation to external stimuli was more important than their words. On a physical plane, they held that everything that was real was material. On a metaphysical level, they taught there was a logos. 

If that word sounds familiar to you, it should. In John 1:1 we read “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” The word “Word” is translated from the Greek word “logos”, meaning “reason”. This is extremely important to consider that not only are the stoics on the same page-ish as Christians, but God has allowed them to deduce through their worldly wisdom, that God exists and through Him everything was created. 

See, the Stoics were philosophical decendents of Socrates and Socrates was a student of Plato (supposedly, but that’s for a different discussion). Plato also had another famous student, Aristotle. (Now, you’re all getting upset because I’m bringing back high school geometry and this isn’t what you signed up for.) Aristotle wrote, in the 12th book of Metaphysics this quote, “And life also belongs to God; for the actuality of thought is life, and God is that actuality; and God’s self-dependent actuality is life most good and eternal. We say therefore that God is a living being, eternal, most good, so that life and duration continuous and eternal belong to God; for this is God”

WOW, this is one of the most intelligent philosophers to ever live, and he understood that the pantheon is wrong, all the Greek myths were false and over it all proclaimed there is only one God and HE IS GOOD. 

So we know that these Stoics understood that A). There is a single God and B.) Not only is there a God but He is the active reason that created all of the material in the world. 

But why did I say their philosophy is equally as dangerous as the hedonistic Epicureans? They believed they didn’t need God and that they could overcome the pains of this life themselves. They believed all emotion was equally threatening to their existence and in the process of wanting peace they only relied on themselves.

Paul’s arrival to Mars Hill

Paul as a person, was well educated not only in human doctrine (such as the philosophies listed above), but also in the laws, prophets and history of the Jews. Not only had He searched the scriptures and seen that His Savior was Christ the Lord, but He was personally visited by the Lord a few times after His miraculous conversion. 

So when Paul arrived to this hill that had alters to all the gods, he stopped to look at one. It was interesting because it said “To the unknown god”. Paul siezed this opportunity to explain that this God, whom they didn’t know, was the only God. I find this especially ironic since the Stoics and Epicureans initially accused him of speaking of a “foreign god” (Acts 17:18), which they were in reality worshipping a foreign god all this time. 

Paul made sure he was well versed in their ideology before he spoke to these intelligent men. He knew of their teachers and understood what they were taught. As Christians, which this blog is aimed at, we need to make sure we are aware who our audience is, what they believe, and know how to counter it. Sometimes early on in the conversation that requires us to relay our knowledge of their beliefs before even bringing up the Bible. If we study not only the scriptures but other ideas that challenge what we believe, not only will that refine our faith but give us the tools to give the gospel effectively. 

Current Events | A Glorious Risposte

A little birdie has sent me this wonderful comment to the left made by a gentleman (it is not my job, nor my place to shame people so he will remain anonymous) and it’s unsurprising. I really wanted to be done after my last post before the holidays, but that unfortunately can’t happen. This is meant to be a post of encouragement and warning at the same time. Christ told us “If the world hates you, know that it hated me before it hated you” (Jn 15:18, ESV) There is coming a time, soon, where this man’s sentiments will be the prevailing zeitgeist against all professing, true Christians. Anyone who professes salvation in Christ, being led by the Spirit, will be persecuted.

Now, I have heard the issues you all are having in your respective organizations, and I hear your anxiety and frustrations. I am not here to tell you it is going to be easy. Our King, while incarnate on this earth even told us it wouldn’t be easy. There will be many that think they can speak for our King, they can’t. There are many more that think they know what we as Christians are supposed to do, say and how we are to act (as you all have seen). They DON’T know this. What then do we say in response? What is our riposte to their unbelief?

The Lord has put everyone with a religious exemption using their faith in the Spirit and salvation through Christ on a pedestal for persecution and humiliation. Let this be your ministry just as I write to you now. Peter told us “Have no fear of them or be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to ANYONE [HR, Supervisor, vile coworker included] who asks you for the reason for the hope that in in you, yet do it with gentleness and respect“

So what answer do we give? What defense is our hope?

WE GIVE THE GOSPEL

I know some of you may feel pressured to lie or to finagle your way out of it. Stand firm on your foundations! Peter also told us “That those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander” Likewise Paul said he was not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Rom 1:16). We must realize we are coming to a point, and some of you are starting to feel the pressure, where we must stand for our King or the very mere mortal existence we have. Christ put it plainly that if we are ashamed of Him on Earth, He “will be ashamed of them when He comes in his father’s glory with the holy angels” (Mark 8:38).

Like it or not, when you decided to use your credentials as a servant of Heaven as an excuse (while valid) not to take this vaccine, God had a plan for you. That plan did not involve lying about your vaccine status when solicited rather, that plan was for you to spread the Gospel of our King.

If people want to jest or act like they know our faith, let them; however, give them a taste of what our faith is, in love. It’s not faith in men, politicians, corporations or science, it’s faith in an eternal God and Lord of creation, who came as a man to sacrifice himself as the final payment for our fallibility, that that God could finally spend eternity with his Creation once again.

The world will treat you differently, as an outcast, that I will promise. However, our Savior said it best, “Take Heart; I have overcome the world” (Jn 16:33, ESV)

The time is near, stand for Heaven. Soli Deo Gloria.

Current Events | A Divine Direction

I sit here to write this and I firmly grasp the world has been thrown into turmoil. I know that we are in a different place than we were even a year ago, and while concerning to see how the world is moving at record breaking pace, we now know we cannot trust in man. As I explained in No Terrestrial Help, we cannot continue to look to religious leaders to provide anything. We have been entrusted by God to follow His word and His Spirit. While the Church at large is biblical, it has largely failed and the body of believers have chosen to follow men, men which we are told are fallible (Romans 3:23), liars (Num 23:19) and deceivers in their religious pomp (Jn 8:44).

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Current Events | A Transcendent Citizenship

This is where the church has failed at large. “Christians” don’t know or don’t understand these things, they don’t understand salvation and they don’t understand that God himself is the one we need to submit to. I’ve already made it clear that Christianity is tangible, it’s not spiritual and you have made a conscious decision to put your earthly citizenship as secondary to your heavenly one.

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Current Events | No Mortal Argument

Alright, everyone, this will be the end of the Religious Exemption articles (for now); however, I’ve had it with the constant revisions of questions these HR departments are putting out there. It would almost seem like they are purposefully trying to trap you all in a particular argument they think you’ll use. I’ll explain further down, but here is the deal, I have spent my last five years out of the military working my way up through corporate America; I have spoken to CEOs, CFOs, HR folks, and people at all levels. I understand how businesses function, and I will tell you something right now. Every person who will review your particular religious exemption is being trained, as we speak, on how to counter and trap you all in an argument that YOU CANNOT WIN. That’s right, you will not win it on the ground level or in court. Because not only are these people ready to deny your claim, they’ll make sure every mortal (not out of faith) argument you use is not only recorded but also dissected and ready to be turned over to a court to eviscerate you. 

Don’t blame them; as I quoted in the last post, our Adversary, the Devil, is like a roaring lion, and he is ready to pounce if you’re not prepared. God, rich in mercy, gave us a document with over 250,000 words and timeless Truth to prepare us for this moment. Take heart! For Christ has already overcome this obstacle. 

So everyone wants to know how to write the religious exemption. Well, below is the actual outline I’ve given to people to write their own, along with the answers to the questions presented on the form. I’ve tried to explain to the best of my ability in the prior two posts, but Christians are still scrambling to figure out how to make a solid argument based on science, philosophy, law, or politics. The problem here is, none of us are scientists or lawyers, or political analysts; however, I guarantee you that your companies have these people ready and waiting to rip apart your exemption if you use these arguments. A religious exemption is for your “Sincerely held beliefs” and your religious beliefs. Is Christianity about being pro-life? No. Are we pro-life? Yes. Our faith isn’t based on being anti-abortion. Is Christianity about governmental mandates? No. We may be against them because Christ has made us free, but it’s not about that.

Christianity is solely about Christ and the Gospel. As was written about in the second post, we have been given the Spirit to indwell us to perform the work God laid out for us both individually and His children and corporately as His church. Those arguments listed above are Mortal arguments. They are arguments on your company’s playing field; they can argue those easily and then chew you up and spit you out. Why not use an immortal argument? Something only we as Christians know how to defend, but at the same time, while upholding the faith, we can perform our primary calling of giving the world the Gospel. 

Below I will go over an ACTUAL form from a transportation company, and I will answer these, along with the process that should be used as a Christian when dealing with this. Remember first, do ALL things in prayer FIRST, and let your requests be made known unto God:

THE STATEMENT

First thing’s first, I recommend writing an exemption letter based on the following format. Even though I won’t offer a full-on template for this, I feel like this is the best way to present your faith and ideas. 

In the first paragraph, include your full name, employee ID (if applicable), and your position. Also have “I am exempt from this company’s vaccine mandate based on sincerely-held religious beliefs as codified in Section VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.”

In the following paragraphs, detail your faith (It can be your church’s statement of faith, the apostlistic creed, etc.); just make sure it is what you actually believe. Like I said above, it’s better to not include ANYTHING about the vaccine itself, as these are human arguments meant to confound, confuse and defeat you. Make sure you have enough backup in these paragraphs to answer the exemption form in a holistic manner. 

In the last paragraph, refer back to the original statement of faith and give the answer, “Because of the direction and guidance of God through the Holy Spirit, I can not take this vaccine. This is my sincerely held religious belief on this manner.” It would help to include verses supporting these arguments; I will not give those out here because I want each of your exemptions to be unique. 

THE FORM

Alright, the magically changing form that we all know and love. How many times has this changed now? Three? Four times? Anyways, besides being a pain in my side, it’s no matter, they’re trying to trip you up on Human Arguments, and we’re not using those. So for anyone that thinks they can do this in their own knowledge and wisdom without God’s help, good luck, and may the odds forever be in your favor. 

Question 1: Please Identify your Sincerely-Held religious belief, practice, and/or observance that you believe conflicts company’s vaccination mandate. 

Your answer to this should be, “Please see attached file” or “Please see attachment 1”.

Question 2: Please state how your particular sincerely-held religious belief, practice, and/or observance specifically conflicts with the company’s vaccine mandate and describe the accommodation that you are requesting.

This is the only question that I cannot answer, nor will I try to point you to on this. I am not a lawyer and do not want to give out legal advice in any way. Please see appropriate counsel or other representatives to provide an answer to this question in the best way possible. 

Question 3: Have you received a religious exemption for any other vaccine requirements in the past three years?

This is funny, and this is what I mean. Someone who fills this outgoing off the handle trying to explain how this vaccine is different and using any type of conspiratorial ideas or reports they found online are going to lose. They WANT that to happen. Your answer here is simply “No.”

Question 4: Have you ever been approved for any other type of religious accommodation during your employment?

Have you? If not, put “No,” If you have, but “Yes” and explain in the simplest, concise manner as possible. DO NOT bring up any other arguments.

Question 5: Does the sincerely-held religious belief, practice, and/or observance identified in Question #1 prevent you from receiving other vaccines or just the Covid-19 Vaccine?

For those I’m assuming is just the Covid-19 vaccine, just put that in the drop-down, or answer accordingly. 

Question 5a: If your sincerely-held religious belief, practice, and/or observance prevents you from receiving only the COVID-19 vaccine, please explain why. 

Alright, so with this question, they’re already prepping you to answer this in a few ways (based on the following questions). If you continue down the road of “It’s an experimental vaccine” or “It contains fetal abortion cells” or “It’s my constitutional right,” I will reiterate, you will lose. They are prepared for this, and you nor I am a lawyer, a scientist, or a political analyst. What we are, are Christians, and they can’t argue with this information we’re giving. Give this answer “Per the statement of faith I provided in attachment 1, I am exempt from the COVID-19 Vaccine due to direction being lead by my God through His Spirit.” I can’t emphasize this enough, the LESS you talk, the BETTER. Always refer back to your statement that you uploaded; the whole point is to mount a defense if needed for court, don’t let them have that. 

Question 6: Are there other aspects of your sincerely-held religious belief, practice and/or observance related to receiving medical care?

I don’t know, are there? If yes, explain them there; if not, it’s of no consequence. 

Question 7: For how long have you had this religious belief, practice, and/or observance?

Put down how long you have been practicing your faith. 

Question 8: In preparing your requested exemption from the COVID-19 vaccination requirement based on the above-referenced sincerely-held religious belief, practice, and/or observance, did you utilize a sample or template request provided by a third party (other than your regular place of worship), whether purchased or otherwise?

I love how they changed this question after my last blog post. They went from “did anyone help you” to “did you utilize a sample.” Like I said above, they’re really starting to irritate me. Listen, our job is to follow God’s commandments, and we should trust in Him in order to get through these things. If you did utilize a third party, IT’S OK; it happens. What their defense here is, they’re going to question why your clergy didn’t help you with it and therefore attempt to invalidate your argument based on what ANOTHER HUMAN DID and not what GOD IS TELLING YOU TO DO. 

Question 9: Since the age of 18, have you received any vaccinations. 

The whole idea of this one, and why they don’t want you to go into further detail is, they are waiting to see if you use the “Aborted fetal cell” argument. Since you’re here reading this, either you’ve anticipated it with me (You’re a smart cookie!), or you’re someone from HR going to change the form again (please go away).

This is also why they asked how long you’ve been practicing your faith above. They’re trying to measure you to perfection, which in the words of our Savior, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone…” (John 8:7, ESV). No one that has ever lived on this Earth is perfect, save one, and He is in heaven. It’s hypocritical, disingenuous, and slimy, and no one should have to go through that until they reach a judgement. 

Question 10: Since the age of 18, have you taken any pharmaceutical(s) (drugs), whether prescription or nonprescription (over the counter)?

Once again, guys, just say yes or no. If you were to use the “Aborted Fetal Tissue” argument, let them go through every single medication you’ve ever taken in 10/20/30 years. That will be fun to watch. 

However, we’re not answering based on Mortal arguments; as I’ve shown, they’re already prepared to give a defense for their mandate. Show them you’re prepared to give a defense for the hope you have in Christ. God speed to all.

For further comments, questions, or cease and desist letters, please contact me at michaelpircio2@mikepircio.com.