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NRB Fires Dan Darling After His Pro-Vaccine Statements on ‘Morning Joe’

By Bob Smietana
Dan Darling COVID vaccine
Daniel Darling, right, appears on MSNBC's “Morning Joe” on Aug. 2, 2021, with host Joe Scarborough. (Video screengrab)

The spokesman for a major evangelical nonprofit has been fired for promoting vaccines on the MSNBC “Morning Joe” cable news show.

Daniel Darling, senior vice president of communications for the National Religious Broadcasters, was fired Friday after refusing to admit his pro-vaccine statements were mistaken, according to a source authorized to speak for Darling.

His firing comes at a time when Americans face a new surge of COVID-19 infections due to the highly contagious Delta variant even as protesters and politicians resist mask mandates or other preventive measures. 

During a broadcast on Aug. 2, Darling, an evangelical pastor and author, told host Joe Scarborough about how his faith motivated him to get a COVID-19 vaccine. Darling described the vaccines as an amazing feat of discovery by scientists, some of whom share his Christian faith.

Darling said he was proud to be vaccinated.

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“I believe in this vaccine because I don’t want to see anyone else die of COVID. Our family has lost too many close friends and relatives to COVID, including an uncle, a beloved church member and our piano teacher,” Darling told Scarborough.

He expressed similar views in a recent USA Today opinion piece.

Earlier this week, leaders at NRB, an international association of Christian communicators with 1,100 member organizations, told Darling his statements violated the organization’s policy of remaining neutral about COVID-19 vaccines. According to the source, Darling was given two options — recant or sign a statement admitting he had been insubordinate.

When he refused, Darling was fired and given no severance, the source said.

Troy Miller, CEO of NRB, confirmed Darling was no longer with the organization. He did not respond to a question about the role Darling’s statements about vaccines played in his departure.

“Dan is an excellent communicator and a great friend. I wish him God’s best in all his future endeavors,” Miller stated in an email.

In a statement reported by Ruth Graham of the New York Times, Darling said that he was “sad and disappointed that my time at NRB has come to a close.”

“I am grieved that the issues that divide our country are dividing Christians,” he said in the statement, adding that he intended to devote himself to “unifying believers around the truth of the Gospel.”

While on “Morning Joe,” Darling said his Christian faith played a key role in his decision to be vaccinated — saying the Bible’s command to love our neighbors informed that decision. The vaccine, he said, helps protect our neighbors from the spread of COVID-19.

Darling also expressed sympathy for those who are hesitant to be vaccinated, seeing it as part of a larger breakdown of trust in American culture.

“When trust goes down,” he said on the show, “belief in conspiracies goes up.”

White evangelical Christians and Hispanic Protestants are among the faith groups most likely to be hesitant or refuse to get the COVID-19 vaccines, according to a recent survey from the Public Religion Research Institute. That study found vaccine hesitancy dropped among many faith groups from March 2021 to June 2021.

Still, 1 in 4 white evangelicals said they refuse to get a vaccine, while an additional 1 in 5 was hesitant, according to PRRI.

Darling criticized those who try to shame people who are vaccine-hesitant or who rejoice when someone who was unvaccinated becomes ill with COVID. Neither of those approaches is helpful, he said on the show.

He also encouraged his fellow evangelicals to consider following his example.

“I do encourage folks to talk to their doctor and really consider it, just because we just don’t want to see anyone else unnecessarily die of this lethal virus,” he said.

In a statement posted on social media, Miller stated that no employee at NRB had ever been terminated for their views on COVID-19 vaccines and that staff had been directed that NRB “stays neutral” about vaccines.

Miller also denied Darling had been fired. Instead, Miller said in his statement that Darling had been offered “a path to another position that would have provided a significant salary and full benefits.”

“He turned that offer down and chose to depart NRB,” Miller said in the statement.   

However, the letter detailing Darling’s firing specifically cited his appearance on “Morning Joe” and Darling’s statements about vaccines as violations of the “stay neutral” directive.

“The employee is being terminated for willful insubordination,” the letter stated.

Founded in 1944, the NRB “works to protect the free speech rights of our members by advocating those rights in governmental, corporate, and media sectors, and works to foster excellence, integrity, and accountability in our membership by providing networking, educational, ministry, and relational opportunities,” according to its website.

The organization recently emerged from a period of fiscal distress, after operating with a series of significant budget deficits from 2012 to 2018, according to financial disclosures filed with the Internal Revenue Service. In the fiscal year 2018, the NRB had nearly $300,000 more in liabilities than assets. In 2019 and 2020, the organization had more revenue than expenses.

In the past, NRB’s CEO Miller has touted the benefits of vaccines in emails promoting the NRB’s annual convention, which draws thousands of attendees and features a massive exhibition space.

In December 2020, Miller announced that the dates for the convention, originally set for March 2020 in Grapevine, Texas, had been pushed back three months due to the ongoing pandemic. The change in dates, he said, was prompted in part by vaccines, which would help make it possible for the convention to be a “valuable and safe experience for all who attend.

“With the additional time, increased effectiveness of treatments, and widespread availability of COVID-19 vaccines, June will be much closer to a full return to normal,” he wrote.

Then in May, he announced that vaccines would allow the conference to be held with fewer restrictions, again mentioning the benefit of vaccines.

“Today, I’m excited to share that the Gaylord Texan has updated their mask policy in line with CDC guidelines — vaccinated guests no longer need to wear masks during NRB 2021!” he wrote.

Darling, an ordained minister and author of a number of books, including “A Way with Words” and “The Dignity Revolution,” joined the NRB in April of 2020, following six years at the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission.

Darling still believes in the mission of the NRB and his statements about vaccines, his authorized source said.

In his August USA Today editorial, Darling said vaccines save lives and encouraged his fellow Christians to consider being vaccinated before more lives are lost.

“There are not many things in the world today that are worthy of our trust, but I sincerely believe the COVID-19 vaccine is one of them,” he wrote. “As a Christian and an American, I was proud to get it.”  

A previous version of the story reported that a source said Darling was asked to recant his statements. After publication, the source told RNS that Darling refused to sign a document saying his pro-vaccine statements were insubordinate. The story has been updated with statements from Darling and Miller. 

Bob SmietanaBob Smietana is a national reporter for Religion News Service.

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78 Responses

  1. This guy is a total turncoat that has no heart for God or His people ! He is strengthening the arm of the marxists and elites that are using the Covid mandate not for purposes of health and regard for Americans , but quite the opposite for control and oppression !

    The guy is a white washer tomb and has no regard for God’s will or heart for His people !

    Praise God this goat was tossed out on his tail feathers and without respect , reward or severance

    Good riddance and may God be True and Everyman a Liar like this fraud and blind guide !

    1. You can’t possibly know his heart based on this. You have clearly confused a partisan political stance with a Christian commitment.

      1. You are so right! Tim is certainly part of the public relations problem Christianity is having all over the western world. They have politicized completely the Good News.

  2. In CA they are trying to force it on everyone :( it’s so scary. I’m so glad some see what’s going on and are supporting those of us who still want freedom over our bodies. ????

      1. Yes. It truly is bizarre to see ostensibly conservative Christian’s essentially parroting the my body, my choice language of pro-choicers and radical libertarians.

      2. Why do you say that? Why isn’t she allowed to determine for HERSELF whether or not to take the vaccine? Why should be forced to take it against her will? In CA and elsewhere, your continued employment will be based on you getting the vaccine. They are not given a “choice” on the matter. It’s not like she’s pregnant and choosing to have an abortion. In that case, you’re talking about taking ANOTHER human life. In this case, it’s just her own.

        1. Why do we say it, Crystal? Because it is exactly the argument of the pro-choice folks: “It’s her body; why isn’t she allowed to determine for HERSELF whether or not to …” Oh…isn’t that what YOU just said…word for word? As Gordon said above, you are “parroting the my body, my choice language of pro-choicers.” Word for word.

          1. Dan C,

            The argument of the pro-choice group is that they should have the right to terminate a human life growing inside of them because they want consequence free sex.

            We have free will under God to do as much harm to ourselves as we want, with the appropriate results, not the free will to harm anyone else (born or unborn).

            You are trying to associate Christians (who through faith are choosing to trust God), with pro abortion under Satan.

            We are not falling for the word spells or shame propaganda anymore.

            What this comes down to is this:

            The Boomer plague (sex, drugs, rock/roll self gratification, pro abortion, debt based economy, no God in the house) that has infected our society/churches, is coming to the end, and they are now concerned about every life being precious because it is their ass on the line this time.

            Yet, I do not see an out cry to stop manufacturing cars, cigarettes, alcohol, porn, or anything else that can cause harm to others. Why?

            Where were these concerns for life over the past 50 years during flu season?

            Can you not see the difference between our right not to inject something into our bodies that has only been widely used in humans for less than a year, with terminating a life?

            You want to inject a non-sterilizing vaccine that does not prevent catching, getting sick, or transmitting a virus, be my guest, the rest of us have volunteered for the controlled group.

  3. I don’t understand why people continue to look at those who aren’t getting the vaccine as if they are just poor fools that really don’t know any better. My view of the whole mess is that people are not getting it because the government has been entirely too forceful about it. Pushing and pushing and trying to bribe and threats and horribly written “news” articles discussing how awful the spread is because of the unvaccinated…yada, yada. The facts then bite them in the rear when the first 100 or so cases of break through in the vaccinated led to the discovery that they have the same viral load in their system that the unvaccinated do. How many remember all the vaccinated folks running around enjoying the ‘freedom’ of regular life again? Big parties and hanging out in the clubs and such? How many know what causes a variant in a virus? Is it caused when something is introduced that interferes with the replication process? You know like a vaccine? And who remembers high school biology? Why does a virus replicate? To stay alive. When it creates a variant, the variants are weaker than the original because the virus needs a living host to continue replicating. Anybody remember yet?
    My issue has nothing to do with science and everything to do with the fact that people who chose NOT to get the shot have that right because we live in America. Also, the vaccinated are supposed to be uber protected so why are they pushing so hard to make every single person take this? They are saying herd immunity is a thing, but behaving as if it isn’t. ( I personally do not believe any such thing at least not if it is based on vaccination immunity. Because that immunity fades over time anyway. Natural immunity doesn’t fade nearly as fast and is more protective but they are still pushing people with a natural immunity to get it.
    If this man spoke out of turn about the vaccine and it violated his work contract, then that is on him because with all the fuss lately, you know that had to be discussed at some point. It doesn’t matter that his firing came at a time when…. whatever.
    Also, “The vaccine, he said, helps protect our neighbors from the spread of COVID-19.” is he talking about his unvaccinated neighbors? Because apparently the neighbors who ARE vaccinated can spread it amongst themselves just like the unvaccinated so why all the arguing? Why are there so many people who DO trust a government that has eroded our rights and become the monkey on our backs to take care of them?

  4. Good for you Dan! My wife and I are conservative Bible based evangelicals with a Dallas Seminary education. For the life of me, I cannot see how the legitimacy of a life of faith in Christ has been defined by the anti-vaccination agenda. We are 64 years old and have been required to be vaccinated for a number of diseases throughout our lives; and so have our adult children. The covid vaccines are MUCH safer than the vaccines we have had in the past (i.e. polio) and no there was no significant Christian blowback on those. Vaccines, however imperfect, have saved tens if not hundreds of millions of lives to be able to hear the gospel and receive Christ. Why aren’t the so-called Christian leaders admonishing us to “love our neighbors”, “honor those in authority”, and “pay unto Caesar the things that are Caesars, and unto God the things that are Gods”?. Being an evangelical Christian used to mean having private devotion to Jesus who died for us to allow us to have a relationship with our triune Creator God so we could be a blessing to others by expressing our gifts; giving “in secret, so our heavenly Father who sees in secret will reward us”. Modern American evangelicalism has been hijacked by a socio-political and economic agenda that takes us away from the gospel of grace, peace and mercy of our God. I’m embarrassed to be lumped in with the self-appointed “prophets” of the American evangelical right-wing who claim that the ultimate test of our faith in Christ is a refusal to get a life-saving vaccine? And this from the same people who guaranteed a Trump victory? Are you kidding me??

    1. Well said Chuck! From the very beginning of the Covid virus pandemic I have scratched my head trying to figure out why the Christian evangelical church at large is refusing to get the vaccine and even becomes hostile toward those who do get it. I can however, understand the hesitancy in that it is something that our government is endorsing. Our government in this country has not earned the respect and trust of its people, and that from both Republican and Democratic leadership. But, I think in this particular case of a vaccine provided by our government to protect its people, can be trusted and has our well-being at the forefront of their efforts.

      1. This is a no-brainer. The Devil is real. He is a liar. He is a deceiver. He comes to deceive, when possible even the elect. He is a murderer and a thief. He targets Christians first and then everyone else. He knows what vaccines are and what they do. They lower death rates, so he works overtime to get Christians to take risks they do not have to. He knows many more of us will die if we are too afraid to get a free shot. And he uses whatever half-truths there are to convince people. And again it is Christians first, then everyone else.

        1. Ralph – I don’t know how the devil is involved here. I don’t mean that cynically, I just don’t. I do think though this back and forth narrative has the makings of a CS Lewis play. There is no longer need to worry COVID destroying the cardio-respiratory system of believers. Just the debate of the topic has turned many into (or revealed an existing condition of) a group that is nasty, opinionated, stubborn and unsympathetic.

          For reasons I don’t know, this is a sensitive topic. My suspicion is it’s to do with control.

          Where I scratch my head is with righteous anger that comes with the pro-choice stance. When an unborn baby is terminated before delivery, it’s murder, sad, horrible and so on. When someone cites the number of people that have died because of COVID, those lives are just statistics. When overwhelmed hospital workers plead for people to get the vaccine, their opinions are marginalized.

          I guess I’m concerned that many believers are emotionally disconnected from the human aspect of things while they double down to assert their “rights”.

          If the devil is at work here, I suspect the focus is on division and a breakdown of civility.

  5. What else does the NRB want to require its folks to be neutral about? Abortion? Seat belt use? Adultery? Humanitarian relief? Jail ministry? Tax exemption status for churches? That’s quite a gag order.

    1. Dan, pastors and religious employers should be quiet about anything that is not clearly laid out in God’s word.

      Abortion: Do not murder — please Church, speak up.

      Seat belts — not in the Bible — I’ll wear it whenever I feel like it. Waste no time over the pulpit discussing it. It’s none of your business.

      Adultery: Do not commit adultery — please Church, speak up and keep God’s people from sin.

      Humanitarian relief: Pass the plate. Take care of the needy. Dan, please give according to your ability—you know how much that is. (So does your Lord.)

      Jail ministry — visit them! Do you?

      Tax exemption — not mentioned. The government will give it ir take it away. But we must give to God’s work either way, whether we get the tax break or not. How do you feel about that?

      Yes, stay in God’s word to discern what is from Him and what is left to personal freedom. If from Him, LIVE LOUDLY. If left to personal freedom, live true to yourself, being a good steward and respecting the choices others have made. Let us be known by our love for God and each other, NOT our political stances.

      1. Let’s remember that the mention in the NT of visiting those in jail refers to our brothers and sisters jailed for being faithful, in a time when inmates wholly relied on their friends and family for food, clothing, medicines (such as they were), bedding, any reading and writing materials, etc.

        Sure, jail ministry is very important, but because its ministry, not because of succour.

        Go visit crooks in jail if you want to, visit your friends and relatives in jail because you want to, but that’s ordinary compassion, not the order of an apostle.

      2. Mayi – Are you suggesting that because something is not referenced in the Bible, it’s fair game? To that point, the Bible has nothing to say about texting and driving either. That said, my family wears seatbelts because it saves lives and it’s the law in our state, and the same goes for texting and driving. Maybe you’re making a point that I’m not getting, but exercising your choice not to wear a seatbelt is a horrible example of the behaviors of an adult, less a Christian. Help me out here, are you really being authentic in your response on this one?

      3. At least you admit it’s a political stance to oppose vaccination. The life-blood of the Republican Party, at this point, seems to be nothing more than the “they’re coming for you” hysteria.

    2. It’s a position that stems from cowardice. Being an exclusively conservative organization, the NRB knows a majority of community they represent is avowedly antivaxx and they’re scared to upset them. This is not a Christian position, it is a politically expeditious position.

  6. The NRB policy was the right one. They don’t want their employees representing them as antivaxxers or promoters. It keeps the peace at the organization, and it is the same view our company promotes: “We will respect people regardless of their personal decisions about vaccines and masks.”

    What I don’t understand is that Dan said what he wanted to say, it reached millions of people, and he really did violate their policy.

    Why not sign something that says “I violated the company policy?” It’s true, it doesn’t require him to recant, it just acknowledges what he did.

    Maybe it requires him to cease violating company policy and he couldn’t live with that.

    The company policy was not ungodly or unbiblical.

    Dan can choose to not work there anymore.

    Sounds like a fair outcome.

    1. I’m curious as well why Dan refused to sign a statement acknowledging that he broke with company policy. It seems on first glance that this would be the closest to a win-win. The policy was not a secret (whether or not it’s good is another discussion), companies hold such a right, and signing would not mean that Dan has to violate his personal conscious on remaining silent.

  7. This is nuts. The vaccines are highly effective. They save lives. And the fact that evangelicalism finds itself punishing those who advocate for them is just absurd in addition to being wrong. I was raised as a missionary kid, and not a single person I knew in that community had any problem getting vaccinations against any number of horrible diseases. Just the opposite. We were glad for them and saw them as a gift from God, given through people who dedicated their lives to saving the lives of others.

    This story is yet another example of how American evangelicalism has gone completely off the rails. I’m glad I don’t consider myself part of that tribe anymore.

  8. What a Draconian measure. Firing the guy because he evenly shared his perspective and even witnessed to the listeners. Give him a demerit or something, but firing, purely reactionary.

    Not trusting the government is another matter and he was not endorsing blind allegience. Remember, he had three close friends die recently. Give him a break.

  9. roh roh… Darling said he was FOR the vaccine… that will invite a torrent of nasty e-mails and comments from evangelical “believers” who are anti-vaxxers

    Another similar example would be a pastor of a church saying that parents should send their kids to a Christian school or college… the problem is that the great majority of evangelicals send their kids to public schools… again more nasty emails to the pastor from evangelical “believers” who send their kids to public school..

    Another good example would be a doctor saying that parents should not give 10 year children the HPV vaccine… HPV is a sexually transmitted disease so the implication is….. roh roh more nasty e-mails from evangelical “believers” who gave their kids the HPV vaccine…

    1. Goodness, remember the fuss over the HPV vaccine when at least one antivaxx pastor claimed they would rather their daughter suffer the full consequences (i.e. die) of her sinful acts than be protected against the virus.

  10. That’s too bad. I did not see anything wrong whatsoever with what he said. I think it is unfortunate that the vaccine is being pushed upon people against their will. People should be able to decide for themselves whether to take it or not. I chose to get the vaccine after waiting a while. Let’s face it, I can still pass the virus onto the unvaccinated. The difference is that I’m more likely to recover. I know of a situation recently where a vaccinated caregiver gave it to a family of unvaccinated individuals. All three ended up going to the hospital. The vaccinated person did not and recovered at home. How about the story in the news of a husband and wife who both died of COVID 19. They left behind 4 children. What would have happened if they had gotten the vaccine? Got a co-worker who is in the hospital right now with COVID double pneumonia. She’s not doing well. Her two sons were in the hospital as well. So you can choose to be unvaccinated if you want too. But just be prepared for the risks. We know the vast majority will recover. But who wants to be in the group that does not? There is no rhyme or reason to this virus. There are senior citizens who recovered and young people who died. I hear a lot of negative reasons from people on why they don’t want to take this, but how do you know that God also isn’t behind the vaccine and its effectiveness? Let’s face it…per the news, it’s the unvaccinated who are straining the healthcare system right now. It’s not the unvaccinated. Think about it.

    1. This is idiotic of NRB to do this. I know at least a dozen Evangelical Pastors who have died of covid here in the Midwest. I have graduated from 2 Fundamental Bible Colleges and broadcast Bible Teaching on radio and TV all over the world and it is idiotic to suggest God doesn’t want us to get the vaccine. Yes it should be your personal choice with no government mandates and you should choose what is best for you and your own family after researching the benefits and risks of both covid and the vaccine, but it is not Patriotic or God’s Will to not get it. You most likely got vaccinated as a child and God did not fall off His Throne. You take medicine I am sure for anything else your doctor prescribes. Why not this? You may say because Pfizer and Moderna are RNA experimental vaccines. Fine then get the Johnson and Johnson which is based on the same old technology as the Measles Vaccine you received as a child. Last, if you are convinced God is telling you not to get vaccinated, do what you think is best for yourself but don’t be so arrogant as to claim to speak for God to everyone else and tell them they should not get vaccinated. Everyone has the right to hear from God for themselves.

      1. John R,

        Of Covid or with Covid? In medicine there is a big distinction.

        What were their ages, names, medical commodities, death certificate COD, hospitalization status/treatment protocols, and churches? I would like to do some research.

        thank you,
        AT

        1. Of Covid. Do your own research. It’s pretty clear that very few if any of their loved ones dispute that they died from a Covid-19 viral infection. There have been 745,780 excess deaths in the US since the start of the epidemic (i.e. 745,780 more people have died than typically die over the same period of time). What did they die of if it wasn’t Covid-19?

          1. They died of old age, CHF, non Covid pneumonia, motorcycle accidents, anaphylaxis shock, etc.
            Get the facts, do your research. Many of the 700,000 plus died with Covid not of. A big difference. We know of 2 who died not of it or with Covid but coroners were forced to put Covid on the death certificate.
            In 235 days:
            Over 13,000 have died from the vaccine.
            52,000 hospitalizations
            4,461 Bells Palsy
            1505 miscarriages
            5,590 heart attacks
            24,305 severe allergic reactions
            And many more statistics.

          2. Mike W,

            If you make a claim, have the facts to back it up. The “do your own research” BS from the pro vaxx side is tiresome, it is not my job to prove your point of view. If you cannot produce a source when asked to support your claim, you have nothing of substance to add to the discussion.

            When asked for the source of the facts to my claims, I provide, and if the source is found to be incorrect, then I have gained knowledge I would have never found. I have never told someone to “Do your own research” when presenting a claim of fact, I provide quotes and link.

            “Do your own research” usually is a response I hear when a claim is based on parroting what the NEWS reported and the person doesn’t know the source.

            “There have been 745,780 excess deaths in the US since the start of the epidemic (i.e. 745,780 more people have died than typically die over the same period of time). What did they die of if it wasn’t Covid-19?”

            I do not know, you have not provided the statistical breakdown of your claim: age, Of C vs With C, BMI, comorbidity, COD report, treatment received, etc… that I can refer to.

            But please consider the following from: https://www.history.com/topics/1960s/baby-boomers-1

            “More babies were born in 1946 than ever before: 3.4 million, 20 percent more than in 1945. This was the beginning of the so-called “baby boom.” In 1947, another 3.8 million babies were born; 3.9 million were born in 1952; and more than 4 million were born every year from 1954 until 1964, when the boom finally tapered off. By then, there were 76.4 million “baby boomers” in the United States. They made up almost 40 percent of the nation’s population.”

            The additional births from the Baby Boom between 1946 and 1950 could account for the additional deaths.

            Side note:

            TV is called programming for a reason, and this programming is “broadcasted” to the public, how often do you fact check what is reported on?

            I recommend you read 2 books by Edward Bernays (the father of modern propaganda and nephew of Sigmund Freud). Crystallizing Public Opinion and Propaganda (if you want a peek behind the curtain)

          3. “Excess deaths” are those deaths that cannot be explained by the usual causes (i.e. people dying of old age, of the seasonal flu, of heart disease, suicide, traffic accidents, murder, etc. It might surprise you, but absent some unusual circumstances (like a pandemic) the numbers are very predictable.

            Yes, they change, but the trends from year to year are clear, and unless something alters those trends, the overall number of deaths only changes by a few tens of thousands of people every year, and the numbers are very predictable. Here is a chart with the numbers up until 2019:

            https://www.prb.org/usdata/indicator/deaths/chart/

            The CDC is reporting a provisional number of 3,358,814 deaths in 2020 which is a massive spike compared to the 2019 number of 2,854,838. (The number is provisional because it takes months to confirm the cause of deaths of three million people, but the final tally typically doesn’t change by much.)

            That’s 500,000 more deaths, which is over five times the largest rise in the last 20 years. In most years the number of deaths is within 50,000 of the previous years numbers. It’s even worse than it looks since barely anyone died of the flu this most recent winter.

            I’m sorry, but to deny that at least 400,000 of these 500,000 additional deaths were not caused by Covid-19 is untenable, especially since the hospitals are full across the South. Here, where I live, the hospitals are full, there have been no spare ICU beds for two weeks, and more people than ever require ventilator support — these are extremely sick people, and many of them are going to die, from Covid-19.

            By the way, none of these excess deaths was caused by the vaccinations, since they didn’t even start in earnest until the start of this year. So again, you cannot deflect from what’s really happening. Hundreds of thousands of Americans have died from Covid-19.

            Please, do not add yourself to that total. Get vaccinated. It’s safe, and will protect you.

          4. Mike W,

            “Excess deaths” are those deaths that cannot be explained by the usual causes”

            From the CDC:

            “Excess deaths are typically defined as the difference between the observed numbers of deaths in specific time periods and expected numbers of deaths in the same time periods. This visualization provides weekly estimates of excess deaths by the jurisdiction in which the death occurred. Weekly counts of deaths are compared with historical trends to determine whether the number of deaths is significantly higher than expected.”

            No mention of unexplained death, all reported deaths come with a COD on the death certificate, it is a direct comparison of actual vs expected. After receiving the death reports, you can go in and find what might be the cause for the rise, including the fact of a higher number of people due to the population explosion 73+ years ago. If death is undetermined on the certificate, then that category will be show in the reports. Is there a report showing 500,000+ undetermined deaths?

            From your source link chart: it shows the number of deaths has been steadily increasing since 2009. When a certain part of the population is in the average life expectancy zone, and there is an excess number of this population compared to historical norms, then a jump in death is expected once critical mass is reached.

            I am not saying Covid did not kill them, only there are more people at risk to die from it.

  11. Bob, Please read the research carefully. Almost every category surveyed has a combined hesitant to get shot or refuse to get shot that runs between 35-40% as of June. Now add to this that these are just self-reported attitudes, and all we can conclude from these gross numbers is that significantly more people, no matter how you slice them, are less hesitant to get the vaccine now than during the previous survey..

    The better question would have been, “Have you completed a course of vaccination yet?” I mean it’s still self-reporting, but would be more significant than their attitude toward the shots. Whether they got the shot or not is a better indicator about their true feelings. Remember Jesus story of the two sons, one said he’d go in the vineyard and work, the other said he wouldn’t. The one who said “yes” didn’t go. The one who raised a fuss and said “no” did go. (Mt 21:27-30)

    Another thing that is unclear is if the survey group included people who had covid and have natural immunity. If I had the disease, I wouldn’t get the shot. That would skew the results. The combined rate of the vaccinated and those who have acquired natural immunity need to be added together to see if we are approaching herd immunity. Not mentioning natural immunity in the story at all is very misleading. Vaccination isn’t the only route to immunity.

    Why are articles on statistics so frequently badly written? Please dig into the numbers. Don’t just parrot the press release.

    If you want to read an article that handles stats pretty well on covid and vaccination, try this one. Just scroll down to “Some vaccination math for the EU” at:

    https://www.eurointelligence.com/

    1. Tom, that’s a big request. Many (most?) Americans think 1/4 is bigger than 1/3. I don’t think digging into the numbers is our forte.

  12. Everyone should have the choice to do what they decide. Nothing should be forced. The vaccine is still new and people are well within their rights to refuse. The “Nuremberg Code” states this. I don’t trust governments to have my best interests in mind all the time. I think it’s appalling that people get worked up about this issue. Yet the issue of babies being killed in the womb is brushed under the carpet. The hypocrisy stinks. Can’t Christians use this time wisely to bring up real issues and push to stand for the unborn.

  13. Titus 3:1-2

    Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.

  14. Am I understanding this right, that the organization who exists for the sole purpose of protecting the free speech rights of its members, just fired their spokesperson for exercising his freedom of speech? *Ironic*

  15. How about promoting preventative measures first, i.e. therapeutics, Hydrocloraquine and Ivermectin + vitamins A, Zinc etc – instead of jumping on the untested mrna genetic shot, not a vaccine. All sheep.

    1. Mr. Contreras, I am alarmed that you are promoting Ivermectin which is a drug given to livestock to cure worms and that can kill humans. It is not FDA approved to treat Covid 19. And can cause serious harm including death to humans.
      And Hydrocloraquine is drug to treat malaria, is not FDA approved to treat Covid 19, and has serious heart rhythm problems that can be life-threatening.

      Furthermore the Pfizer Covid 19 vaccine is FDA approved.

    2. If you haven’t heard the name yet, Google “Caleb Wallace”. 30 year-old father of 4. Tried this exact regimen.

  16. Based on many of the comments here I have to wonder where much of Evangelicalism is headed. Since I am no longer part of it I can see that as one who looks at it from the outside a lot of it is getting ugly.

  17. I walked out of church when the pastor got political. I will walk out if the pastor is publicly for or against the vax. I do not go to church, listen to or read books by well known preachers to hear about politics or the vax, etc. I want to hear the Bible exegeted correctly, verse by verse, book by book.
    It was correct to fire Dan.

    1. Denise J,

      The churches that have 501(c)(3) status fall under federal guidelines and that is why you are seeing politics in church, they have 2 masters. They have to toe the line or lose their tax exempt status, which apparently is more important than God.

      We are to pay taxes to Ceaser and give an additional pre-tax (10%) to the church, but the church is above rendering unto Ceaser (paying taxes). Churches should not be above what they expect from us.

      The irony is that all churches are automatically tax exempt under the Constitution and do not need a contract with Ceaser, just meet the conditions of being a church.

      From IRS website:

      “Churches (including integrated auxiliaries and conventions or associations of churches) that meet the requirements of section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code are automatically considered tax exempt and are not required to apply for and obtain recognition of exempt status from the IRS.”

    2. Denise Jones,

      “It was correct to fire Dan.”

      Like that isn’t a political statement in and of itself… smh.

    3. Denise – some people believe that our faith should influence our politics. Some believe that our faith is not something to be siloed and confined to Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings, and should influence every facet of our lives from how we vote to how we spend money.
      I believe the church would look very different if more people were willing to leave their politics for their church rather than their church for their politics.

  18. By communicating his position the way he did, especially in an op ed article, the assumption is he is speaking for his organization. He did this knowing that this was not the position of his organization. Whether vaccines are good or bad is not the issue.They did the right thing by showing him the door.

    1. Bill Hoskins,

      You and I both know that you would not want him fired for an anti-vax statement. Let’s be honest with ourselves, my friend.

      1. Try writing an op ed on a position that is not in line with your employers position on a hot subject and see how long you keep your job.

  19. 1) Darling clearly defies his contract, therefore Darling deserves to be terminated. His “yes” was not yes, and his “no” was not no. He erred without subsequent apology or repentance.

    2)In the video interview, Darling clearly lacks reason and logic by acknowledging a “catastrophic failure” (that’s huge) in those that lead us in every institution, yet does not specify why or how, then makes a huge leap of faith in declaring there should be no lack of trust in the gov’t funded pharmaceutical injections. Absolutely makes zero sense.

    My self employed income for many decades has been directly dependent on identifying deceit and duplicity in people of all walks of life. I’d like to know if someone paid him a significant amount of money to defy his contract with NRB, and then refuse to sign a statement of subordination?

    1. Kenly Wayne,

      “He erred without subsequent apology or repentance.”

      You make him sound like an unregenerate sinner in danger of hell. The last time I checked… people sin against GOD, not their employer or any other temporary finite authority. Where did he take an oath to do nothing but ape every position that the NRB population agrees with?

      1. Brian, individuals can sin against other individuals, God, or themselves (I Sam 2:25, I Cor 6:18 etc). Of course, every sin is in essence a rebellion of God and his nature/law.

        One of the marks of a genuine Jesus freak is they are characterized by a change of mind that leads to a change of action when they sin, no matter if big or small.

        As far as I know no one held a gun to Darlin’s head forcing him to go in the national spotlight with an opinion that violates his terms of employment with NRB. Furthermore, not signing the insubordination document shows to me even further that he didn’t care about his error.

        The issue isn’t peripheral either.

        There will be huge consequences when the truth comes to light about what these injections are doing to people. The bridge the govt and pharma is forcefully telling us to cross is not just 1 or 2 miles long, it’s rather lifelong journey on this bridge. NRB clearly doesn’t want liability, temporal or eternal.

        1. Kenly Wayne,

          “One of the marks of a genuine Jesus freak is they are characterized by a change of mind that leads to a change of action when they sin, no matter if big or small.”

          Okay… so genuine Jesus Freaks cannot support the vaccine under any circumstances or else they are tares and phonies. Duly noted, remind me to take an exegetical class from you at Biola or Wheaton… not.

          Adding to Scripture, or creating extra-Scriptural commandments of obedience that do not directly flow from Biblical principles, comes dangerously close to creating a different “gospel”. Consider that my warning to you.

  20. Brian, you are taking my quote out of context like the propagandists do so easily and without thought. The statement about Jesus freaks is in reference to Darling’s responsibilities to his employer.

    He’s being a hypocrite advocating for people to love their neighbors by getting an experimental injection, while he clearly ignores loving his employer as he ought.

    Whether you did it intentionally or unintentionally, either way, I forgive you. ????

    1. However, the letter detailing Darling’s firing specifically cited his appearance on “Morning Joe” and Darling’s statements about vaccines as violations of the “stay neutral” directive.

      “The employee is being terminated for willful insubordination,” the letter stated.

      Sounds like the NRB spokesman was lying when he said Darling wasn’t fired.
      Wonder why?

    2. Kenly Wayne,

      “Brian, you are taking my quote out of context like the propagandists do so easily and without thought. The statement about Jesus freaks is in reference to Darling’s responsibilities to his employer.”

      If you are seriously trying to argue that the NRB is a stand in for the direct word of God or is His mouthpiece similar to how the RCC views the Pontiff, you have quite the lift ahead of you.

      1. “If you are seriously trying to argue that the NRB is a stand in for the direct word of God or is His mouthpiece similar to how the RCC views the Pontiff, you have quite the lift ahead of you.”

        What in the world (palm to forehead)?

        Again, you are reading/projecting into what I am saying and coming away with an idea that is completely absent.

        Employees have an obligation to abide by the terms of their employment. For the true Jesus freak the obligation becomes a moral one (1 Jn 2:5). If they can’t agree to the terms they should sooner than later seek other employment and not violate the terms. I wouldn’t call a hypocrite a hero, nor would I consider Darling to be a role model.

        1. Kenly Wayne,

          “Employees have an obligation to abide by the terms of their employment. For the true Jesus freak the obligation becomes a moral one (1 Jn 2:5).”

          I can’t believe you have no comprehension of how idolatrous that sounds. So… an employee whose boss is demanding dishonesty, swindling, or violence as part of the job duty must continue to tow the line? I want you to turn off OANN for a second, and think through the logical conclusion of your rather extreme position on workplace obedience.

          Nor do I believe being a “Jesus freak” requires total opposition to the death to the COVax (and mind you–I am not even that big a fan of it).

          “I wouldn’t call a hypocrite a hero, nor would I consider Darling to be a role model.”

          I can’t say that I believe for a minute that you would stand idly by and say “serves them right” if someone was fired for refusing to promote the vaccine by a company that demanded that.

          1. “I can’t believe you have no comprehension of how idolatrous that sounds.”

            Brian, since you like to argue. ????

            Employer A requires you to not to speak about Jesus to fellow employees or customers. You also are required to report any employees who do. You love Jesus dearly, but need the income and can’t find another job so you agree to the terms of employment.

            Employer B requires you to take money received from customers who wish to pay for the people behind them and put only half towards their purchases while putting the remainder in the till. Again, you need the job so you agree to the terms.

            Which employee above would then be justified in the sight of God by going against their agreement to their employer by doing the exact opposite?

          2. Kenly,

            This is utter sophistry and you know it. An employer can ask for whatever they want. It is up to the employee to judge what is ethical or not. If an employee decides to put their conscience first, whatever the circumstances are–rightly or wrongly, they can be fired, unless it goes against some kind of contract. At WORST, Darling violated a man-made rule. You are utterly bent on painting him as some kind of wicked, heretical tare because NRB’s rules are directly equivalent to God’s commandments. THAT is the idolatry.

            I also notice that you didn’t deny when I said you would not be so lackadaisical about an employee getting fired for being anti-vax by a pro-vax company… I wonder why.

  21. Jesus said a lot more about loving your neighbor than about protecting your individual rights. When unvaccinated Christians are filling the beds in hospitals making it impossible for folks to get non-Covid related care, it’s not a very good witness.

    1. Bill Robinson,

      I understand your POV and agree with it completely–in theory–but on the flipside, I think we are getting a very one-sided picture of the COVID shots. They lessen the severity of the disease–they do virtually nothing to stop you from getting it altogether or from spreading it when you do get a “breakthrough” case which is very common.

      The COVID vaccine is one tool–a reasonably safe and effective one, but not the magic bullet that has been hyped ad nauseum under force and threat by some blue politicians. I can’t support demanding either undying support for the vaccine or hatred of it.

  22. You always have a choice. However, you must be willing to live with the consequences of that choice.
    If you don’t get vaccinnated, then be prepared to find other places to do business, schools to attend, etc. That’s the consequence of your choice. Disliking the consequences of your choice is not the same as not having one.
    You always have a choice.

    Also, love your neighbor as yourself. In other words, please treat others the way you’d like to be treated. The same people who claim they are being targeted and labeled for being unvaccinnated are hurling targets and labels at those who chose to be vaccinnated. If you want your choice to be respected, then respect others for theirs.

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