When it arrived it was applauded. We finally had a way to prevent the spread of the virus. People could protect themselves and be free from their masks. Then it turned out that people could still spread the virus despite the vaccine, so masks were back. Vaccination was lauded as the right thing to do to protect others. Now it is becoming the mandated requirement to keep your job and earn a livelihood. Yes, I know it is political. There are heated opinions about it on both sides. Some good Christians would use Scripture to argue both FOR and AGAINST it. Yet, while I’m sure to be putting a target on my back by writing this, it is beginning to affect many of those in our church and local area. So, I feel that it must be addressed. Should you get the vaccine?

Some of you have already received it. You needed the protection. You wanted your life back. You had other medical risks that compelled you. You may have been required. Or, you might have believed it was the most loving thing you could do to stop the spread. If that is you, please don’t see this as a commentary on your decision. You made the best decision you could with the facts you knew at the time. If you did this for the right reasons and with a clear conscience – then I applaud you for it.

For others that continue to resist, you are probably feeling the pressure right now. President Biden has said, “Our patience is wearing thin. Your refusal has cost all of us.” You may work for the government, in healthcare, or for a company that is about to require the vaccine as a condition of your employment. There will be consequences for your refusal. While there are many factors to consider as you evaluate your response, I’d like to examine what the Bible says about COMPLIANCE and CONSCIENCE.

COMPLIANCE – Romans 13:1 tells us to “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers”. Scripture is clear that in every way possible, we should attempt to comply with those who are in authority over us (whether they are corrupt or not). Joseph complied to Caesar Augustus when he was told to return to Bethlehem to pay his taxes (Luke 2:1-5). He did this at great inconvenience to himself and his pregnant wife who ended up giving birth in a stable because of it! Yet, we need to balance this with the examples in Scripture when man’s laws interfered with God’s commands. When told to stop proclaiming the gospel, Peter told his authorities “We ought to obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29). He went to jail for it. Daniel kept praying to God when it was outlawed (Daniel 6:10). He went to the lion’s den for it. The point is this: while we are to comply as readily and willingly as possible, there are times when we must be willing to resist and face the consequences. So, the question you must consider regarding the vaccine mandate, the mask mandate, or any other “mandates” that may be coming down the pike is: Does this interfere with my ability to serve the Lord, obey His commands, or put Him first in my life? If so, we must not comply.

CONSCIENCE – Secondary to this is the question of conscience. Each Christian is at a different stage of their spiritual journey. We each have a different background, culture and set of facts from which we are working. I’ll be the first to tell you that mis-information is everywhere in this debate. It is hard to know what to believe is scientific truth anymore. For some Christians, conscience tells them that the most loving and caring thing they can do is to get vaccinated and wear a mask. They believe that this will reduce the virus spread to others (especially those who are at higher risk). For others, conscience tells them that something smells rotten and that vaccinations shouldn’t be forced. Up until this past week, I wasn’t aware of one other factor related to how these vaccines were developed. According to the Charlotte Lozier Institute, all of the vaccines approved in the U.S. were developed or tested in some way using abortion-derived cells. This is concerning and alarming for those Christians who don’t want to support these medical practices. The principle of conscience is really related to how much you know and how much what you know affects your outlook. In the early church, some Christians couldn’t eat meat sacrificed to idols for this reason. For others, it was no big deal (1 Cor. 10:19). For instance, you have probably shopped at Walmart, Amazon, or had a coffee at Starbucks without any conscience about the fact that some of the dollars you spend with them will be used to support abortion. Therefore, we must have our conscience informed by the facts, seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and yield to the conviction that we hold in these areas (Philippians 2:12). It’s not always an easy decision and you may not come to the same conclusion as other Christians around you.

There will certainly be many factors to consider in your decision about the vaccine. Yet while people on both sides have self-assuredly tried to do it, it is hard to make a cut-and-dried case about this decision. Do you feel that you can comply without sacrificing any of the Lord’s demands on your life? Do you know all the facts, prayed about it, and have a clear conscience about taking it? Are you resisting just to prove a point or to “stick it to the man”? Are you ready to accept the consequences of your decision (either the possible side effects of getting it or the ramifications of punishment if you don’t)? These and other questions need to be considered. But regardless of what your Christian brothers and sisters decide, let’s not forget to see the forest for the trees. We can’t let this become a flash point of division among Christians. As Ephesians 4:3 exhorts us, we must endeavor to “keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”