Should Christians Get the COVID-19 Vaccine?
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to dominate the global stage, vaccine mandates have become the topic of conversation. Italy mandated all workers to either show proof of vaccination, a negative test or recent recovery from infection, effective October 15. Several other countries have mandated vaccines for various categories of health care workers. Most recently, President Biden announced that the U.S. would mandate vaccines for all federal employees and for businesses with more than 100 workers.
Biden’s announcement appeared to put people into two camps: some are applauding it as a much needed step forward, while others saying they won’t comply, even if it costs them their job (#IWillNotComply trended on Twitter after Biden’s announcement). So, what should Christians do about this? What camp do we fall into?
This article has three parts: the legality of vaccine mandates, religious exemptions and what the Bible has to say about all this.
Disclaimer: this article is meant to be informational. Please do not try to convince me of why your viewpoint is correct if you disagree with a viewpoint written here.
Part Three: So, what does the Bible say about vaccines?
There’s no explicit rule in the Bible about vaccines, so we’re left to apply general Biblical principles to guide us when making these decisions. In the first church, there was a lot of disagreement about which of the Jewish rules Christians should follow. In Acts 15, a council of apostles gathered to discuss this and the only “rules” they thought should be required are the following general guidelines: “You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality” (Acts 15:28-29).
As Christians, we do not live by human rules, although we are subject to human authorities. Sometimes, there can be a tension that can be hard for some Christians to resolve, especially when there are voices from opposite sides telling you what a Christian should do and both sides make good arguments.
Many Christians who refuse to accept vaccines do so based on pro-life arguments. Several common vaccines (Hepatitis A, rabies, rubella and chicken pox) are made by growing viruses in fetal embryo cells that were obtained from legal abortions in the early 1960s and have continued to be grown and used in labs today (so, they’re allegedly not harvesting new cells from currently aborted babies). Similarly, based on my own research, the COVID-19 vaccine does not appear to contain aborted fetal cells, however, cells grown in a lab based on aborted fetal cells collected in the early 1960s could have been used in testing during research, development and production of the vaccine. But, please don’t quote me on that and do the research on your own!
On the other hand, some Christians support vaccines because they subscribe to the theory that getting vaccinated is how you can love your neighbor, which is the ultimate law of Christianity. A common argument made in support of masks and vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic has been that it is not about you but about protecting and loving your neighbor.
“Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” - Romans 13:8-10
Christians who get vaccines may also not view this as a religious issue but a personal health decision. For example, some people have medical reasons they’re unable to get vaccines. Others oppose the COVID-19 vaccine due to its experimental nature. Generally, a vaccine takes years to get FDA approval, but Pfizer/BioNTech’s vaccine was the first to get full FDA approval by showing two months of initial data and then six months of follow-up data. Prior to full FDA approval, the COVID-19 vaccine was given under the FDA’s emergency use authorization which is used during public health emergencies.
Note, a belief that “the government can’t tell me what to do” is not a Christian religious belief rooted in Scripture. That is primarily a Republican and politically conservative stance that many Christians today have adopted into their religious belief.
In fact, the Bible has a lot to say about the government’s authority over believers, and our obedience to government authorities is not contingent on whether we personally like and agree with the current president or laws.
“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.” - Romans 13:1-7
To be clear: vaccine mandates are not religious persecution, at least not currently. The government is not saying that all Christians and only Christians must get the COVID-19 vaccines. In fact, many churches and religious leaders have publicly encouraged their congregants and followers to get the vaccine. And there are many non-Christians who do not want to get this vaccine for a host of reasons that have nothing to do with religion.
In his letter to exiles living under an oppressive regime, Apostle Peter writes:
“Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.” -1 Peter 2:13-17
For context, the people reading this letter would have been living in a foreign land and under heavy religious persecution as Nero blamed the Christians for setting fire to Rome. As a result, Christians were seized, tortured and slain. Some were crucified and even burned as human torches. And here Peter is writing them a letter, telling them to honor the emperor and submit themselves to every human authority.
As modern Christians today, especially in America, our instinct would be the opposite: what about our rights?! Shouldn’t an evil government like that be disregarded and disobeyed by Christians? Shouldn’t we use our freedom in Christ to speak up against and not cover for evil laws and leaders?
We are called to obey, respect and pray for government leaders, but our ultimate authority is God, for He is the head over every power and authority (Colossians 2:10). When a government authority tells us to do something that contradicts God and leads us to sin, we must obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29). A Biblical example of this is when Daniel and his friends refused the king’s order to bow down and worship foreign idols while in captivity in Babylon (Daniel 3:10-27). A real world example are the Christians under the Soviet rule in the former USSR who were rejected from universities and jobs, and thrown into prisons and shipped off to Siberian work camps, for their refusal to vow their allegiance to the Communist Party and say they didn’t believe in God.
The tension of which man-made rules and laws to follow is not a modern one. In 1 Corinthians 8, Apostle Paul addresses disagreements early Christians had about what food Christians should eat. Paul’s teaching on non-salvation issues (what to put in your body, what holidays to celebrate, etc) was basically: you have the freedom to establish your own belief based on the knowledge God has revealed to you but “be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block for the weak” (1 Cor. 8:9).
So, whether you believe you can get the vaccine as a Christian or not (something the Bible doesn’t explicitly command either way), don’t let your exercise of this freedom be a stumbling block for other Christians (aka, don’t be going around forcing everyone to believe what you believe on this). As Paul says, just because you have a certain knowledge that leads you to think you can or cannot put certain food in your body, does not mean “everyone possesses this knowledge” (1 Cor. 8:7).
“‘I have the right to do anything,’ you say - but not everything is beneficial. ‘I have the right to do anything’ - but not everything is constructive. No one should seek their own good, but the good of others … So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God.” -1 Corinthians 8:23-24, 31-32 (NIV)
Although anti-vaccination can be a religious belief, vaccines are not a salvation issue (aka, if you do or don’t get a vaccine does not determine if you go to heaven or hell). Just as “food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do,” (1 Cor. 8:8). Similarly, when the Christians couldn’t agree on circumcision (back then this was a contentious and divisive issue for Christians!), Paul again writes: “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love… For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation” (Galatians 5:6, 15). So vaccines or the lack of vaccines do not bring us nearer to God, nor does the issue of vaccines have eternal value.
“For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.” -Galatians 5:13-15
Do the research on vaccines from a medical and scientific perspective. Seek the Lord’s face on this issue in prayer and through His word. Establish a personal religious belief rooted in Scripture and then live it out daily. Based on what God’s word teaches you, be fully convinced in your own mind and act accordingly out of faith (Romans 14:5, 22-23). Do not quarrel over opinions (Rom. 14:1), for that is not the way we project a Christ-like light in this world. Let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding (Rom. 14:19).
“So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God. Therefore, let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. [Apostle Paul was] convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean… so whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God” (Romans 14:12-14, 22).
For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load.” -Galatians 6:3-5
“See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ” (Col. 2:8). Remember, although we live in this world, we are not of this world. “Therefore, do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ” (Col. 2:16-17).
“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory” (Col. 3:1-4).
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience ... and over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful” (Col. 3:12, 14-15). “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” (2 Tim. 1:7).
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:6-7). “Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved” (Ps. 55:22).
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Rom. 8:28). “God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it” (1 Cor. 10:13). “Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9). In this world, we will have tribulation, but take heart: He has overcome the world (John 16:33). “He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler” (Ps. 91:4).
“The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all (Ps. 103:19). “The Lord of hosts has sworn: ‘As I have planned, so shall it be, and as I have purposed, so shall it stand’” (Is. 14:24). “The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will” (Pr. 21: 1). “In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind” (Job 12:10). “He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding” (Daniel 2:21).
Remember whose daughter you are. Seek His face. That will change everything and in Him, you will find peace and wisdom on what to do today.