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This is an adapted version of a letter I wrote for the Village Church of Lincolnshire on behalf of our elders. None of what you’re about to read is intended as medical advice. Before embarking upon any course of treatment, please consult your healthcare provider.
As more and more of our friends, neighbors, and family members get vaccinated, it occurred to me that it would be helpful to offer some biblical counsel on the topic. As Christians, we must take every thought captive to Christ (2 Cor 10:5) as we consult both God’s Word and His world (i.e., scientific research) to discern whether the COVID-19 vaccine(s) are helpful and wise. To that end, I want to offer a set of biblical touchpoints to consider as you think about this issue.
Before I do that, though, it’s important we ground the following in Jesus’ two great commandments: love God, love your neighbor as yourself (Matt 22:37-40). As we approach the topic of vaccination, our thoughts, words, and decisions must ultimately stem from a spirit of love and not fear (1 Cor 16:14; 1 John 4:18).
One more thing: we’re not doing a deep dive on the particulars of any one vaccine here. Nor can we flesh out every ethical or medical question involved. For a helpful overview of these things, you can read this FAQ from the Gospel Coalition. For a longer and more thorough treatment, check out this article from Trinity’s Center for Bioethics & Human Dignity. I also commend a recent Focus on the Family interview with two infectious disease specialists.
All those preliminaries aside, here are four biblical touchpoints to consider as you think about whether you will choose to receive this vaccine:
Have I said all that I could say? Of course not. And, if it seems this advice is tilted in a particular direction, that’s because it is. In my judgment, the most loving thing for Christians to do (notwithstanding allergies or other medical barriers) is to receive this vaccine not merely as a mechanism for self-protection but as a way of defeating this virus and protecting others.
Even as I say this, I recognize that ultimately this is an issue of Christian conscience. In our own church (Village Church of Lincolnshire), the elders have decided that we will not make vaccination a requirement for attendance. We will not be “carding” people at the door.
For now, we will continue to require masks in the worship service—whether our attenders have been vaccinated or not. We will continue to monitor community health metrics and roll back precautions as the situation warrants, looking forward to the day when the masks can finally come off and we can stand shoulder to shoulder, singing God’s praises in a full voice.
Until then, we must all continue to love another as best we can. This pandemic has tested our fellowship in many ways this past year, and the Lord has been faithful throughout. Trust that He will continue to bind His people together, whether we are in the same room or not.
Silva, Kenny, "What Do We Make of the COVID-19 Vaccine?" Intersections, The Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity, April 30, 2021. https://cbhd.com/intersections/what-do-we-make-of-the-covid-19-vaccine.