Should Christians Take the Covid Vaccine?

 The Answer is Not Really the

 Biggest Problem

It is a tragedy that some Christians - gratefully not many - are failing to take heed of two elementary aspects of Christian behaviour when it comes to the question of whether to vaccinate or not.

Perhaps they were never discipled properly when converted to Christ or perhaps they have forgotten the rules of love which should shape all Christian relationships.

So we end up with foolish arguments that are unecessary and fruitless.

Let's run through the two principles.

PRINCIPLE 1:

 Primary and Secondary Truth

There are two categories of Christian truth: Primary - can't fudge here. And Secondary - room and scope for many differences. Some believers who have never understood this, turn every truth into a primary truth, and so, like a dog with a bone, argue their particular view to the death. But there are Primary Truths - over which there can be no dispute (the divinity of Jesus Christ, for example), and Secondary Truths over which Christians are entitled to disagree and yet remain in loving fellowship over. 

Some Christians, for example, believe that Jesus will return after a 1000 year millenium ('post-millenialists'), some believe he will return before that millenium (pre-millenialists) while others still don't believe in a literal millenium at all (a-millenialists)! And guess what, great, godly and good Christian men and women belong in all three camps. Because while all Christians believe that the Lord Jesus is returning in power and glory, they differ on the exact how or when. That's OK. It really is!

(I've explored Primary and Secondary Truth in more detail HERE.)

Some Christians unaware that such a principle exists - and this really is a tragedy - go from church to church on an endless search for a church that believes exactly what they believe about everything. Of course no such church exists (and 'cult' might be a better description of such a gathering than 'church' should they find one, for cults are known for everyone believing exactly the same thing about everything). Sadly these believers leave a trail of disaster wherever they go -  broken friendships and stumbled young believers - often ending up in a church made up of just one person. Themselves. A lonely place, to be sure, but at least everyone in the church agrees with everyone else.

Whether you get vaccinated or not is a secondary truth, not a primary one. 

So secondary that I have delayed commenting on it for many months, and after this blog I will not comment on it again.  And the only reason I have written is because folk in my church have asked my opinion. 

Vaccine yes or vaccine no will not affect your salvation. 

Don't let anyone raise vaccination to primary truth status. 

And let no-one judge you for whatever stance you decide to take.

Principle 2

The Weaker Brother

The other principle is laid out in Romans 14 and 15 and 1 Corinthians 8, and it is often offensive to the scrupulous types, for Paul calls those with all the "I can't do thises" and "I can't do thatses" the weak brothers - just the opposite of what they so often think they are.

And he calls those who have no such scruples, the strong brothers and sisters, and urges them not to trouble the weaker ones.

Imagine this first century church scene. Two Christians are chatting one day after morning worship (if only!). One has come from a pagan background. He used to offer food to idols in his days of darkness. The prospect of eating such meat now that he has come into the light is unthinkable! 

However, the chappy he is talking to after morning worship (if only!) has absolutely no qualms about eating such meat. In fact just yesterday he was in the local market and headed straight for Temple Stall where all the meat from the temple was sold (because of course the dumb idols didn't eat it, because, hmmm, they can't, them is dead). Because the meat was good and cheaper at Temple Stall than elsewhere he bought it and that's what he was going to have for Sunday roast today!  

As I say they're having a chat after Sunday worship one day (if only!). The man who came from a pagan background discovers his brother eats meat offered to idols. He is truly horrified and begins to judge him "How can you be a proper Christian if you eat meat that has been offered to idols?! You're a compromiser!" He may even use other (Greek) words that I shan't print here. Tut tut.

Mr Can-eat-it-all, answers back, "You're the foolish Christian! Don't you know that idols are nothing at all and there is one God in heaven? God made the meat and it's good stuff and besides the money I saved I can give to the poor!" 

In walks Paul to this discussion. 

And guess whose "side" he takes? 

Paul takes the side of the Christian who has no scruples and can just eat the meat offered to idols! That Christian he calls the "strong brother." The guy with all the hang ups, he calls the "weaker brother."

(BTW: I have never met a "weaker brother" who did not think of himself as the "stronger brother" but "weaker brother" is what they actually are, divine revelation teaches).

Paul's advice to the one without any scruples is not to use his freedom to upset his weaker brother. "Don't talk to anyone about where you bought your meat. If the conversation comes up, just talk weather, pudding, fishing, weather, or whatever. You have the knowledge, you have the truth, you have the freedom, but don't flaunt your freedom and upset your weaker brother, whose mind is filled with scruples."

Applying these Principles to the Vaccine

So how shall we decide what to do? Shall we be vacinated or not? I suggest we each take these three steps.

Read up on it for yourself

But be  careful of the numerous false claims made by conspiracy theorists. There is no chip in any vaccine. The vaccine is not a plot by some secret world-government to control the world. (See this BLOG for how conspiracy theories work).

Make up your mind

Then make up your own mind and act. But be certain that whichever way you go, vaccine or no vaccine, another Christian will go exactly the other way. No doubt about it, because it is a secondary matter and a matter of Christian conscience.

Behave properly towards those who disagree

Once you have made up your mind and done (or not done) the deed, then seek to behave properly towards those who differ. If you are a strong Christian, don't despise the guy with all the hang-ups. But don't let him accuse you of doing wrong.

And if you are a weak Christian, don't judge your strong brother.

What will I personally do?

Having been through these three steps there is no question in my mind that when I am called up I will take the vaccination. Not only for my safety but for the safety of everyone around me.

And what is more, I would encourage all Christians to do the same.  Christian leaders should take a view and it is right for them to let their view be known.

At the same time I will respect and accept any believer who doesn't take the vaccine.

We should not argue with anyone who disagrees. 

We should not allow accusations of "compromise" to get under our skin. 

God, and God alone is our Judge.

"So then, each of us will give an account of himself to the God. Therefore let us stop passing judgement on one another..." 

(Romans 14:13)