Vaccinated Against Conscience

How can Christians maintain unity in light of debates over COVID mandates? Maybe you are on the side of the young woman who wrote, “there is no better way in our current climate to walk out the command to ‘consider others better than yourself’ than to receive the vaccine.”

There are other Christians who share this sentiment. My question in response is: why is love a one-way street? Doesn’t this command apply equally to those who feel passionately about the vaccine? Do the vaccinated not have an obligation to consider the unvaccinated as “better than yourself?” It would be an irony of epic proportions to wield Philippians 2:3 as a club rather than as a mirror.

In certain things, the Bible gives us explicit commands. We are commanded not to kill or commit adultery (Exodus 20:13, 14). Where there is no command, we have explicit instructions: “Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind” (Romans 14:8). In other words, every individual must decide for himself. We often refer to this as liberty of conscience.

Christian liberty was at the heart of the Protestant Reformation. The Westminster Confession of Faith and the London Baptist Confession state: “God alone is Lord of the conscience, and hath left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men, which are, in anything, contrary to his Word; or beside it, in matters of faith, or worship (WCF 20.2; LBC 21.2).

Where there is no explicit command, Christians have the freedom to read, study, and decide for themselves how best to live to the glory of Christ. Scripture also teaches that no Christian (or institution) should seek to force his decision of conscience upon another Christian. “As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions” (Romans 14:1). You must exercise this latitude of conscience with regard for others.

It is a sin for a man to act against conscience (Romans 14:22). And, it is a sin to judge or seek to impose your will on others whose conscience differs from yours (Romans 14:10-12).

Now, let’s apply this to medicine, including obtaining or abstaining from COVID vaccinations. The Bible does not command Christians to seek or avoid medical therapies. To do either is a matter of personal choice. Every Christian must make up his own mind (Rom 14:8). And, on biblical principle, he must defend the right of other Christians to make up their minds.

Christian unity will be maintained through COVID when we practice love and respect as a two-way street. We will maintain unity when we work together to preserve the right of the vaccine-ready and vaccine-resistant to adhere to their conscience.

God alone is the Lord of your conscience. You do well to observe this personally and toward others.