Vaccine in christian perspective
Receiving vaccination is a way that we can help prevent the spread of disease in our society. It’s not just about protecting oneself, more importantly it is about participating in an effort to protect everyone else in the community. Only with a high level of participation from community members does vaccination work to remove the threat of disease. That high level of participation in vaccination campaigns is why we no longer have to worry about polio, smallpox, or a host of other deadly diseases in the U.S. There will always be some in the community who for medical reasons cannot vaccinate, or who will still be susceptible to infection even after vaccination, so the more people who are able to be vaccinated the better off we as a community are. That’s why the lead article mentioned vaccination as a way that we can carry out God’s call to love our neighbors.
Some have raised concerns over the way the current COVID-19 vaccines have been created and to what extent they were made using fetal tissue from abortions. Our church body, the LCMS, is very forthrightly pro-life because we believe God loves the child in the womb as much as he loves each of us outside of the womb. The LCMS has put together some information on that particular question, which may help alleviate those concerns. If you are interested in that information you will find it at this link:
https://reporter.lcms.org/2021/ctcr-provides-updated-vaccine-fact-sheet/
In summary that information says, “Genuine concerns for life exist on both sides of the COVID-19 vaccination question: concern for the use of aborted fetal cells in the design, development, production and testing of vaccines, as well as concern for the physical well-being of one’s neighbor endangered by the virus. Christians should respect the consciences of one another” (The LCMS and COVID-19 Vaccines: Facts and Considerations).
While I echo that statement that we ought to each respect the prayerful decisions others make following their conscience, at the same time, for those seeking some pastoral guidance on this issue, I want you to know that I have received the COVID-19 vaccine and I view it as an important way that we can show our love for the community at this critical time.
In Jesus,
Pastor Mike