ainsley chalmers Supporter Medical Research Scientist, devoted family man.

One truthful conclusion can be made about vaccines used now for many years: They have saved millions of lives from suffering diseases like polio, measles, chicken pox, whooping cough, hepatitis and many others. I believe that their existence are the due to the God inspired medical discoveries made by scientists.

There are however some side effects associated with vaccines as there with all drugs but these are greatly outweighed by their health promoting medical benefits. The vaccines not only protect the recipient but also those unvaccinated and close to them.

I personally have had the covid vaccine (AZ) but some friends and family have elected not to and I respect their wishes. It has nothing to do with spiritual or moral stances although I want to protect my family from my spreading the virus to them.

Currently, there are a lot of conspiracy theories and lies being promoted about the covid vaccine even by Christian ministries. Don't believe every opinion you may read (even mine) on the subject.All I can suggest is do your own research on the matter and find out the truth. I realize that this can be very difficult especially those unfamiliar with the discipline of scientific research. Good hunting anyway.

July 26 2021 • 2 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Lawrence Valin Supporter Raised Lutheran MD former Family Physician

Are those who took the vaccine spiritually wrong? 

I am an MD anti-vaxxer.

This opinion was strengthened by a book I found in a rabbi's office. I haven't been able to relocate it. Something like "The Proof of the Accuracy of the Bible". It related to prohibition against "cutting" as in Deuteronomy 14.1. See my comment on Gadarene "cutter". 

Anything that breaks the skin might be considered prohibited, including vaccines.

Some would seem to think that a medical system is a part of the Church. Mark 5 is all about the conflict of Church with the world. It's about "uncleanness" or taboos. See "woman with a hemorrhage, who suffered much under many physicians and yet was worse".

I have been influenced by Robert Mendelsohn, MD, who wrote “Confessions of a Medical Heretic.”

I have also been influenced by Christian Science in their willingness to forego medical intervention.

While in practice, I usually left it up to patients as to whether they got a regular flu vaccine. Some wanted it and some didn't, and it seemed to be part of their lifestyle.

Jonathan Edwards died after taking the smallpox vaccine.

The suggestion that whether you take it or not is a moral question relates to the issue of modern medicine being a "religion". I think of vaccination as a kind of medical "sacrament".

Are links allowed? I tried comment here and was rejected: "JAMA Network

"Research Letter
July 9, 2021
Factors Associated With Chinese Adults’ Vaccine Acceptance
Haiyang Yang, PhD1; Jingjing Ma, PhD2"

From 4.
Corbie-Smith G. Vaccine hesitancy is a scapegoat for structural racism.  JAMA Health Forum. : " Their resulting lack of faith in a system that has so consistently demonstrated little or no regard for their well-being should come as no surprise."

Two quotes from Emo Tenorio's profile seem pertinent:

"Of all tyrannies a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of it's victims may be the most oppressive." ~C.S. Lewis

"To learn who rules over you, simply find out whom you are not allowed to criticize." ~Voltaire

July 22 2021 • 10 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Emo Tenorio Supporter Shomer

I humbly submit my opinion on the matter. WHAT if those who chose to take the vaccine are spiritually wrong? Consider which might carry a greater transgression; He who just desires to be left alone or any faith inquisitor imposing their pretentious yoke upon his neighbor? 
(Deuteronomy 19:14; Luke 11:35; 2 Corinthians 11:4)

The premise of the original question begins with the error of a citizen choosing not to play their Kabuki theater part as directed. Their failing to take a knee to any bureaucratic authoritarians pretentious demand for the UNITY subjugation spirit love boat. Thus permits the vile releasing of whatever is needed to quickly bring such evil rebellious children to heal. 
(Matthew 24:9-10; John 7:24; 1 Timothy 5:24)

HERD Immunity: occurs when a large portion of a community (the herd) becomes immune to a disease.

NATURAL Immunity: endowed by their Creator with a superior immune system. Norwegians are an example in the seasonal flu cycle many are never sick. Some other blood lines drink and smoke everyday of their lives and die disease free at over 90 years?

Some uncomfortable and so far unanswered questions:
If the vaccines are so great, why are people getting sick or dying?
If vaccinated why should a moral person care if his neighbor is not?
If serious, the administration would not import the diseased of the World?
Is not a FREE Born citizen, free enough to take their own risks?
I leave it to you to weight the material and decide for yourselves.
(Galatians 4:16)

“That which is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow; this is the entire Torah, all the rest is an elaboration. Now go and learn it.” ~Hillil

"The highest calling of a Christian is not to be civil; it is to be salt and light." ~C.S. Jack Lewis

In the Lord's Freedom...warrior on

July 22 2021 • 15 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Enola Crayton Supporter Retired nurse and health care Admin.

Each of us has an internal "spirit man" It is our responsibility to get both sides of the debate then go to God with the question. I have an autoimmune disease and was told NOT to get the injection due to not enough research. Seek God in all that we do and he will give you an answer.

October 08 2021 • 3 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jennifer Rothnie Supporter Housewife, Artist, Perpetually Curious

"If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them." James 4:17

Like many issues scripture does not directly address due to advancements in medicine or technology, vaccines are a matter of personal conscience. A few may feel convicted that they should not get a specific vaccine, or even any vaccine, under any circumstance. Others may be convicted that vaccines are a moral obligation in service to the health of society. Still others - perhaps the majority - may feel it is an ammoral, neutral matter of conscience, not a sin either way, and can be determined case by case for different vaccines or at different risk levels. 
[For a personal example, I tend to only get the yearly flu shot if I am pregnant, when there is higher risk to myself and my child.]

This doesn't mean that scripture has no related advice we can pull from, but it does mean that one can't easily claim that it is "definitely spiritually wrong" to get a vaccine or "definitely spritually wrong" not to. 

The big questions to ask oneself is, "Have I prayed over this? Have I *genuinely* prayed over this, seeking the aid of God vs. For God to confirm my first instincts? Have I studied potential scripture that might shed light on it? Am I aware of the Biblical reasons others might choose to get vaccinated or refuse?"

And no matter out personal conviction, we should not mistreat others for being convicted differently. This isn't just because it *is* actually spiritually wrong to be judgemental about the heart or intellect of others and to lash out at them in speech (Matt 5:22, Eph 4:15, James 3:9, Rom 14:1, etc.) but also for practical reasons: dismissing people, treating them as stupid, or telling them they just don't know sicence is unlikely to be persuasive in the slightest.

For example, a recent MIT study anaysis found that there was no distinguishable difference in how "much" science informed anti-vaxx vs. Pro-vaxx positions, nor even how well the data was presented. In many cases, the very same data-sets were used. What differed was not commitment to science, but interpretations and opinions *derived* from the data - which happens with a great many other controversial issues. 
https://news.mit.edu/2021/when-more-covid-data-doesnt-equal-more-understanding-0304

This finding went into a recent article by Matthew Dougherty, which brought up a lot of great points. Https://www.nationalreview.com/2021/07/convincing-the-skeptics/ 
No matter how one ends up personally convicted, that should not be used as a battering ram against others. Only when we stop assuming the worst of others and start listening to their real concerns can we actually start to make headway in persuading them to consider other points such as the general safety of vaccines or the care we should take in forcing others to act against conscience.

Back to scripture, here are a few passages that can be considered:

Deut 22:18: "When you build a new house, make a parapet around your roof so that you may not bring the guilt of bloodshed on your house if someone falls from the roof." 

Principle: Even at some cost to ourselves in time, labor, or personal rights, we should think about what we can reasonably do to keep neighbors safe and avoid our property (self, posessions, etc.) leading to their accidental death.

"“Are you so dull?” he asked. “Don’t you see that nothing that enters a person from the outside can defile them?..." Mk 7:18

Principle: Things we take from without can't morally defile us. They can't even physically defile us if it is something the body eliminates.

James 4:13-17, Rom 14:21-22

Principle: Use your best judgement in line with the Holy Spirit's conviction, in prayer that you will do the Lord's will

"Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?" I Cor 6:19

Take care that what we do to our body is not in direct violation of God's commands, or something we know to be wrong.

July 26 2021 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report