Vaccinated Christians

 

 
Last night’s elections will provoke a flurry of analysis. Some are glad, some are sad. That’s politics.  One pundit suggested that one of the factors behind the Republican surge is a reflection that “Americans are over COVID and want to get back to normal with vaccine mandates and restrictions lifted.”  Christians all over the political spectrum have opinions about the virus and vaccines.   

My hope is that the Gospel of Christ will not continue to be co-opted by the arguments, that my friends in evangelical Christianity will not make one particular political stance into the marker of ‘true faith.’  Vaccinated or unvaccinated – it’ a decision for thoughtful reflection, for prayer, and in need of wisdom. Let’s just not wrap a Bible verse around our choice and then demonize those who choose another way.

It is so easy to get sidetracked from a pure love of Christ by arguments and issues. Christians fall into the schemes of evil when they choose to turn on each other in vicious debate about personal convictions. Paul wrote to the Christians in Rome who were tearing each other up over dietary rules and observance of holy days. 

He told them (and we need to hear this) that we must not become judges of one another. "For we are not our own masters when we live or when we die. While we live, we live to please the Lord. And when we die, we go to be with the Lord. So in life and in death, we belong to the Lord. Christ died and rose again for this very purpose, so that he might be Lord of those who are alive and of those who have died. So why do you condemn another Christian? Why do you look down on another Christian? Remember, each of us will stand personally before the judgment seat of God." (Romans 14:7-10, NLT)

The Church today needs to return to the core practices that Jesus said characterize His disciples: 
“Love God with your whole being,” and
“Love others as you love yourself.”

What we eat, when we worship, what songs we sing, which Bible we read, how we vote, whether we get vaccinated … these are obviously secondary issues. The Scripture warns about turning the message of hope and life into a system of rules for human behavior! "See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ." (Colossians 2:8, NIV)

When a disciple becomes an issues person, pride enters in and division inevitably follows. Being ‘right,’ becomes much more important than being loving.  It is a tragedy when we think that ‘being Christian’ is about knowing something instead of knowing Someone.

Stay focused on Christ, disciple. Christians can have very different convictions about how to live, what to eat, and even politics and still love Jesus. The Bible says, "You have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. …having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 

These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions." (Colossians 2:10, 14-18, NIV)

This day after some elections, let’s reflect a bit. I’d say if your candidate won office, great! If your Christian friend did not vote for her, that’s just fine, too. Let’s not divide the Body over our convictions about vaccines, climate change, or tax laws. 

Here’s a word from the Word. It is equally true for all Christians – vaccinated or not, Republican or Democrat, black or white, rich or poor - "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God." (Colossians 3:1-3, NIV)  

 (Video of this blog at this link)

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 Cornerstone

(Take moment to worship and renew your hope in Jesus!)

 My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly trust in Jesus' Name

Christ alone cornerstone
Weak made strong in the Saviour's love
Through the storm He is Lord
Lord of all

When darkness seems to hide His face
I rest on His unchanging grace
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil
My anchor holds within the veil

He is Lord Lord of all

When He shall come with trumpet sound
Oh may I then in Him be found
Dressed in His righteousness alone
Faultless stand before the throne

Edward Mote | Eric Liljero | Jonas Myrin | Reuben Morgan | William Batchelder Bradbury

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