Written by: Gustav Krös
Article source: www.incontextinternational.org

Over the past month, COVID-19 vaccines have been a hot topic, particularly since the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine was approved for use in the USA on 11 December 2020. The debate around whether to use a COVID-19 vaccine or not, was already a common topic of discussion even before the first vaccine was approved. However, the moment it was officially approved and in use, the number of opinions, posts, and discussions skyrocketed. The sad reality about this heated debate is that the Church has not been spared – it has already caused widespread division, confusion, and fear among Christians.

As Christians, however, ‘division’, ‘confusion’, and ‘fear’, are not values for which we are supposed to be known. In John 17:20-23, Jesus tells us that through our unity the world will know that God sent Him, and in 2 Timothy 1:7 we are told: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (NKJV)

For Christians, it has become a daily battle to maintain a “sound mind” because we live in an era of ‘information overload’, prolific news coverage, as well as ‘fake news’, and ‘alternative facts.’ Each person can go to their preferred news source to get the necessary ‘facts’ that support his/her point of view. Unfortunately, many Christians get tossed back and forth by various opinions – the current ‘hot topic’ being the COVID-19 vaccine.

The Science Aspect
For Christians, there are essentially two aspects to this topic: science and faith. When we look at the discussion surrounding vaccines, it is a highly specialised field that most Christians are not specialised in, and that is why we are often so easily swayed. Anyone who sounds like they might have some knowledge regarding vaccines immediately falls into a ‘higher class’ because most people do not know anything about the science behind vaccines. So, we sit with a situation where anybody can step up and sway peoples’ opinions because most people do not have any knowledge on the topic with which to counter the argument. Added to this is the vast amount of ‘fake news’, ‘alternative facts’, and conspiracy theories, which are so easily and readily available, and we end up with divided, confused, and fearful Christians.

To address the vaccine topic, it is important to remember that we are dealing with numerous COVID-19 vaccines, and more are still being developed. So, whenever a claim is made regarding “the” COVID-19 vaccine, you need to ask yourself whether this pertains to all the COVID-19 vaccines that have been approved thus far, or whether it is only applicable to some, or one of them?

“Aborted foetus” argument
One of the claims that are made is that the vaccine is made using the lung tissue of an aborted male foetus. This, however, only pertains to the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine and does not apply to the Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna vaccines. This claim started doing the rounds in November 2020 and has been researched by various institutions, including Associated Press, Reuters, Snopes, FactCheckNI, etc. and is false.

The FactCheckNI website states:
Most of the COVID-19 vaccines in development do not use human cell lines in their production. For example, Pfizer and Moderna use mRNA technology. An mRNA vaccine is a new type of synthetic vaccine. As Pfizer explains, mRNA vaccines are made from a DNA template in a lab, rather than the traditional method of being made in cells. The vaccine is then synthetically produced… The COVID-19 vaccine being developed by AstraZeneca in collaboration with Oxford University has generated the most debate… AstraZeneca did use the HEK 293 cell line to develop their vaccine. These cells originate from a foetus which was aborted in the Netherlands in 1973. The foetus was aborted legally at the time for other reasons, and not for the purpose of vaccine research… Over the decades that followed, these cells have been cloned and replicated, many times. Dr Paul Offit, an immunisation expert from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia who sits on the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) vaccine advisory committee, describes these as “standardised cell lines”. Professor Helen Petousis Harris says the cells used today are “distant descendants” of the original cells. They are from decades-old, long over abortions, and researchers do not use foetal cells from the present day. (1)

It is important to note that INcontext does not condone abortion, however, we do endeavour to provide Christians with relevant and accurate information to assist Christians in making educated decisions. Therefore, considering the information provided above, Christians might change their mind and decide that they would be willing to receive the vaccine now that they know babies are not being aborted for the sake of making vaccines, or other Christians might choose to receive the Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna vaccines as opposed to the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine.

What becomes abundantly clear through the above-mentioned example, is that we are dealing with multiple vaccines, and thus sweeping statements concerning COVID-19 vaccines should be avoided; and where one encounters such sweeping statements, it is important to ask yourself whether the author of the message did his/her research on all the current vaccines available?

Speed of development
Another question frequently asked, and which raises suspicion, is how scientists managed to develop a vaccine so quickly if it normally takes years to develop a vaccine?

One answer to this question is that never, in the world’s history, has there been such a collaborative effort between governments and scientists to create a vaccine. The fact that so many people worked on it together greatly enhanced its development. Another way to look at it is to acknowledge God’s providence in the ‘speed’ with which it was developed.

Fazale Rana published an article in this regard on 23 December 2020. Rana, a Christian and biochemist explains how the mRNA vaccines were developed through research that already started in the early 1990s.

He states: “At the point when the COVID-19 outbreak was declared a pandemic, researchers had already developed mRNA vaccines for a number of viral pathogens and tested them in animal models. They had even progressed some of these vaccines into small-scale human clinical studies that included safety assessments…

We were literally at the point of matriculating mRNA vaccines into large-scale human clinical trials at the precise point in time that the COVID-19 outbreak began. If this outbreak occurred even a few years earlier, I question if we would have been able to develop effective mRNA vaccines against COVID-19 with the same speed and have the capacity to rapidly produce and distribute large quantities of vaccines once the mRNA vaccine was ready to go. The rapid response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been made possible because of the advances in mRNA vaccines that have occurred over the course of the last few years, yielding the technical knowledge to rapidly develop and manufacture mRNA vaccines. In fact, some biomedical scientists consider mRNA vaccines to be the ideal vaccines for this reason.

As a Christian and a biochemist, I can’t help but see God’s providential hand at work in the timing of the COVID-19 outbreak. It happened precisely at the time that advances in mRNA vaccines would allow for a rapid response. The remarkable confluence of the COVID-19 pandemic with the advances in mRNA vaccines has one of two possible explanations: It’s either a fortuitous accident or a reflection of God’s providential timing and faithful provision to humanity.

As a Christian, I choose the latter explanation. You might say that mRNA vaccines were prepared in advance for such a time as this.” (2)

We need to acknowledge that among the scientists working on vaccines there are also Christian scientists who are working extremely hard within the position where God placed them to help humanity in their time of need. God has always positioned Christians in the field of medicine to help people. Luke, who wrote the Gospel of Luke and Acts, was a physician, and numerous missionaries in the past, and today, go into the mission field as medical practitioners, to show God’s love and care for people through the gift of healing.

In the same way, God has positioned and gifted some of His children in the development of vaccines for the benefit of all humanity. It would be a terrible shame on the Church if we believe that all these various scientists, from around the world, working for different pharmaceutical companies, are all doing it for ‘evil’ reasons, instead of acknowledging their hard work, and recognising God’s sovereign hand in its timeous provision.

Other concerns
Another highly contentious debate focuses on the virus’ origin: whether man-made or natural. But what we cannot deny is that the virus is real – it is making people sick, and people are dying. There are also many other legitimate questions, such as how contagious the virus is, the rate at which it mutates, and the long-term effects many people struggle with afterwards. This places each one of us in a position of responsibility, since my decisions can lead to someone else’s death, and thus the decision whether to be vaccinated or not, should not be taken lightly.

The Faith Aspect
For Christians, there is also the aspect of our faith that needs to be considered before making such a decision. One of the reasons, from a faith perspective, that Christians are hesitant to receive the vaccine, is the claim that the vaccine is the “mark of the beast” as described in Revelation 13.

The moment you reference the book of Revelation there is the similar danger mentioned earlier regarding the discussions around the making of vaccines: just as there are different methods of making vaccines, there is also a multitude of interpretations regarding Revelation. So vast and diverse are these interpretations, that many Christians avoid reading the book altogether – they struggle with its figurative language, and they do not know which interpretation they should trust. In the same way that many people believe almost everything they hear/read regarding vaccines – because they do not understand it; many also believe almost any interpretation of Revelation because they do not understand it.

As the Bereans in Acts 17:11 examined the scriptures to see whether Paul spoke the truth, so Christians need to examine the scriptures throughout their lifetime to test what they are being told.

The book of Revelation, in this case, is of utmost importance because even in Revelation 13:14 we are warned about deceit during the ‘end times’, and in Matthew 24:4-5 and 24 Jesus Himself warns us about deceit during the ‘end times.’ The only way Christians can protect themselves from being deceived is to know and examine the scriptures for themselves.

Examining Scripture
Why then can the COVID-19 vaccine not be the “mark of the beast”, as mentioned in Revelation 13:16-18? Firstly, Revelation has a timeline, and many events must first take place before we get to the “mark of the beast” being introduced. One key event, for example, that first needs to take place, and has not happened thus far, is the establishment of the “image of the beast” which people will be forced to worship, as written about in Daniel 9:27, 11:31, 12:11, Matthew 24:15 and Revelation 13:14-15. Only after this will the “mark of the beast” be introduced.

Secondly, it states that the “mark of the beast” will be administered to a person’s right hand and forehead. The reality is that people who are being vaccinated are not being marked on the right hand and forehead.

Thirdly, it states that people will not be able to buy or sell unless they have the “mark of the beast.” People who are not vaccinated are still able to buy and sell as they please.

Fourthly, it states that people will be forced to take the “mark of the beast”, and the truth is that people are free to decide whether they want to be vaccinated or not.

Therefore, based on what we read in the Bible regarding the “mark of the beast”, there is no direct correlation between it and the COVID-19 vaccines.

Romans 8 emphasises that our salvation is linked to the work of the Spirit and not to our bodies. Romans 8:11 states: “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” (NKJV) Nothing a vaccine can do in your body can take your salvation away from you. Romans 8:38-39 states: “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (NKJV)

Since vaccines are created by man, they have no power to take your salvation away from you. Revelation 13:15 explains that those who refuse to worship the image of the beast will be killed. This shows that you would need to make a conscious decision to forsake Christ and worship ‘the beast.’ This is also a reminder that the devil is the destroyer of life, whereas vaccines are developed for the preservation of life. Nothing would make the devil happier than if more people died of COVID-19. However, through the administration of an effective vaccine, peoples’ lives would be preserved, and they would be extended grace to respond to the Gospel and be saved.

Examining your heart
The question believers should be asking themselves, is whether all these conspiracy theories surrounding COVID-19 and the vaccines have altered the DNA of their hearts? Has the exposure to, and believing of these messages, brought division between you and family members? Has it brought confusion?  Has it planted a spirit of fear within you? Maybe that ‘spirit of fear’ is not yet dominating your life, but the question is whether it has been planted, has it found a foothold?

At the beginning of this article reference was made to 2 Timothy 1:7: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” Does this ring true for you?

Do you still stand firm in the power of the Spirit? Or has fear – in some form or other – about what the future may hold, started growing in you?

Do you still live in the Spirit of love? For it is due to our love for our neighbour that we wear masks, sanitise our hands, and implement social distancing. It is not to selfishly protect only ourselves, but to protect our family, friends, and everyone who is my ‘neighbour’ as well.

Do you have a ‘sound mind’, or do you not know what to believe anymore? If you have doubts, invest time with the Lord by studying the scriptures for yourself and asking the Lord for wisdom, just as we are reminded to do in James 1:5: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” (NKJV)

Conclusion
The aim of this article is not to convince Christians to get vaccinated. It is written to inform Christians that they actually have a choice whether they want to get vaccinated, or not, since so many messages are doing the rounds telling Christians not to get vaccinated.

The fact is that we are dealing with decisions that could lead to life or death, and so any messages about COVID-19 vaccines should not be taken lightly. Please research claims that are made in messages you receive, before simply forwarding them on to others.

There are many other questions and theories surrounding the vaccines that have not been addressed due to the consideration of the length of the article. However, the points that were addressed were those considered to carry the most weight in preventing people from considering receiving the vaccinations.

May this debate drive us to prayer, the study of Scripture, and a deepening in our relationship with Christ, as we consider being vaccinated or not.

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Date published: 20/01/2021
Feature image: commons.wikimedia.org

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