Should Christians support mandatory vaccination programs?
Introduction
The question of mandatory vaccination programs pits two significant biblical responsibilities against each other: the call to love and protect the community and the mandate to honor individual conscience and liberty. Christians must approach this debate not through political dogma, but through a lens of careful, prayerful ethical evaluation.
The goal is to find the path that best honors God and protects all people, especially the vulnerable.
Main: Two Competing Biblical Principles
A Christian analysis of mandatory vaccination programs must balance these two high-value biblical principles.
1. The Principle of Communal Love and Public Health
The command to love one's neighbor serves as a strong basis for supporting public health measures.
Love Your Neighbor: Jesus called the command to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31) the second greatest commandment. In public health, this means taking steps to protect the most vulnerable in your community—the elderly, the immunocompromised, and children—who may not be able to be protected otherwise.
The Common Good: The Bible encourages seeking the well-being of the whole community, recognizing that we are all interdependent. If credible scientific evidence demonstrates that a vaccination program prevents the spread of disease, a Christian may see support for that program as a necessary and loving act of communal care.
Submitting to Governing Authorities: Paul commands Christians to “Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution” (1 Peter 2:13) and to respect the government's role in maintaining public order (Romans 13:1). If a mandate is established legally for the common good, Christians should generally submit, provided the mandate does not require disobedience to God.
2. The Principle of Individual Conscience and Liberty
The Christian faith places immense value on the individual's relationship with God and the sanctity of personal belief.
Freedom in Conscience: The Bible warns against pressuring a believer to violate a sincerely held conviction (Romans 14:22-23). If a Christian has a genuine, sincere, faith-based belief that a vaccination is wrong for their body, they should be respected.
Bodily Autonomy: The body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20), implying that the individual has a sacred responsibility for decisions regarding their health. Some Christians oppose mandatory medical intervention as a violation of this autonomy.
The Limits of Government: Christians must be vigilant that government overreach does not infringe upon fundamental God-given rights or unjustly coerce citizens, especially concerning sensitive matters of conscience and belief.
Conclusion
The ethical position of a Christian on mandatory vaccination is rarely black and white; it is usually determined by how well a specific policy balances these two principles.
Support for the Principle: Christians should generally support policies that advance the health and safety of the community, especially when scientific consensus is strong.
Advocacy for Exceptions: Christians should advocate for policies that include sincerely held religious or medical exemptions. The law should aim for the highest protection possible without unnecessarily violating the deep convictions of its citizens.
The Christian should pray for wisdom when evaluating the policy, seeking scientific truth, and acting with humility and patience toward those who hold different conclusions. The ultimate goal is to embody the love of Christ in a way that protects both the individual soul and the health of the community.
