The 3 Most Convincing Reasons Christians Should Get Vaccinated

I'm a fully vaccinated Jesus follower. I want you to be one too. I wish all of us would get one of the vaccines against covid-19.

Like most everyone in this world, I've been deeply affected by the virus. I lost my job and have been underemployed for a year and a half. I had a family member pass away before vaccines were available, and at the time of this writing, I have a family member who was hesitant about the vaccines and is now recovering from the sickest point of his life.

On one hand, I understand the hesitancy. There's no getting around that the mRNA vaccines are experimental.

Yet, there are many indications that we, collectively as Believers, should take a significant step of faith and get vaccinated. Here are the three most convincing reasons Christians should get the vaccine...

Because We Prayed for This

With the Spring 2020 outbreak, Christians around the world went exactly where they knew they should: to the throne of God. We prayed — intensely — for a supernatural end to the pandemic. We prayed for our Creator to intervene on behalf of the world.

And like we believed he would: He answered our prayers!

In a truly miraculous timeframe, we had vaccines that could bring a swift end to covid-19. It was a never-before-seen response to sickness and disease.

And somehow, many Christians have rejected God's answer. I believe that it's because the answer looks different than we expected.

You're likely familiar with the story of the man whose was trapped in his house as floodwater began to rise. A Jeep came by to rescue him, but he declined, citing, "No. I have faith. The flood won't get me. God will rescue me." As the waters rose, a boat came by to rescue him, but he declined again for the same reasons. Then again when a helicopter offered. Ultimately, the man drowned.

At the pearly gates, the man says to God, "I had faith. Why did you let me drown?" Of course, God replies, "I sent you a jeep, a boat and a helicopter.  What more could I have done for you?"

Brothers and sisters, I urge you, don't reject the mighty hand of God who has responded to your faith-filled prayers simply because the answer doesn't meet your expectations.

The Father made a way when there was no way.

Accept the miracle.

Because It's an Exercise in Wisdom and Rejecting Fear

Please prepare yourself for this: Research shows that Christians are more likely to believe in conspiracy theories than the average person, and white Evangelical Republicans even moreso.

(Here's just one of many articles on the topic. And FYI, research shows that other faiths also share a propensity for believing conspiracies.)

There may be a noble reason for this. The world would say a virgin birth is crazy and that a man rising from the dead can't be true. In some ways, we're used to saying, "I don't care what the world thinks; I believe something else."

But somehow a steadfast belief in the Word of God despite the world's rejection of it is translating to susceptibility to other things the world rejects that are not in the Word of God.

I do not want this for us. It's not healthy.

It's not wisdom.

Now, I get that we currently live in a world where sussing out facts is difficult. It is. Everyone's making up their own "truth." A lot of individuals, groups and entire industries stand to gain a lot by vaccinations. And as covid-19 changes and vaccines roll out, we're constantly getting new numbers and stats and facts. Additionally, there may be people — medical or scientific professionals — that you like who advise you not to get a vaccine.

Nevertheless, the overwhelming majority of reputable sources all agree: The vaccine is safe, effective, and it does far, far more good than harm.

Yep, you'll find plenty of news articles ringing the alarm about how this medical group or that military group isn't yet vaccinated. I'll say it again: 

The overwhelming majority of reputable sources...

I urge us all: Let's listen to wisdom. As Proverbs says, she's calling out in the streets.

And if you're honest, truly honest, how much of your vaccine hesitancy is based in fear? "What if I get a certain reaction?" "What if compliance is giving the government powerful and bad ideas?" "What if there's nanotechnology in the vaccine transmitting my health data to receptors?"

What if the Jeep explodes? What if the boat's a trick? What if the helicopter crashes?

It's all just fear.

Many Christians decided to reject masks and social distancing in the name of "I'm not going to live in fear of this virus." Ironically, many of those same Christians are now rejecting vaccines for fear of the unknown.

Let's say "Be gone!" to fear, and let's exercise embracing wisdom and rejecting conspiracy.

Because We Love Our Neighbors

Though the stakes may be life or death, I want to focus on love.

Our neighbors are asking us to protect them. Yes, they're often begging, screaming, arguing, guilting, and/or shaming us about it. But if you can look past that and see them how Jesus might have, at the core, they're asking.

Here's a challenge: Even if you believe that covid-19 is of no threat to you or them and you think the vaccines are risky, aren't we called to sacrifice ourselves for our neighbors?

Shouldn't love and service to our world at our own expense be a part of our daily lives? Shouldn't it be an automatic yes from us?

Here's a thought experiment: If every Christian was vaccinated in the name of loving their neighbors, but somehow the naysayers and dissenters turned out to be right, and in 10 years all the Christians get terminal cancer and die, wouldn't that be the most powerful testimony the world has ever heard? "Wow, the Christians loved us all so much that they laid down their lives in order to protect us from this virus."

We know that "perfect love casts out fear." God's love in us has the power to cast out not only our own fear, but also our neighbor's.

In every circumstance, love accepts risk. We should be the first in line to love and serve our neighbors in this way.

So please, brothers and sisters...

Let's accept God's answer to our prayers.

Let's exercise wisdom and reject fear.

Let's love our neighbors.

Let's get vaccinated.