Note: this is the final part of a series exploring the implications of Christian stewardship relating to vaccinations. In this section I refer to the Christian’s submission to earthly authority and corresponding accountability to God for care of what he has entrusted to us. This is an edited passage from my original request to be excused from my employer’s mandatory vaccination policy. Click here to go to beginning of the series.
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In general I strive to conscientiously comply with the policies set by my employer. This is in accordance with clear teaching from the Bible to obey the authority structures in my life. However, when my employer asks me to make a choice that could constitute an indiscretion in my exercise of bodily stewardship before a great God, I must refuse from participating in such a choice. The Bible teaches that I am answerable to God for my stewardship choices, including what I allow into my body: the food I eat, medicines I take, or vaccines I receive. To transgress against the responsibility entrusted to me would be pleasing the lower authority in this case but despising the higher. Christians, while committed to obeying the lower authority and supporting their authority fully where it is lawfully exercised, are not hesitate to answer, in these rare situations, that they must first obey God and then obey Caesar.
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he has done, whether it be good or bad.” – 2nd Cor. 5:10
“And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” – Mat. 10:28
“Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” – Mark 12:18
“For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded the same, and made them another five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained another two. But he that had received one went and dug in the earth, and hid his lord’s money. After a long time, the lord of those servants comes and reckons with them. And so he that had received five talents came and brought another five talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.’ His lord said unto him, ‘Well done, thou good and faithful servant: you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of your lord.’ He also that had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.’ His lord said unto him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of your lord. Then he which had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord I know you are a hard man: reaping where you have not sown and gathering whether you have not strawed. And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that [which] is yours’. His lord answered and said unto him, ‘Thou wicked and slothful servant, [if] you knew [thought] that I reap where I sow not and gather where I have not strawed, you should therefore have given my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received my own with interest. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which has ten talents. For unto every one that has shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that has not shall be taken away even that which he has. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’” – Mat. 25:14-30
“And the Lord said, Who then is a faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he comes shall find so doing. Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath. But and if that servant say in his heart, ‘My Lord delays his coming’; and shall begin to beat the menservants and handmaids, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; the lord of that servant will come in a day when he looks not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him assunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.” – Luke 12:42-48
Conclusion
Christians understand the body as a marvelous gift to them by their Creator God. It is the physical home of our spiritual being. We believe that God owns our bodies because he created them and they house a spiritual being made in his likeness. Christians believe that God, in the person of Jesus Christ died to redeem Christians – both their bodies and souls and thus has a legal claim to their body. He has adopted Christians as part of his family bound by ties of loyalty and love. He has given us stewardship of our body and we are responsible to him for the choices we make regarding how we treat our bodies. I believe this responsibility applies to everything bodily-related including the food I eat, medicines I take, or vaccines I receive. The available evidence indicates that there may be health and biological issues with all three available Covid vaccines that could render them incompatible with good stewardship. Because of this, I believe it would wrong for me to take a vaccine at this point in time. While I seek to obey the law and my employer’s policies as a conscientious Christian, I am foremost accountable to God for my actions and stewardship, so to comply with the mandate in this manner would be in potential violation of that accountability.
