The Gospel Coalition: If You Don’t Take the Vaccine you Can’t Effectively Share the Gospel
A new article by The Gospel Coalition (TGC) has taken a precipitous step closer towards the eventual and inevitable narrative that taking the COVID-19 vaccine is a “gospel issue” by arguing that Christians can’t effectively witness or share the gospel if they don’t take it, due to the negative impact it will have on their witness.
TGC writer Pastor Paul Carter sets up the story by writing off the notion of the vaccine as being in some way the mark of the beast, says that Christian should consult their family doctor about whether or not they should take it, and then writes:
“More obviously related to the question of whether or not to get the vaccine would be the many biblical injunctions to love our neighbor as ourselves. The Apostle Paul said, “Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law” (Romans 13:10 ESV).
What about loving one’s neighbor?
As Christians, we should strive not to be known as the people whose refusal to take a vaccine (should our family doctors recommend that we do so) delayed our progress as a society against this virus. If our family doctor advises us to take the vaccine there is no compelling biblical reason for us not to and a great number of obvious biblical principles suggesting that we should…
The Scriptures to which we are bound to commend an awareness of what is respected and valued by our friends and neighbors. The Apostle Paul in Romans 12 said: ‘take thought for what is noble in the sight of all.’ (Romans 12:17 NRSV)
So if our neighbors value the efficacy and importance of the vaccine, our refusal to show it equal deference and inject it into our bodies right away shows a lack of love on our part, which they will remember next time it comes time to witness.
There will be a world to reach on the other side of this pandemic. There will be friends, neighbors, and loved ones to evangelize who are all watching us now as we navigate this last stage of COVID-19. If they see us caring more about our liberties than their safety, we may have a harder time having Gospel conversations with them going forward. If they see us getting our information from conspiracy news sites on the internet they may be less interested in attending Bible Study with us once this pandemic has finally passed.
While the decision to take a vaccine, or not, is primarily a medical decision, how you handle that decision and how you communicate that decision will have a missiological impact in the days, weeks, and months that lie ahead.
In short, don’t be that guy who refused to take the vaccine out of conscience or conviction. You don’t have a good reason not to, doing so will make you look crazy, and no one wants to hear about the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord from a crazy person.
One wonders if the same concern applies to refusing to wear a mask or insisting on going to church when the whole state is trying to shut you down? Probably, I would have to think.
You’re so close, TGC, to saying it’s a gospel issue. You’re almost there. You can do it. We’re rooting for you. Just one article more…
About Author
I’ve already decided that I will not get the vaccine. Do some research on what a bioengineered mRNA with injectable nano-wires “vaccine” really is and you also may decide not to get it. Now, when they eventually drag me off to the Covid Gulags for noncompliance, there will be plenty of opportunities there to put out the Gospel. TGC is rotten and evil to the core, a pox on real Christianity.
AMEN BROTHER!!! Thank you for your courage to respond with a correctly researched answer!! A lot of these “Gospel Coalition” churches will be fully on the bandwagon to send us to the Covid Gulags!!
Easy there. Stop watching Q-anon videos, take off the ten foil hat, and don’t pack for the gulag.
I don’t watch Q-Anon videos. I barely know who or what that is. I got my information from the horses mouth, i.e., Dr. Charles M. Lieber, a noted Harvard chemist and pioneer in nanoscience and nanotechnology. I have all of his 22 years worth of published papers on nanotechnology and in particular, injectable Silicon Nano-Wire Field-Effect Transistors (SiNWFET) that will attach themselves to the Neurons in the brain, be powered up by RF induction and controlled by external AI. I do not know Dr. Lieber, but as a retired Aerospace Engineer with experience in mmWave technology, I do understand his work and his papers. On a final note, Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior. He has already won the battle. I will, however, continue to wear my tin foil hat, thank you.
Is this a satire article? Y’all need help.
Kris, I don’t watch, read, or listen to Q-anon, I don’t wear a tinfoil hat, and I’m not packing (well my bags anyhow) for the gulag. But, there are plenty of doctors and experts that have said do not take the vaccine. Since you apparently are not concerned, you can take it and then not be concerned about us who do not.
There will be some that know satan is telling them to be vaccinated by his “medical mafia” and some that would rather believe his lies. Remember our LORD’s parable of the 10 virgins ?…………………..
If you want to know the truth watch Rebel News Canada on Youtube and infowars on banned.video. The official story of Covid 19 is a load of lies perpetuated by demon possessed elite filthy rich goons such as Bill Gates, Anthony Fauci, Klaus Schwab (who are neither scientists or doctors), the satanic world health organization, the satanic world economic forum and communist China who have basically infiltrated most of the world. There is reason to believe this mRNA vaccine is the mark of the beast. Time will tell.
You understand that infowars is “performance art,” right? It isn’t real.
Could you be a less little condescending? I’m surprised that you even like a site like this. Btw, where else would you buy your krill oil from but Alex Jones’s website?
One other thing: are you saying that “info wars” is like pro wrestling? At least with pro wrestling, the outcome is predetermined.
The vaccine, while suspect, is not the Mark of the Beast:
https://youtu.be/d6ybsvUpkyg
And yet, there are plenty of other reasons to be cautious. Does anyone know if the vaccine was developed using fetal tissue/ stem cells?
I’d like to know one thing, will all those folks who like to make fun of us when we caution against taking an unproven vaccine, hastily created and not properly tested, put us in their wills?
The vaccine is not the mark of the beast, but it’s certainly beastly. A question that occurs to me is how can these dead Wordless,powerless churches think they will be a “better witness” for taking the vaccine when they weren’t “witnesses” before the “pandemic”. It’s the same logic applied when sending ones children off to faith destroying colleges. If their spiritual life was mediocre at best to begin with… Y’all get the pount