Over the last month I have seen, on social media, person after person taking pictures of their vaccination cards. On occasion, I see people posing WITH their card. And I have to admit, it is very weird. The media has done an exceptional job at making different views of the pandemic highly partisan and this has extended to the vaccine rollout.
Us versus them.
They have successfully divided the conversation into two camps. People who are willing to take the vaccine and everyone else. And by everyone else, I mean people who are hesitant to inject into their arm a vaccine that has been produced in less than year. We are not talking about anti-vaxers here. These people get lumped into the “vaccine denier” group. Acts such as taking pictures now are mandatory to differentiate oneself from the other group. Same for those who are against the vaccine and proudly answer the question with a proud, "Hell no". Now, I can expect this behavior from unbelieving people. Such an act of civil piety shows dedication to the system and the political ideology their trust is placed in. But it is the Christian people that concern me the most. We should not divide over an issue like this vaccination. Let each brother or sister decide for themselves. Do not fight over what God has not mandated. Our devotion should be to Him and Him alone.
A verse to chew on.
Am I against vaccines? No. Do I support the COVID vaccine? Yes. Will I be getting the COVID vaccine? I will not confirm nor deny. Why? Because I find it strange that people are wearing a vaccination as a display of righteousness. And that is something I will not participate in. The vaccine should be about your health and the health of those you care about. Not a badge of honor or a display of righteousness.
Consider the words of our Lord in Matthew 6: 1-4, “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you”.
This is not a condemnation, only a warning. Brother and sister Christian, check your intentions.
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