Get Vaccinated, or else!

Originally posted, August 10, 2020

This post is as much about the vaccine mandates as it is a call to Christians to stop living in fear and get involved. Here we go…

(This post is in response to the following article)

https://abc7.com/health/uc-mandates-flu-shot-for-students-staff/6361869/

The UC system is requiring all students, faculty, and staff be vaccinated or you cannot be a student or employee. Are you aware of the implications of this?

You want an education? Get vaccinated. You want to be employed? Get vaccinated. But wait, there’s more…

You want to…eat? buy food? get a driver’s license? insurance? a bank loan? to cross state lines? to fly internationally? — You. Will. Comply. Don’t think that could happen? Keep nursing that sugar-coated blue pill. Meanwhile, those pondering the red, read on…

Where are you, Christians? Where are the concerned? Do you not understand that you should be concerned. Maybe that’s the problem. Maybe you aren’t concerned because “Well, I believe in vaccinations.” Ok. So do I – in that vaccinations are helpful and have been a significant part of why we have been able to overcome serious disease and illness. Should conservatives oppose vaccination? Isn’t it the good Christian thing to do to be vaccinated? That’s not the issue, not here at least. The issue is being punished for not getting a vaccination.

We must understand the bigger issue here – and it’s titanic: It’s not about vaccinations and how good or bad they are. It’s about government overreach. It’s about coercion.

Some say, “Silence is deafening” but it isn’t deafening – silence is ho-hum capitulation. It’s lazy.

For those grasping the issue, we must vote…but we must not just vote – we must speak out. Join groups that help you articulate the issues, but don’t stay in the perceived safety of an online group. Get out and speak up so others can understand and be educated. And while you’re out there, do not let anyone tell you that sharing your opinion and speaking out is divisive.

We must understand the issue here. It’s not about vaccinations and how good or bad they are. It’s about government overreach. It’s about coercion.

Being demure isn’t one of the fruits of the spirit. Being ignorant of the ideologies behind these decisions that literally rip rights away from people isn’t being tolerant – it’s being timid. You’re weary, confused, and “over it.” None of which, by the way, are spiritual gifts either.

Christians and conservatives don’t scream and cry and start torching their cities, looting, and demanding police be defunded to get their way, noooo that behavior is too blatantly wrong – the wrong that conservatives are continually guilty of – especially many who would call themselves evangelicals – is regularly abusing scripture to sound super-spiritual while sheepishly protecting themselves from actually doing something bold. Only your inaction offers no protection. It’s leaving you personally vulnerable and making the church at large complicit in ungodliness.

Being demure isn’t one of the fruits of the spirit. Being ignorant of agendas that literally rip rights away from people isn’t tolerance – it’s idiotic.

Yes, but…“I don’t want to cause division.” Huh.

“I don’t want to be a distraction.” M-kay.

“I don’t want my social media to get negative.” Got it.

Guess what, it’s already divisive. People are already distracted. Your social media is already negative. When Christians fold their hands and sit this out, or worse, point their long Pharisaical fingers (although they would never actually get their fingers out, they’d just think it while “tsk-tsking” those who are vocal) at the ones who are questioning things and trying to get involved, they are divisive – all while adjusting their halos and moralizing about how we all should just “get along.” Gag.

Some say, “Silence is deafening” but it isn’t deafening – silence is ho-hum capitulation. It’s lazy.

For too long, evangelicals keep hitting the “Maranatha!, Lord, come quickly!” button as if it were the snooze setting on their alarm clock. Too long Christians have folded their hands in impotent prayer poses as they resign themselves that this “world is not my home” anyway, so we’ll just sit in our pews, listen to a feel-good false gospel, read our cheap grace devotionals and share our “if you love Jesus” you’ll pass along this angelic photo.

Only we can’t even sit in our pews any longer – at least not in many states where the governors have mandated that churches cannot meet. Are you getting it?

Meanwhile, truly ungodly people with agendas to remove our freedoms are “fundamentally changing” (to quote President Obama) this nation – and mandating vaccines is just the continued outgrowth of the ideology that the “government knows best.” The same government by which our tax money funds public school teachers who openly bemoan that having online school will enable parents to hear what they are trying to teach in the classroom.

For too long, evangelicals keep hitting the “Maranatha!, Lord, come quickly!” button as if it were the snooze setting on their alarm clock.

Stop throwing your hands up because the issues are “too complicated” or you don’t want to “offend anyone.” I know it’s a lot. It can feel overwhelming. Maybe this issue of mandated vaccinations isn’t your issue. But something is, right? I hope so. You don’t have to know everything about every issue. Consider what you value and get educated on that. Start there. But start. Educate yourself, then educate others.

Too often we don’t speak up for fear. We don’t want the push back. We’re not sure how to answer everyone. That’s ok. You don’t need to have an answer for every point. You’ll learn along the way. But don’t keep waiting, and don’t be bullied. Bullies come in a variety of forms. Bullies look scary wearing black t-shirts with that iconic communist clenched fist and bullies can also look cute wearing their floral tees from Zulilly. Bullies look like your Aunt LuLu and bullies look like your skinny jean-wearing pastor.

Don’t fear the bullies – not the internet trolls and not the mommy bloggers. Bullies are just people too afraid to speak intelligently so they resort to name-calling and fear tactics. Bullies stand in the street with their posters and they stand behind pulpits – preachers placating their congregants too afraid of losing tithes so they manipulate Scripture to keep their flock tame with the non-biblical mantra of WWJD? Bullies are “religious” people who shame others in the name of “social justice” as much as they are leftist Marxists scaring you as they torch their own cities in the name of the BLM organization.

Instead of living in fear of the “or else!” and worrying that you’re not being a “good Christian” if you speak up, live in confidence and grow in your willingness to know the issues and the ideologies from which they grow.

You know something? I don’t get it right – a lot. Why? Because I speak up a lot. So, when I blow it or just miss the mark, I take stock. Rethink. Reconsider. Repent even…and get back in there. Why? Because, while I know that one day God will make all things truly right, and I do say, “Maranatha!” – I am still actually a citizen of this world even as I know my ultimate citizenship is in Heaven.

Oh, and to be clear, I am not “anti-vax”. I’m anti-coercion. And no, Romans 13 doesn’t apply here. Stop using that verse to try to get Christians to remain submissive to ungodly government.

You know what else? Stop spiritualizing the mask issue.

Stop Spiritualizing Masks

Next post, “Ok, Fine. What Now?” – Christians should speak up and get involved, but how? And also coming soon… “Why Christians Need to Stop Using Romans 13 to Justify Their Pathetic Inaction” (working title. LOL!)

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Leave a comment – Be mindful, I appreciate honest engagements, but, if you’re rude or are clearly missing my point and base your entire comment on your ignorance or you engage in ad homs, your comment won’t make it. Engage, but engage well. I’d love to hear your thoughts.