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Sandra asks: “Why has the church not taken a stand on the evil way the COVID-19 vaccines have been created, using fetal tissue from abortions?”

Let me begin my answer by unequivocally affirming the premise of your question: yes, abortion is evil. It is sin in God’s eyes, and I believe human life begins at conception.

Let me also tell you, as I told my church several months ago, I did receive the COVID-19 vaccination.

One of the factors to consider is that fetal tissue does not appear in either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccinations; in fact, fetal cell tissue was only used in the production of those vaccines during their animal-phase testing. Christian organizations like The Christian Medical & Dental Associations have commended these companies for their restraint in using these cells.

I also want to make a factual distinction that I believe does have moral implications. Babies today are not being aborted in America for the purpose of using their cells for scientific research. In fact, almost all strands of fetal tissue listed in scientific studies date back to abortions that occurred in the 1960s and 70s and were preserved by freezing to be continually used in scientific research.

When a person has this particular hesistency toward the COVID vaccine, you need to examine yourself critically and determine if this conviction is something you consistently hold with all medication, or only believe concerning the COVID-19 vaccine. If someone consistently believed that all medicine using fetal tissue was wrong, that person could not take common medicines like Tylenol, Motrin, Ibuprofen, Aspirin, Aleve, Sudafed, Benadryl, Claritin, and the list goes on and on.

Sandra, if you earnestly hold this conviction, and apply it to all parts of your medical life, then I believe you are honoring God in your decision. In this matter of Christian liberty, no one should tell you to violate your conscience or compromise your convictions.

But I do not believe the church should be universally speaking against the vaccine because it is a matter of Christian liberty. Paul commands us to show grace to each other in these areas, and what may be harmful to you spiritually may be beneficial to other brothers and sisters in the faith.

I do not believe the Bible clearly outlaws medication derived from fetal tissue, nor do I believe receiving the vaccine is evil, but I would not force any brother or sister to take something in violation with their conscience.