Practical Thoughts for Navigating the Vaccine Fallout
For the Vaccinated, the Unvaccinated, and the Church
We talked about the problem in our previous post. You can find it here if you need to catch up: The Pale Horse's Silent Ride. But we can't stop there. We need to talk about the way forward. If the Covid vaccines really are causing the rise in sudden deaths and stillbirths we’ve seen, the world is going to be facing a lot of tragedy. How do we, as Christians, prepare to face what's coming? Here are a few practical thoughts.
For the Vaccinated
So, you got the jab. Maybe you even got a few boosters. You may be starting to get nervous. What now?
Rest in the sovereignty of God. God was not surprised by Covid, the vaccines, or the fallout. He is still sovereign over your life. One of my favorite verses right now is Psalm 31:15, “My times are in Your hand.” God knows the end from the beginning. The days of your earthly life were mapped out from eternity.
Do not fear. In the coming days, many will be afraid. As more people experience the tragic effects of the shots, more people will be nervous that they'll be next. The message Christian’s need to hear post-vaccine is the same one we all needed to hear during the pandemic. Do not fear. Listen to the words of Jesus.
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” (John 14:1-4, ESV)
Don’t let your hearts be troubled! Believer, keep faith in Christ. The Christian has no need to fear in the face of death. In fact, it is a cause for joy. Paul says to live is all for Christ and death is gain (Philippians 1:21). If you go on living, the Lord has been gracious to you. If you take your final breath, the Lord will graciously bring You into His presence. It is a win-win.
Imagine the testimony you could have through this. When people ask you why you are not afraid you can give them “a reason for the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15).
Don't beat yourself up. It's already happening. Unvaccinated people are mocking those who got the shot. They are calling them “sheeple" and so on. Vaccinated people are regretting their decision. It's not as cut and dry as many would like to make it.
Most of us are not scientists and medical professionals. We are everyday “Joes” just trying to make the best decisions we can for ourselves and families. You may have gotten vaccinated to protect yourself. You may have done it because you thought it would protect the loved ones around you. You may have even done it to keep your job. The bill’s don’t stop to give you time to think about your medical decisions. Either way, you made the best decision you could with the information you had.
For the Unvaccinated
During the pandemic, we were treated horribly. People called us murderers. They labeled us as extremists and conspiracy theorists. In many parts of the country, we were refused service at various businesses. Many people were shunned and isolated by their families and many others lost friends. The wounds are still fresh, which makes what I am about to say potentially difficult.
This is not the time for “I told you so.” It may be tempting to rub it in the faces of those who persecuted you, but you must resist. It makes us feel honorable and strong when we resist and practice our liberty against tyrannical measures. But the real honor comes next.
The honorable ones will stand ready to comfort and support the very people who wounded them. The honorable ones will refuse to hold grudges. They will forgive and restore relationships.
For the Church
We may be facing a spike in grief, sadness, and loss. If this whole thing gets really bad, there will be high anxiety and fear in people. That means we, the Church, need to be ready to minister to people in dark times.
Pray about how your church can be equipped and ready to deal with grief, depression, and anxiety. Pray for your community and congregation, that the Lord will protect them. Pray that the Lord will turn this evil for good and that it will drive people to the throne of grace for salvation.
Get committed to the gathering of the saints. If things get as dark as many are saying, we are going to need each other. You need your brothers and sisters. They need you.
Conclusion
The world has seen darkness and tragedy before. It has often been the case that these times have preceeded periods of revival. May it be so this time as well. May the saying ring true once more, “After darkness, light.”
I hope this has been helpful and may the God of peace sustain you.