Most articles that are published to online platforms have a very short shelf life. Within just a few days, traffic to those posts tends to slow to a trickle. But, that wasn’t the case with a story that was published in April of 2019 for Christianity Today. Rebecca Randall’s “Not Worth a Shot: Why Some Christians Refuse Vaccinations on Moral Grounds,” was the second most read article on the CT’s website last week despite the fact it was published two years ago.
What is even more remarkable is that engagements with this article were slightly higher last week, which means that many Christians are searching out information on vaccine mandates and religious exemptions to those mandates. This has likely come in the wake of President Biden’s announcement last week that huge portions of the American employers will require proof of vaccination or a weekly test for COVID-19.
In just the last week, the online conversation has shifted to a deep discussion about the intersection of religious liberty and government mandates. For instance:
The New York Times published, “Vaccine Resisters Seek Religious Exemptions. But What Counts as Religious?” The author of the piece, Ruth Graham, grapples with the fact that almost every organized religion has come out in favor of the vaccine, yet many individuals are searching out pastors or non-traditional religious groups as a way to gain religious exemption to bypass the vaccine.
Over the weekend, the Deseret News published, “What you need to know about religious exemptions to vaccine mandates.” It provides a tremendous overview of how various religious groups like the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and the Christian Science Church have publicly stated that they will not be granting religious exemptions to the vaccine. But, it also delves into how those who decline the vaccine must prove in court that they hold a “sincere religious belief” in order to justify their refusal.
It’s clear that there are going to be legal battles over the next few months (and possibly years) about whether religious freedoms supersede public health. And, results from a just released CNN poll show that the average American seems to be more supportive of vaccine mandates now than they were back in the Spring.
The poll was fielded between April 21 and 26 in the first wave, then again between August 3 and September 7. Respondents were asked if they supported mandatory vaccination for a variety of in-person activities. A slim majority of Americans currently support a vaccine mandate for those who want to attend classes in person, go to a concert or sporting event, or return to their workplace. For each scenario, support has increased six to eight percentage points over the last five months.
The only scenario where a majority do not favor a vaccine mandate is for people going to the grocery store. Yet, support for a mandate of vaccine for grocery shoppers still increased fifteen points between April and September.
There’s no doubt that members of your congregation are thinking about and searching for information about the vaccine and vaccine mandates right now. It’s also fairly clear that your congregation may be evenly divided on whether personal freedom is more important than public health. While it’s a tricky balance to strike, it’s important for you as a ministry leader to know that these issues are top-of-mind for many people. As you consider the sentiments of your community, these trends can be a helpful backdrop as you consider how to discuss these issues either formally or informally.
People are seeking out guidance both practically and spiritually. What wise counsel and support can you provide in the coming days?