Paul's Advice on Letting Conscience Be Your Guide on Vaccines and Masks

Quick to Listen

Christianity Today

Religion, Christianity, Religion & Spirituality

4.3 • 622 Ratings

🗓️ 13 August 2021

⏱️ 66 minutes

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Summary

This week, the Christian Post reprinted a blog by Samuel Sey, a Canadian writer, entitled, “Why I am not getting the vaccine.” Sey’s essay didn’t address the scientific concerns he has with the vaccines, though he says he has hired a fitness trainer and is working on maintaining a healthier diet. But the piece is largely in response to several Canadian provinces instituting vaccine passports. When our governments infringe on some of our rights without any significant or collective pressure for them to stop, we tempt them to violate all our rights and freedoms.That is partly why I am not getting the vaccine. The more our governments and culture attempt to force me to get the vaccine, the more unwilling I am to get it. I want our politicians and public health officials to convince me to get the vaccine. I don’t want them to coerce me into getting it.After all, if I violate my conscience concerning the vaccine because of social pressure, that will surely make me vulnerable to violating my conscience on other issues because of social pressure. Sey’s arguments echo those of many who have argued that their conscience has been violated by vaccine mandates, mask mandates, or church closures. Of course, others might argue that implementing or following these decisions or policies enables them to follow their convictions. This week on Quick to Listen, we wanted to discuss our consciences: when are they reliable? When are they not reliable? And how should we react when someone following their conscience seemingly violates our own? Julien C. H. Smith is associate professor of humanities and theology at Valparaiso University’s Christ College, and author of the new book Paul and the Good Life: Transformation and Citizenship in the Commonwealth of God. What is Quick to Listen? Read more Rate Quick to Listen on Apple Podcasts Follow the podcast on Twitter Follow our hosts on Twitter: Morgan Lee and Ted Olsen Music by Sweeps Quick to Listen is produced by Morgan Lee and Matt Linder The transcript is edited by Faith Ndlovu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	This episode is brought to you in part by The Apologetics Guy Show, the podcast that helps you find clear answers to tough questions about Christianity.
0:11.1	Learn to explain your faith with courage and compassion.
0:14.5	Join Moody Bible Institute professor Dr. Mikhail del Rosario at Apologeticsky.com.
0:22.1	This week, the Christian Post reprinted a blog by Samuel Say, a Canadian writer entitled
0:27.9	Why I'm Not Getting the Vaccine.
0:31.2	Say's essay didn't address scientific concerns he has with the vaccines, though he says he's
0:35.9	hired a fitness trainer and is working on maintaining
0:38.0	a healthier diet. The piece is largely in response to several Canadian provinces instituting
0:43.9	vaccine passports. So he writes this, when our government infringe on some of our rights without
0:50.8	any significant or collective pressure for them to stop. We tempt them to
0:54.8	violate all our rights and freedoms. This is partly why I'm not getting the vaccine. The more our
1:00.5	government and culture attempt to force me to get the vaccine, the more unwilling I am to get it.
1:05.8	I want our politicians and public health officials to convince me to get the vaccine. I don't
1:10.1	want them to coerce me into getting it.
1:12.4	After all, if I violate my conscience concerning the vaccine because of social pressure,
1:17.1	that will surely make me vulnerable to violating my conscience on other issues because of social pressure.
1:22.6	Shea's arguments echo those of many Americans who have argued that their conscience has been violated by
1:27.2	vaccine mandates,
1:28.6	mask mandates, or church closures. Of course, others might argue that implementing or following these
1:34.4	decisions or policies enables them to follow their convictions. So we wanted to discuss our consciences.
1:41.5	When are they reliable? When are they not reliable? And how should react when
1:45.7	someone following their conscious seemingly violates our own? You're listening to Quick to Listen
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