A Conscience Clear of Offense Toward God

COVID 19 is a mean, ruthless, diabolical, and indiscriminate murderer. As I write, a close friend is fighting for his life in a Portland, Oregon hospital. From my perspective, there is no debate. COVID 19 kills.

I am commonly asked, “You are unvaccinated. Don’t you know the seriousness of this virus?” Yes, I have a fairly good grasp of this situation.

Today I am not writing about the pros and cons of the mRNA vaccines available in the USA today. I am writing about my deep longing and full commitment to having my conscience clear before God. I will answer to the Eternal Judge for my perspectives and corresponding decisions.

You will do the same for yours.

The rolling tide is obvious to even the casual observer. Get “the vaccine” or you can’t work, have mobility, enter buildings, purchase goods, and, most likely, participate in public worship. Further, a paper copy of your vaccine record will not suffice, it is too easily forged. The proof must be on the chip, inside your phone, that is in your hand. Or, said differently, on the chip in your hand.

My conscience can’t go there.

Further, I pledged before the Lord, total commitment to His creation and love of life. I am 100% pro-life. Pro-life before birth, during birth, and following birth. I am pro-life in war, in the sentencing of crimes, in everything. That the mRNA vaccines available in the USA today have a connection to the intentional taking of human life, without informed consent (as if that matters in this case), and kidnapping the child’s genetic code, is morally untenable to me.

My conscience can’t go there.

It’s 2000 years ago. I am hiking through the Mountains of Moriah, heading home for Passover. Suddenly, before me is a crowd leading Jesus to the site of His execution. The small crowd pushes me along with them. A guy named Simon is now carrying the cross. The cross is dropped to the ground. Jesus is forcibly strapped to the cross so that the nails can more easily be driven into the wrists of our Lord.

THEN.

They throw the hammer my way and ask me to pound the nails. I argue against my participation. “On what grounds do you resist?” They ask. “I refuse on the grounds that life and death are in the hands of God, not mine. I refuse based upon the innocence of this Man. I refuse, for He is the sinless sacrifice and spotless lamb of God.”

“Just kill him, Kent. Think of all the good His death will bring to the world. Kill Him, Kent. His blood will provide salvation to the world. His wounds will redeem the transgressions of many. Kill Him, Kent, by His stripes many will be healed.”

My conscience can’t go there.

  • Is there a possibility my body may experience COVID 19? Yes.
  • Is there a possibility my body may die from that experience? Yes.
  • Is that a big price to pay for my moral position? Yes.

However, I would then stand before the Judge of All the Earth, by grace, through faith, with a heart clear before the Lord.

If COVID ravages my body and ends my earthly life, please don’t say, “I wish he had been vaccinated.” Rather, please say, “Thank God, he tried to live with his conscience clear of offense before the Lord.”

My conscience can go there.

PS: God requires you to live according to your conscience, not mine. Think it through. Stake your claim. And be prepared on that day to answer to the Judge of all the Earth.

PSS: I want to readily acknowledge that my conscience is in the smallest of minorities among my pastoral peers. Whatever your conscience is on this matter, I support you.

5 thoughts on “A Conscience Clear of Offense Toward God”

  1. Since you are pro-life, spare a thought for the living across the USA who will continue to die because of the unvaccinated.

    I hope you will find a vaccine that matches your principles and also encourage your church to take those.

    1. I don’t, generally, approve or reply to anonymous comments. However, I’ll reply once.

      I would LOVE to read your science that even remotely suggests vaccination reduces or eliminates the transmission of the virus. It is a nice line, but it isn’t accurate, at all.

      Since folks LOVE the CDC, the following link is their statement.

      https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated.html

      Tucked way down at the bottom of this CDC post is the following:

      What We Know

      COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective at preventing COVID-19, including severe illness and death.

      COVID-19 vaccines are effective against severe disease and death from variants of the virus that causes COVID-19 currently circulating in the United States, including the Delta variant.

      Infections happen in only a small proportion of people who are fully vaccinated, even with the Delta variant. When these infections occur among vaccinated people, they tend to be mild.

      If you are fully vaccinated and become infected with the Delta variant, you can spread the virus to others.

      People with weakened immune systems, including people who take immunosuppressive medications, may not be protected even if fully vaccinated.

  2. linda fode hartvigsen

    Yes I want a clean and undivided heart toward God. I love Jesus words in Mark 16.15-18 to follow His words He lays out here. Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. And these signs shall follow them that believe. in My name shall…….
    I am praying the body of Christ including my family take up our cross and follow Him…..Thank you for these thoughtful and carefully researched blogs.

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