Let us run a thought experiment because it is only through finding the limits to where concepts and ideas break, that you are properly able to test them.
For a second, let's assume that the government is utterly evil, is utterly corrupted, does not have our interests in mind and openly wishes that we should all die. That is, that they mean harm to come to us and the actions that they take, are specifically designed to inflict harm upon us.
Got it?
Christians are in an interesting place. Broadly speaking there are three views:
1 - The state is so utterly evil and corrupted, that it is irredeemable. These people want to have as little interaction with government as possible and would probably never want to work in the government, serve in the military or vote if voting was optional.
2 - The state has authority in some areas and institutions like churches and private firms, and private philanthropy should have authority in other areas.
3 - The state is as evil and corrupted as all of the people which make up society. It therefore behooves people to make the state better by electing Christians or other people who have proven track records of principle. I definitely fall into this category and see the great lineage of abolitionists, chartists, reformists, unionists, suffragettes and civil rights activists as taking up and passing on this baton.
Knowing the three broad positions, to what degree are Christians required to follow the directives of such a government?
Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.
- Romans 13:1-6
None of these three positions advocate rebelling against or refusing to comply with the government's laws or regulations except where they happen to directly violate moral standards which are revealed by God. For all three of these broad positions, in order to be a responsible Christian, you also have to be a responsible citizen.
Basically in so far as much as it depends on you, if it is within your power, make peace with all people. All people also includes the corporation sole of the Crown; which is the person which the government is agent for.
In this instance, the Federal and State Governments haven't actually make vaccination compulsory but even if they had, why would that be any different? As it is, vaccination is already compulsory if you want to send children to school and nobody seems to bat an eyelid about that. When it comes to other matters which are actually compulsory, as we live in Australia, jury duty, military service in times of war, doing a tax return, filling in the census, voting, and following the law generally, also were already compulsory.
There is a declaration going around which I shall not link to, which has been drawn up by what appears to be an astroturfing organistion which looks like it is fighting a right-wing culture war but co-opting Christians into their fight against "vaccination passports".
It could be possible that the various Commonwealth, State and Territory governments could introduce a COVID-19 vaccine passport, which would allow or deny a person to entry to various venues, and have implications in the provision of goods, services and facilities, employment, education, accommodation and sport etc. That would also include churches.
It also asserts that COVID vaccines are experimental and still part of a "clinical trial" depsite this being very easily proven otherwise by looking for peer-reviews in places like The Lancet, the British Medical Journal and the CDC. This declaration also asserts that "vaccines do not prevent infection" despite vaccines for various things having a history which dates back to 1796. I think that it is one thing to make a petition and that right of the citizenry to petition the state is fit and proper. I do not think that it is fit or proper to pull political confidence tricks on people.
I can understand people's very real objections to wanting to be vaccinated; I have written pieces about this before. Those objections should be addressed and answered. However, when it comes to the actual operation of law, this is a very different matter.
No-one is actually being compelled to be vaccinated, although it is highly desirable and those of us who can should consider it an act of service for those who can not be vaccinated for a variety of health reasons.
You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
- Galatians 5:13-14
"Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."
- Galatians 6:2
A minor amount of inconvenience (or in my case diarrhoea, fever chills, a spinning bedroom at night, constant drowsiness and a dead arm - all for 18 hours) is worth the effort, if I break the chain of passing on a virus which has killed 4.5 million people.
Governments already have a duty of care to their citizens, as do employers to their employees, as do businesses to their patrons, as do churches to their congregations and visitors, to provide a safe environment where they don't die.
Let's go back to our original thought experiment. Is our government is utterly evil or utterly corrupted? Demonstrably, no. We might think that the government is incompetent, or perhaps making use of the pandemic to play political games but I currently live in a country where there has been 1053 deaths due to Covid-19. Compare that with similar sized entities like Texas with 58,788, or Belgium with less than half the population but 25,428 deaths. We are doing about as well as Taiwan with 837 deaths.
Say what you like about our governments but they have an awful job to do; with resources and mechanisms which also aren't perfect and they are still on some level trying to do what is necessary to protect the lives of our citizens. Second to that, the various health minister and health departments are in fact part of the infrastructure of government. Those authorities are explicitly endorsed by Romans 13 as "God’s servant for your good". It might not be pleasant or fun and even if the law seems harsh, we should still obey the law and trust the doctors and nurses all over the world who have been fighting above and beyond the normal call of duty, suffering exhaustion and giving every ounce energy that they have, to not only save people from death but collectively dealing with the virus. Unless there is overwhelming and compelling reasons not to follow the law then it is only proper to give people taxes if you owe taxes, revenue if you owe revenue, respect if you owe respect, honour if you owe honour, and to love other people as best you can. You can’t go wrong when you love others.
Also, obey the law.
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