There’s been more talk about the Biblical response to the Covid-19 vaccines. Not whether or not they are safe or effective, but that they are a sneaky way of spiritually compromising Christians. Some are going as far as to say vaccines are the Mark of the Beast warned about in scriptures.

In my understanding, the “mark” talked about in Revelation is more spiritual than literal. To be marked by the beast means to embrace the sin of this world. The opposing “mark” of the lamb is our state of grace brought by forgiveness of our sins through belief in Christ. This follows a pattern of several instances where people’s concern of physical symbolism is shown as secondary to living a righteous life and following God. I present three examples: hand washing, food choice and circumcision.

In the Gospels, the Pharisees were upset that Jesus and his disciples weren’t being particular about washing before eating. Jesus’s response in Matthew 15:10 was “it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” Likewise a shot isn’t going to jeopardize faith, it’s our words and actions that are judged by God.

A similar debate came up later about food. Some were abstaining from meat offered to idols. The writer of 1st Corinthians concluded that idols did not have power, so the food wasn’t really ruined. Another food example was about clean and unclean animals. Peter had a vision where God told him, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” Again, it was more about the spiritual status than the physical.

Finally, when people of Greek heritage were joining the church, circumcision became a topic of debate. It had been the physical symbol of faith for the Jews. The Christians decided that it was faith itself rather than the physical cutting of skin that mattered. In Romans 3:30 Paul wrote “Since God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.”

There is no evidence that a vaccination alone is going to change our status with God, so we don’t need to worry. “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39