Are vaccine mandates Biblically acceptable?
Let me start with the obvious. The Bible does not mention vaccines. They did not exist in either Old or New Testament times, so there is no direct Biblical command to use them or to refrain from using them.
So instead of trying to find vaccines in the Bible, I seek general principles about any kind of community health standards or mandates. And I do believe there are general Biblical principles that can help us understand community health standards.
Especially since the Covid epidemic, vaccines have become a political hot topic and not just a medical issue. I try hard to stay away from direct political commentary on candidates, but I do believe that it is appropriate for a pastor and Bible teacher to take the teachings of the Bible and apply them to current situations. I write today in response to one state (Florida) which has announced plans to end all state vaccine mandates, including those for children in school. Their state already has exemptions in place for religious and medical reasons, so it’s deeper than a religious freedom issue. Their state surgeon general went as far as to say that a vaccine mandate “drips with disdain and slavery.”
I strongly disagree—on Biblical grounds.
The Bible allows—and even commands—community health standards. Leviticus 13-15 (read all three chapters to understand the principles I refer to) gives explicit instruction on what to do with rashes, diseases, burns, bodily discharges, and medical situations which might put the community at risk. The specific commands may seem old-fashioned in today’s world, but they make perfect sense when you understand their purpose—keep the overall community healthy even if it temporarily restricts an individual.
Commands are given to the individual—report to a priest or voluntarily isolate yourself if there is a medical issue or cause. Commands are given about what to do with items such as clothing or bedding which might be contaminated and spread disease. Further instructions are given to the priests (who had both religious and community health responsibilities) to isolate the person when necessary.
The objective is not to take away individual freedom but to keep the overall community healthy, even if it does temporarily restrict the medical freedom of an individual.
Americans believe in personal liberty, so there has always been tension between individual medical freedom and the needs of the community. Clearly, though, the Bible allows the community to set standards to protect the community.
The application to vaccines—I believe—is clear. A community or a state has the right to set standards which are designed to keep a school or a state healthy. We can debate what those standards should be (and I would hope we would debate on the basis of scientific and medical data rather than political rhetoric), but community health standards are Biblical.
I’m not a doctor. I haven’t studied medicine in any detail. But, as a pastor, I have never had to perform a funeral for a child who died from polio, diphtheria, rubeola, rubella, pertussis, mumps, tetanus, or measles. Those funerals were common for pastors in previous generations before vaccines became commonplace.
I don’t want to return to that kind of world.
Politicians aside, nearly every doctor and every medical researcher agrees that vaccines have proven themselves to be safe and healthy for individuals. They also agree that vaccines help keep contagious diseases out of the schools and communities where they can spread rapidly. A vaccine mandate is not “slavery” and does not show “disdain” either for the individual or the community. It’s a logical and medical step to keep our communities safe.
I can’t say with honesty that “vaccines” are either Biblical or unbiblical. But I can say with certainty that it is Biblical to have community health standards.
PS. I had my annual checkup last week. (I’m in pretty good shape!). My doctor did recommend certain vaccines. Since I get my medical advice from doctors and not politicians, I will get them this week. I do so for my own health and as an act of love for my family and for those in my church community.
Comments(8)
William Crow says:
September 8, 2025 at 8:27 amThis is a logical, well thought out, common sense approach to this issue. Something less common in Washington D.C. (and apparently Florida) these days. Thanks for sharing.
Brenda Ramey says:
September 8, 2025 at 9:41 amPastor,
We strongly agree with you and your position on this subject. What is going on in this country around vaccines is very troubling. Honest science and data needs to be the basis for decisions. Thanks for your research and writing. Brenda and Brian Ramey
Daniel says:
September 8, 2025 at 3:01 pmMissing from this is the encroachment of government over the 1st amendment (Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof) which we as people of the Truth and the Way should not ignore and burry our head in the sand. We have an obligation to call on our elected officials to be honest and behave in accordance to scripture. Lying and manipulating data through fear to force the will of unqualified persons to stop the worship service of believers is evil. All disciples of Jesus must live out our faith without fear but submit all things to God in prayer Philippians 4:6, 2 Timothy1:7, 1John 4:18. This is not about American (personal Liberty) but whether or not we will teach our children what covenants are (between the People and their Representatives) and stand in the face of Tyrannical governments. Many people were persecuted by the State for making a prayerful-conscious decision that was completely ignored by this post. Not to mention, the aftermath of doctors going along with State mandated propaganda (lies) only for the Truth to expose the monetary gains behind their (science) mandates. I compel you in, Jesus name, to re-think your (logic) in this post and exegete these passages.
Jack Marslender says:
September 8, 2025 at 6:31 pmDaniel, sorry, but I disagree. As I pointed out, the state in question allows religious exemptions; that was not the point of this post. I believe that my exegesis and application of Leviticus 13-15 and my logic is correct.
Robert Parrish says:
September 8, 2025 at 8:40 pmThe trust in our medical practices in this country have been broken for a very long time. I’m not anti vaccine but if you look at the number of vaccines they push on babies it’s scary. Vaccines use aluminum and some did or still use mercury to force your body to attack the vaccine to build up your immunity. The amount of basically poison that the body can process is only so much, especially in young developing children. We have seen health issues increase with our children sense these vaccines have increased. It is undeniable that our government and the pharmacy businesses are working together. This best seen during COVID. And that vaccine was proven not to really work and hurt a lot of people even killing some. I’m pro vaccines that have been time tested and given at a age that allows for child development. But Pastor you should add that everyone trust their doctor but verify. Just like everyone should trust their church but verify. I will agree the Florida government is playing some games but so are the states pushing for all vaccines. Families need the freedom to choose. What’s good for most may hurt or kill others.
Jack Marslender says:
September 9, 2025 at 9:29 amTrue. Individual freedom–to a degree–can be helpful (which is why Florida has both religious and medical exemptions already.) But time tested vaccines that have proven themselves have saved countless lives. We should all do our own research, but we should do our research from sources with scientific and medical validity and experience. In general terms, I trust my doctor to a much greater degree than I trust politicians. My overall point is that it is Bibically acceptable to have health standards.
jackie sullivan says:
September 11, 2025 at 12:24 amI have 2 issues.
1 – is the use of “vaccine” vs “immunization” (which is not mentioned Pastor Jack’s post). As I understand a vaccine is a “one and done” (the MMR, etc), where as an immunization is a series of injections in attempt to become immune.
2 – “temporarily restrict the medical freedom of an individual.”, which is entirely reasonable. This does not mean to restrict everyone from each other, healthy or not. Eliminating the drugs that are “proven” to help the ppl who have become ill is not reasonable. The statement, “temporarily restrict the medical freedom of an individual.” The key word is “individual”, Mandates are not synonymous individual. Therefore, mandates are a form of “slavery” when the masses are forced to submit.
Jack Marslender says:
September 11, 2025 at 9:48 amGood morning, Jackie. My post was not meant to cover medical details such as the difference between vaccines and immunizations. I’m not a medical expert; I’m a pastor trying to look at what the Bible says and applying it to today. My overall point is that it is Biblical to have community standards that can be enforced on an individual for the health of a community. The content of those standards is certainly debateable (I’m not saying that we have always been wise in our decisions), but it is clearly Biblical to have a community health standard. That is my point based on Leviticus 13-15.
I believe that the fact that our health standards (I’m thinking of those for children in schools) have “opt-outs” for religious, medical, and even personal reasons (as is the case in Florida and in Arizona) differentiates them from slavery. Slavery gives the individual no options based on personal beliefs.