AreCOVID-19vaccinesmadefromabortedbabies?WhatisHEK293?AdrianWarnockhttps://www.patheos.com/blogs/adrianwarnock/2021/01/are-covid-19-vaccines-made-from-aborted-babies-what-is-hek293/

SomeChristiansdohavegenuineconcernsaboutvaccinationwhichIwilladdressinthisarticle.IwishtoappealtobelieverstoconsidercarefullythesemattersratherthanreflexlyrejecttheCOVID-19vaccines.

Onsocialmediatherearealotofmythsaboutthesevaccines,manyofwhichfallintothecategoryofuntruths.IrecentlywroteabouthowChristiansmuststoplyingaboutCOVID-19whichishighlyrelevanttothispoint.

TableofContents

1.IngredientsofCOVID-19Vaccines

2.Vaccinationisnotanti-Christian

3.DoesGodpromisetoprotectChristiansfromCOVID-19?

4.Whatarehumancelllines(e.g.HEK293)?

5.HowdoChristiansviewhumancelllines?

6.Analternativeperspective

7.Conclusion

1.IngredientsofCOVID-19vaccines

SomeareclaimingthatifyouinjecttheCOVID-19vaccineintoyouthenyouareinjectingabortedbabies.Thereareevenvideosandlinkscirculatingonsocialmediathatclaimtoshowingredientsofthevaccinesandthatoneofthemisfetaltissue.Someofthesereportsarefalsified.Theideathatthevaccinescontainasaningredientabortedbodypartsofbabiesissimplyandcompletelyuntrue.

Youcanconfirmtheingredientsforyourselfbylookingatsections2and6.1ofthefollowingUKofficialdocumentsforthethreevaccinesbeingrolledout:Pfizer,Moderna,andAstra-Zeneca.Notethatnoneoftheingredientslistedin6.1aremadefromabortedbabyparts.InthecaseofAstra-Zenecathereisanoteinsection2thatHEK293cellsareinvolvedinthemanufactureofthevaccineitself,andmoreofthatlaterinthearticle.Buteventhatdoesnotmeanthatthosecellsarecontainedintheactualvaccine.

NoabortedbabiesarecontainedinourCOVID-19vaccinesandnobabieshavebeenabortedforthepurposeofdevelopingormanufacturingCOVID-19vaccines.

Manymightnotneedtogoanyfurther,butsomemightbeinterestedtounderstandthedetailoftheuseofcertaincelllinesinthedevelopment,testing,andinsomecasesmanufacturingprocessandtheirorigins.Somepeoplewhobelieveabortionismorallywrongwillhavevalidconcernsaboutthis.IfyouhaveheardofHEK293andthatisanissueforyouethically,thencontinuereadingandIwilltryandexplainthesituationandwhy,onbalance,Ipersonallydonothaveanobjectiontotheuseofthesevaccines.

Icertainlydonotwanttoraiseanyunnecessaryconcerns,andsoifthesecomplexethicalquestionsarenotimportanttoyouthenfeelfreetosimplyleavethearticlehereknowingthatthevaccinesdonotincludethepartsofabortedbabies.

NobabieswereabortedinordertomakeCOVID-19vaccines

DrAlbertMohlerpointsout:

“thereisnoactivityrelatedtoabortioninthepresentthatisinanywayassociatedwiththeuseofthesevaccines.”READMORE

2.Vaccinationitselfisnotanti-christian

InanotherarticleMohlerpointsoutthelonghistoryofvaccinationwithinChristiancircles,andrecognisesthatsometimesvaccinescancauseharmtosomepeople.OneoftheleadingheroesofWesternEvangelicalismisGeorgeWhitfield.In1758hetookanearlyformofvaccination,therebyshowingthatheethicallyapprovedoftheconcept.Wesometimesforgethowoldtheideaofusingvaccinestopreventdiseaseis.

SadlyWhitfieldalsodiedafewdayslaterofsideeffectscausedbythisvaccination.Thusalsoprovingthatvaccinationscansometimeshavesideeffects.Thisstorythereforeremindsusthatweshouldcertainlynotassumethatvaccineswillnevercauseharm.Inparticularweshouldalwaysshowcompassiontothefamilymembersofpeoplewhohavehadlifealteringmedicalissuesthattheybelievearecausedbyvaccination.Sometimestheseeventsmayhavebeenaco-incidenceanditisoftenimpossibletoprovecausality.Butsomeparentswhohaveexperiencedahealthychilddevelopsevereillnessafteravaccinationhaveoftenfoundthemedical

communityandotherssimplydismisstheirconcerns.Weshouldshowunderstandingtothesefamiliesandnotbejudgmental,labellingthemas“anti-vaxers”.Let’snotheapinsultsontothepainofthesefamilieswhosesufferingisveryreal,andwhooftenfeelalone.

Sadlyallmedicalinterventionshaverisksandbenefitsattached.Fortunatelythemodernvaccinesarecarefullystudiedintensofthousandsofpatients,andtheriskofserioussideeffectsdoseemverylowindeed.Buttheriskscanneverbeabsententirely.Alldoctorsknowthatevencommonmedicinesthatyoucanbuyoverthecountercansadlysometimescauseseriouscomplications.

Weshouldnotbeoverlyalarmed,however,bymildersideeffectssuchasaswollenarm,fever,feelingunwellasthesearetobeexpectedandsuggestthatthebodyisrespondingtothevaccineaswewantitto.Rememberthewholeideaofvaccinesistotrickthebodyintothinkingitissick.Nowonderwesometimesfeelunwellafteravaccine.

3.DoesGodpromisetoprotectChristiansfromCOVID-19?

SomeChristiansrefuseallvaccinesonthebasisthatvaccinationsaresomehownotnaturaloronthebasisthattheybelieveGodwillprotectthemfromdiseases.SomearguethatGoddetermineshowlongweshouldlivesowecannot“save”ourlives.Butwedothingsallthetimetotryandreduceourriskofdiseaseordeath.

AfavouritepassagewhichsometimesgetscitedbyChristiansaboutthecurrentpandemicisPsalm91

HewhodwellsintheshelteroftheMostHighwillabideintheshadowoftheAlmighty.IwillsaytotheLORD,“Myrefugeandmyfortress,myGod,inwhomItrust.”

Forhewilldeliveryoufromthesnareofthefowlerandfromthedeadlypestilence.Hewillcoveryouwithhispinions,andunderhiswingsyouwillfindrefuge;hisfaithfulnessisashieldandbuckler.Youwillnotfeartheterrorofthenight,northearrowthatfliesbyday,northepestilencethatstalksindarkness,northedestructionthatwastesatnoonday.

Athousandmayfallatyourside,tenthousandatyourrighthand,butitwillnotcomenearyou.Youwillonlylookwithyoureyesandseetherecompenseofthewicked.

BecauseyouhavemadetheLORDyourdwellingplace—theMostHigh,whoismyrefugenoevilshallbeallowedtobefallyou,noplaguecomenearyourtent.

Forhewillcommandhisangelsconcerningyoutoguardyouinallyourways.Ontheirhandstheywillbearyouup,lestyoustrikeyourfootagainstastone.Youwilltreadonthelionandtheadder;theyounglionandtheserpentyouwilltrampleunderfoot.

“Becauseheholdsfasttomeinlove,Iwilldeliverhim;Iwillprotecthim,becauseheknowsmyname.Whenhecallstome,Iwillanswerhim;Iwillbewithhimintrouble;Iwillrescuehimandhonorhim.WithlonglifeIwillsatisfyhimandshowhimmysalvation.”

Thisbeautifulpsalmisintendedasacomforttousthatwedonotfaceourproblemsalone.Weshouldtakecarenottomisuseormisinterpretit:

“Thepsalmitselfposesadanger.Becauseitsassuranceofsecurityissocomprehensiveandconfident,itisespeciallysubjecttothemisuse...ofturningfaithintosuperstition.”

Mays,J.L.(1994).Psalms(p.297).Louisville,KY:JohnKnoxPress.

ThispsalmisnotamagicalpromisethatinthisworldnoChristianwillsufferfrominfectiousdiseasesanymorethanitisapromisethatthebelieverwhofallsoffaclifforthrowshimselfoffabuildingwillalwaysbeheldupbyangelssothatheisprotected.ThedevilquotesversesfromthisPsalmtoJesusinthewilderness,temptinghimtodemonstratetheprotectiontheseversesspeakof.Jesusreplywascurt:

Jesussaidtohim,“Againitiswritten,‘YoushallnotputtheLordyourGodtothetest.’”(Matthew4:7)

WealsoshouldnotpresumeupontheprotectionofGodanduseitasanexcusenottotakestepstoprotectourselves.TodosocouldbetotestGodintheexactsamewaySatanurgedJesustodo.

Theprotectionofferedinthispsalmisnotabsolute.Itisaspiritualandmentalprotectionthatisonoffer,andanultimatespiritualandeternalprotection.ThetrueconceptissimilartooneofthemostfamousversesintheBiblewhichappearsatfirstglancetopromisewewillnoteverdie.Thetruthisratherthateventheendofourearthlylifeisnotfinaldeathforusaswehaveeternallife:

“ForGodlovedtheworldsomuchthathegavehisonlySon,sothateveryonewhobelievesinhimmaynotdiebuthaveeternallife”(John3:16,GoodNewsBible)

Christiansdodie.It’sjustthatwhenwedoourdeathisnotpermanent.

Psalm91rightlyusedgivesgreatcomfortandhopebutourhopeisnotforouratroubleandsicknessfreetodaybutforagloriouseternitytocome.AsJesushimselfpromised

“Ihavetoldyouthesethings,sothatinmeyoumayhavepeace.Inthisworldyouwillhavetrouble.Buttakeheart!Ihaveovercometheworld.”(John16:33)

ThepromisesofGod’sprotectiondoesnotremovefromustheneedtoactresponsibly,suchasbywearingaseatbeltwhenwegoinacar.Theuseofmedicalsciencewouldfallunderasimilarcategory.WeshouldnotpresumethatGodwillshieldusfromtheconsequencesoflivinginafallenbrokenworld.InthetimeoftheNewTestamenttherewasalotofmiraculoushealingpoweratworkbuteventheApostleswerenotimmunetosickness,norweretheyabletohealeveryone.PaulnotonlytraveledwithapersonalPhysician,Luke,butadvocatedtheuseofbasicmedicalremediestoimprovehisfriend’shealth:

Nolongerdrinkonlywater,butusealittlewineforthesakeofyourstomachandyourfrequentailments.(1Timothy5:23)

TheideathatGodwillprotectalltruefaith-filledChristiansfromCOVID-19couldbecalledanover-realisedeschatologyforthosewholiketheologicalterms.ItismoretypicallyanerrorseenamongCharismatics.SincemytheologicalrootsdigdeepintothatstreamIamfamiliarwithitserrors,butalsowiththeerrorsoftheothertheologicalstreamIhavebeenasmuchinfluencedby-theReformed.AsareformedcharismaticIhavetotrytoavoidtheexcessesandweaknessofbothperspectives!

OntheReformedsidetherecanbeanover-emphasisonthesovereigntyofGodthatleadstopassivityandmaybeanalternativereasonsometurndownvaccinesorothermedicalhelp.Mohlercritiquesthatperspectiveasfollows:

“Somemightsay,“IbelieveinthesovereigntyofGod,andifGodwantsmetohavethisvirusthenhewillgivemethevirus.Idon’tneedmedicalinterventionbecauseItrustGod.”Thatkindoflogic,ifpressedtoitslogicalconclusion,however,isuntenable—wewouldn’ttreatanysickness,cancer,orinjury.MedicaltreatmentisanextensionofGod’scommongraceandChristianshavealwaysunderstoodthis.Thatiswhy,throughouthistory,whereyoufoundChristiansyoufoundhospitalsandthechurchtreatingthesick.Thus,itisnotwrongforChristianstotakemeasurestoavoidgettingsickorcomingdownwiththevirus.ItisnotwrongtotakethevaccineagainstCOVID-19.”ReadMore

IincludetheseargumentsforcompletenessandtoensurethateveryChristianrealisesattheoutsetofthisdiscussionthatvaccinationisalifeordeathissueforbelieverstoo.Evenifyoubelievethatyouyourselfarenotinahighriskgroupfor

death,othersaroundyouare.IamonesuchpersonsincemybloodcanceranditstreatmenthasseverelydamagedmyimmunesystemsothatIcannotmakesufficientantibodiestofightoffinfectionorinresponsetoavaccine.IfyoutakeavaccineyoumightsavemylifebynotgivingmeCOVID-19.

Vaccinationisnotjustanactofselfpreservation.Itisanactoflovetowardsourneighbourstodothemgood.

Tofailtoactinordertoprotectthosewhoaremorevulnerablethanourselvescoulditselfconstituteasinofomissionaswemightbethedirectcauseofharmthatispreventable.Thisisthesameargumentforsocialdistancingandwearingmasksofcourse.BytakingstepstopreventourselvesgettingandtransmittingCOVID-19wearesavingthelivesofotherslessfortunate.

Takingavaccineisanactoflovetoothers.PreciouspeoplemadeintheimageofGodaredyingfromCOVID-19.YOUcanhelpstopthis.

Butifanyonehastheworld’sgoodsandseeshisbrotherinneed,yetcloseshisheartagainsthim,howdoesGod’sloveabideinhim?Littlechildren,letusnotloveinwordortalkbutindeedandintruth.(1John3:17-18)

MostChristiansdonotrejectmedicinesandmedicalhelpingeneral.Thereisnoreasontorejectvaccinationwholesaleasanon-Christianconcept.Godhasgivenhumanswisdomtocreatemedicinesandvaccinesandwecanacceptthemascomingfromthecommongracethathelavishesonallofuswhetherwefollowhimornot.

SomeChristiansdonotrejecttheconceptofvaccinationaltogetherbutinsteadrejectcertainvaccinesforamorespecificreasonthatwewillnowturnto.

4.Whatarehumancelllines?

Havingsaidallthis,somepeoplehavelegitimateconcernsabouthumancelllinesthathavebeengrowinginlaboratoriesfordecades.Ifthisisnotanissueforyouthereisnoneedtokeepreading…welldoneformakingitthisfar!

Thissectionexplainsthescience,butyoucanalsoskipthisbittoreadhowChristiansviewtheuseofthesecelllines.

Scientificallyitiscrucialforanumberofstagesinresearch,development,testing,andinsomecaseseventhemanufactureofcertaintypesofvaccineforhuman-likecellstobeused.

Historicallyitwasactuallyverydifficulttogethumancellstogrowinalaboratorysetting,ineffecttobeimmortal,ortokeepmultiplyingfordecades.Manyattemptsweremadetogeneticallyengineerhumancellstochangethemsothattheycanbereliablygrownandusedforallsortsofexperiments.

Fluorescent HEK293 cells by Iznewton – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link

Twomainsourcesofthehumancellstheyattemptedtotransforminthiswaywerecancercells(whichobviouslybehaveinanotfullyhumanway),andhumanembryos.Importantlythisisnotthesameasembryoresearchastheideawasnottogrowhumanembryosinalabbutrathertocreateasampleofcelltissuethatcouldbegrowninalaboratoryfordecadesandusedinresearch.

Becauseithasbeensohardtoproducesuchcelllineshistoricallytherearerelativelyfeweffortstodaytorecreatesimilarcelllinestothosewhichhaveworkedwellfordecades.Scienceflourishesonpredictabilityandwhenthousandsofexperimentshavebeendoneusingthesamecellsitmakesalotofsensetokeepusingthem.Itwillbehardtopersuadescientiststore-createcelllinesthatworkandarethefoundationforsomanymedicaldevelopments.Thisisunfortunatebecauseintheoryitwouldbepossibletoattempttocreatenewcelllinesfromentirelyethicalsourcessuchasumbilicalchordstemcells.

Thecelllinesusedtodaywerecreatedalongtimeago

OneofthemostwidespreadcelllinesusedinonewayoranotherwithalmostallmedicaldevelopmentswhethertheybevaccinesormedicinesisacelllinecalledHEK293orFreeStyle293F.

ThiscelllinehasbeenusedatleastinthedevelopmentortestingphaseofalmostallCOVID-19vaccines.Hereisasummaryofhowthevariousvaccineshaveusedthesecells.

• TheCOVID-19spikeproteingenewasgraftedintoHEK293cellsallowingthemtoproducecopiesofthisproteinallowingittobefurtherstudied.Theknowledgeleddirectlytovaccinedevelopmentandthesecelllineswereusedindevelopingandtestingallthevaccines.

• ThePfizerandModernavaccinesdonotusetheHEK293cellsaspartoftheirproductionprocess

• InthecaseoftheAstraZeneca/Oxfordvaccineasnotedintheirofficialinformation,HEK293cellsareusedtogrowthevectorvirusthatisinactivatedandultimatelybecomesthevaccine.Thusthecellsarenotinthevaccinebutarepartoftheproductionprocess.

SomeChristiansmakeamoraldistinctionbetweenthosevaccines(PfizerandModerna)wherethetestingordevelopmentrequiresHEK293andthosewherethemanufactureprocessrequiresthem.JonathanImbodyexplainsthispositioninapiecefortheChristianMedicalandDentalAssociations.Sincethecelllinesareusedinbothcasestomeitseemslikesplittinghairsorstrainingatgnatstomakesuchadistinction.ThemoralequivalenceofbothtypesofvaccineiswellarguedwithreferencestoscientificpapersoutliningtheuseofHEK293celllinesinCOVIDvaccinesbyStacyTrasancos.

TheprofessorwhomadetheoriginalHEK293cellline,fromwhichallthecellsusedtodayaredirectlydescended,cannotrememberwherethisoriginatingembryocamefrom.Thereasonthecelllineiscalled293isbecausethatwashis293rdexperiment.Someoftheseexperimentsapparentlyusedcellsfrommiscarriagesandsomefromabortions.Cruciallythedecisiontocarryouttheabortion(ifindeedHEK293camefromanabortion)wasentirelyseparatefromthedecisiontoattempttomakeatissuecultureoutofthecells.

Abortionswerenotcarriedoutinordertocreatecelllines.Celltissueswerecreatedviageneticengineeringaftertheabortionhadoccurred.

Inordertomakethecellsessentiallyimmortalgeneticengineeringwasinvolved,andsotheresultantcellculturelineisnolongerapurehuman

tissue.Useofthecelllineisnotconsideredembryoresearch.Thecellscouldnevergrowtobecomeahumanbeing.

Becausethesecellsaresopredictableandamenabletofurthergeneticalterationstheyhavebeenusedinhugenumbersofexperiments.Arecentmoralreportonvaccinesexplainstheimpactofthesecells:

“58,094scientificpapershavealreadybeenpublishedthatareassociatedwithHEK293alone—andtheywereinstrumentalinthedevelopmentofnumerousdrugsandmedicaltreatments.Forexample,HEK293cellswereusedtostudythehumandopaminereceptor,andmanyoftheantipsychoticdrugsusedtotreatmentalillnesseslikeschizophreniaandbipolardisorderwouldnothavebeendiscoveredwithoutthem”ReadMore

Thescientificknowledgethathascomeaboutthroughtheuseofthesecellsisthereforeeverywhere.Itwouldbealmostimpossibletoavoidtakinganyvaccineormedicinethathadbeentestedonthiscellline,orwhosedevelopmentwascontributedtobyknowledgeobtainedfromusingthem.

Weallbenefitfromanabortionwhichhappeneddecadesagoinwhichwehadnopart.

Thisquotesummariesthepositionclearlyandexplainswhyhopingthatscientistswillbeginusingalternativesarecurrentlyunrealistic:

“HEK293isanestablishedcellline.Whatthismeansisthatthesecellshavebeenusedandstudiedbybiologistsfornearlyhalfacentury.Theyarewellcharacterized,andtheyhavebeenvalidatedfortheirsafety.Ipointthisoutbecauseithelpsexplainwhyitisunheardofforavaccinemanufacturertoseekoutnewhumanfetalcellsfromarecentabortion.Suchnovelfetalcellswouldbeuncharacterized,unvalidated,andunapprovedbyregulatoryagenciesliketheU.S.FoodandDrugAdministration(FDA)forhumanvaccineproduction.Whywastetime,effort,andmoneytoobtain,characterize,andvalidatenewhumanfetalcellswhentheclassicfetalcelllinesobtaineddecadesagolikeHEK293arereadilyandcheaplyavailable?”ReadMore

Itshouldbenotedthatanewcelllinewascreatedin2015inChina,presumablysotheydidn’thavetorelyonimports.Butthisisverymuchtheexception.Newembryostakenfromabortionsarenotrequiredforvaccinedevelopmentortesting.

WecannotgobackintohistoryandundothecreationofHEK293oritsadoptionasperhapsthebestunderstoodandstandardisedtissuecultureinuseinscience.Itisimportanttostressthatnowthiscelllineexistsitisnotnecessaryforotherabortionstobeundertakentocreatesuchcelllines.

ManyChristiansareopposedtoongoingembryonicresearch.AndinresponsetoethicalobjectionsabanwasinstitutedintheUSAbytheTrumpadministration.ItisinterestingtonotethattheongoinguseoftissuelikeHEK293wasspecificallyexcludedfromthatban.Thisisduetothefactthatthetissuehasbeenaroundforsolong,andthefactthatthemodificationstothetissuemeanthatitshouldnotbeconsideredfullyhuman.

RomanCatholictheologicanstypicallytakeafirmanti-abortionstance.In2017anofficialVaticanstatementargues

“thecelllinescurrentlyinuseareverydistantfromtheoriginalabortionsandnolongerimplythatbondofmoralcooperation”.

TheNationalCatholicBioethicsCenterexplains:

“Anyproductgrownintheseorothercelllinesderivedfromabortions,therefore,hasadistantassociationwithabortion.Thecellsintheselineshavegonethroughmultipledivisionsbeforetheyareusedinvaccinemanufacture.Aftermanufacture,thevaccinesareremovedfromthecelllinesandpurified.Onecannotaccuratelysaythatthevaccinescontainanyofthecellsfromtheoriginalabortion.”

5.HowdoChristiansviewhumancelllines?

ManyChristianswillbelievethatabortioniswrong.OneofthemostwidelyusedpassagestosupporttheviewthathumanlifeexistsbeforebirthandshouldthereforebepreservedaspreciousisfromPsalm139:

Foryoucreatedmyinmostbeing;youknitmetogetherinmymother’swomb.IpraiseyoubecauseIamfearfullyandwonderfullymade;yourworksarewonderful,Iknowthatfullwell...Youreyessawmyunformedbody;allthedaysordainedformewerewritteninyourbookbeforeoneofthemcametobe.(Psalm139:13-16)

Butifyoudisagreewithabortionthisdoesnotautomaticallymeanthatitiswrongtousevaccinesthathavearemotelinktocellstakenfromwhatmay

havebeenanabortedbaby.Thecellsarenotpartofthebaby’s“remains”assomehaveemotivelydescribedthem.

Thecellsarealteredgeneticallytobehaveinadifferentway,andthereisnowaythatthesedecadesoldcellscouldeverproduceanembryo.Wecannotundothepast.Andtherearemanyotherwayswebenefitfromdubiousdecisionsmadebyothersinthepast.Wewalkonroadsthatperhapshundredsofyearsagomayhavebeenbuiltbyslavesorwealthfromtheslavetrade.CertainlytherichstatusofWesterncountriestodayisdirectlyrelatedtotheirexploitationofothernationalitiesviaenslavement,empire,invadinganddisplacingindigenouspeoples.AmIthereforesinningbysimplywalkingdownthestreetandenjoyingthemanybenefitsoflivingintheUK?

ChristyHemphill,oneofthemoderatorsoftheBiologosForumexpandsonthispoint:

Theethicalargumentscallingforavoidingthefetalcellvaccinesaresimilarinsomewaystoargumentsforreparationsforslavery,thoughyouwouldneverhearthepeoplewhoaresoconcernedaboutthefetalcelllinessayingthatWhitepeopleshouldbedeniedanythingthatbenefitstheminthepresentbecausesinswerecommittedinthepastandtheirwealthisbirthedfrominjustice.

Basicallysomethingimmoralhappenedinthepastandwehaveanopportunityinthepresenttobenefitfromalongcausalchainthatcouldbetracedbacktothatimmoralevent.Doesthatmakebenefitingwrong?Webenefitfromlandthatwasviolentlystolenfromindigenouspeople.Webenefitfromcompaniesandindustriesandsocialsystemsthatwerebuiltonthebacksofslavelaborandcolonialimperialismandoppression.Heck,webenefitfrommanufacturingpracticesthatcurrentlyenslavechildrenandpollutetheworldtothepointofkillingpoorpeoplewhohavetoliveinthedegradedenvironments.ReadMore

Itcanbeveryhardtountangletheextenttowhichwebenefitpersonallyandindividuallyfromtheundoubtablysinfulactsofthosewhohavegonebeforeus.Weshouldbemindfulofsuchthings,andthereisamoraldutyonustoactinwaysthatdemonstraterepentanceforsuchhistoricalcorporatesinssuchasracism.

Wecertainlyshouldnotcelebratehistoricalsinfulacts.Butitisimpossibleforustosomehowavoidthebenefitsthathavecometousbytheunjustactionsthatoccurredinthepast,andinmanycasessuchinjusticesdopersisttoday.

AsimilarpositionsurelyexistsinthecaseofHEK293.Wecangrievethefactthateventshappenedinthepastthatwemorallydisapproveof,yetgraciouslyandgratefullytakepartinthebenefitswhicharehugeandwhichwedonotdeserve.

Anon-religiousPatheosbloggerexplainedthisperspectivewellwhentheyimaginedhowpro-lifersmightinsteadofnottalkingaboutthis,insteadactuallyacknowledgethefactthatthelivesofabortedbabieshavebenefitedsociety.Theysuggestedpro-lifersuseitasatriggertocampaignnotformoreabortionbuttoabolishabortionandevensuggestedaslogan:

“Twomurderedchildrenhavesavedmillionsoflivesacrosstheglobe.Isn’tittimewestoodupforthem,too?#abolishabortion”.ReadMore

AlbertMohlerexplainshisownpositionwithregardstoCOVID-19vaccinesasfollows:

“Wemustcondemninthestrongestoftermstheuseofanytissuesfromabortedhumanbabies.ThatisanonnegotiableissueforChristiansasweconsidermedicaladvancesandtreatments.Thereare,however,complexitiesinvolvedasChristianscontemplatetheseincrediblyseriousmoralquestions.

Specifically,withtheissueoftheCOVID-19vaccine,Christiansneedtounderstandthatnostepinproducingthesevaccineshadanydirectinvolvementinanabortionofasinglechild.Thereisalsotheissueofproximity.Thefurtheryougoinhistory,theharderitistokeepaclearlineofculpabilityinmorallysignificantevents...

Thevaccine’sstructurerelieduponthecelllineofHEK-293,whichoriginatedwithanabortedfetus...Thisisatragedyofhistory.Ahorrifyingwrongwasdone—butthatdoesnotmeanthatgoodcannotcomefromthatharm,evenasitisagoodtaintedbytherealitiesofasinfulworld.Thisideaisexpressed,forChristians,asthedoctrineofdoubleeffect...”ReadMore

Doubleeffectisdefinedasfollows:

Thetheorythatamoralagentisnottobeheldmorallyaccountableforunintendedandperhapsunavoidableillsideeffectsofanactionorseriesofactionsthatisotherwisemorallylegitimate.Someethicistsaddthattheprincipleofdoubleeffectcanonlybeinvokedinsituationsinwhichthegoodintendedintheactionorseriesofactsissosignificantthatitoutweighstheunintendedevilsideeffect.

Grenz,S.J.,&Smith,J.T.(2003).InPocketDictionaryofEthics(p.29).DownersGrove,IL:InterVarsityPress.

Itisnotinconsistenttostilltakelifesavingvaccinesthatusedthesecelllinesinordertorescuesocietyfromalltheeffectsofthepandemic(thegoodeffect)andbelievethetheinitialabortionwaswrong(thebadeffect).Wecan’tundotheactionsofthepersonwhoabortedthatchild,northescientistswhomadeuseofthetissues.

Wecanarguethattheactofabortionwaswrong,wecancallforalternativecelllinestobecreatedsothatwedonotneedtoremaindependentonlinesthatweremadesolongagofromaquestionablemoralsource.

Thevaccineshavenowbeenmade,andwehavenoalternativecourseofactionifwewanttogetCOVID-19undercontrolthantotakethem.Thisdoesnotneedtoimplyweagreewiththatlong-agoact.

Thisobviouslytouchesonthewholenotionofcorporateguilt.DoIbecomeguiltybyassociationorbymyownaction?Isthereamoraldifferencebetweentheresearchersusingtheproductofanabortionandthoseinvolvedintheabortionitself,thedecisionforwhichwastakenseparately?DoIreallyshareanyguiltbytakingthevaccineatsucharemoveddistance?

JoeCartermakesasimilarargumentaboutseparatingtheconsequencesofasinfulactionfromtheactionitself,usingthequestionofwhetherorgantransplantfromamurdervictimwouldbeacceptable:

IfadoctorweretooffertotransplantakidneyorheartfromthemurdervictimintoaChristian,wewouldlikelynotobject...noonewouldsaytheChristianwhoreceivedtheorganwasmorallyresponsibleinanywayforthemurder.ReadMore

TheBibleisfullofexamplesofwheresinwasturnedaroundtoleadtogoodoutcomes.RahabliedtoprotecttheIsraelispies(seeJoshua2),yetwascommendedforbeingawomanoffaithinHebrews11andisincludedinthe

genealogyofJesus.ThishasledtoaninterestingethicaldilemmaofwhetheritisOKtolieforgoodmotives.

AcommonlyreferencedhypotheticalexampleisofsomeonehidingJewsfromNazisinoccupiedEurope.Iftheyknockedonthedoorandasked“doyouhaveanyJewshere?”isthesinofgivingupyourrefugeestoprobabledeathgreaterthanthesinoflying?Wouldlyingevenbeasinatallinsuchasituation?

Whenfacingtwobadchoicesshouldweweighthembothupandchoosetheleastbadoption?WhenthinkingofthismoraldecisionwemustrememberthattheonlyalternativetotakingthevaccineisSocietycontinuingtosuffertheeconomiceffectsofattemptstostemthetideofseveresicknessanddeathcausedbyCOVID-19.

Weshouldnotcomfortourselvesbythinkingotherpeoplewilltakethevaccineforusandwewillbenefitfromtheiractions.Thatisjustside-steppingourresponsibility,andifwebenefitfromwhatwesayisanother’smoralerror,howisthatanydifferentfromusactuallytakingthevaccinetosobenefit?

SometimestheBibleisveryclearthatasinwasasinbutnonethelessGodturnsitaroundforhispurposes.BathshebawasalsoincludedinthegenealogyofJesusinMatthew1despitethefactthatDavidcommittedadulterywithherbeforemurderingherhusband.DespitehissinGodcalledKingDavidamanafterhisownheart.

Josephunderstoodhowgreatgoodcouldcomeoutofanevilact.Hisbrotherslefthimfordeadthensoldhimasaslave.Andyetattheendofhislifehesaidtothem

Youintendedtoharmme,butGodintendeditforgoodtoaccomplishwhatisnowbeingdone,thesavingofmanylives(Gen50:20,NIV)

HereweseethesovereigntyofGodandnotjustadoubleaffectbutadoubleintention.Thesinfulintentionremainssinfulandthebrothersareguiltyofit.ButsomehowinthemysteryofthewayGodinhisprovidencerestrainscertainsinsbutallowsotherstohappen,Godwasinsomewayworkingbehindthesceneswithadifferentintentionaltogether.

Withouttheactionsofthebrotherstherewouldhavebeennosavingoflives,thegooddeedwhichGodwasallalongordaining.InasimilarwaywithouttheabortionofthebabywhichledtotheformationofHEK293cellswewouldnothaveCOVID-19vaccineswhichwillsavethelivesofmany.

Godturnseventsthataremorallywrongaroundtosavethelivesofothers.WearenotguiltyofthatabortionbecauseourlivesaresavedbyvaccinesinjustthesamewaythattheEgyptians,whoweresavedbythewiseplanningofJoseph,werenotresponsibleforthesincommittedbyhisbrothers,eventhoughtheydirectlybenefitedfromtheresultsofthatsin.

Romans8:28statesthat“inallthingsGodworksforthegoodofthosewholovehim,whohavebeencalledaccordingtohispurpose”.ThestoryofJosephshowsusthatallthingsincludesallsins.

Nowlet’sgorighttotheheartoftheChristianmessage.ThegospeltellsusthatthedeathandresurrectionofJesushasobtainedforusnotatemporarysavingofourearthlylivesfromavirus,butaneternalsalvationofoursoulsfromsin.YetthatverysalvationsimplycouldnothavehappenedwithoutthesinofthosewhobetrayedJesusandmurderedhimontheCross.Jesuswassinnedagainst,andyetalso“gavehimselfforoursinstodeliverus”(Galatians1:4).

BecauseofhiscrueldeathJesushasvaccinatedusagainstthepowerandpenaltyofthediseaseofsin.WearenotcontaminatedwiththesinofthosewhosentJesustohisdeathsimplybyreceivingHisofferofsalvation.

Withoutthegreatestsinofalltime,wecouldneverhavebeensaved.

Ihopeyouhavebeenconvincedthatgreatgoodcancomefromgreatsin.Noneofthismeansthatweshouldbeunconcernedaboutthemoralperilofabortion.WeshouldwelcomethoseChristianssuchasTheresaDeisherwhoaretryingtocreatevaccinesfromanalternativesource.

Butweliveinanimperfectworld,andthepossibleimplicationthatweareapprovingofinsomewayalong-timeagomoralactissurelyvastlyoutweighedbythehugemoralgoodintermsoflivessavedandeconomicruinreversedthataccompanytakingthevaccine.

Inthis“doubleeffect”equationifwedecidenottovaccinatewecannotundothepreviousabortionandwillnotbepreventinganynewabortions,sowillnotbeaccomplishinganything.ButifweinsteadchoosetotakeCOVID-19vaccineswewouldbecontributingtoamuchgreatergood.

In2015theSouthernBaptistsethicalcommissionaddressedtheuseofvaccinesthathadbeendevelopedusingcelllinesthatoriginatedinembryos:

“Clearly,theprocessbywhichthesevaccinesaremadeisnotethicallyideal.

Therefore,weshouldcontinuetoadvocateforuseofalternativeswhenavailableandforthedevelopmentoffuturevaccinestobecarriedoutbyothermeans...

Iftheabortionwasconductedinordertoharvesttissuesthatweretobeusedforthevaccine,thenitwouldclearlybeimmoral.But...theabortionwascarriedoutforotherreasonsandthetissuewasacquiredpost-mortemforthepurposemedicalresearch...

Webelievetheuseofthevaccinesisjustifiablebasedonthefactthatwecannotchangethewaythecellcultureswereobtained,therearenoavailablealternatives,andtheeffectivenessofthevaccinesasameansofpreservinglifeandpreventingsufferingisclear.

WecertainlyrespecttheopinionofChristianswhowoulddisagreewithourreasoningonthisissue.However,wewouldaddthataparentwhorefusedtohavetheirchildvaccinatedinordertoavoidtheconnection—howeverremote—tothecooperationwithabortion,ismorallyresponsiblefortheoutcomeofthatchoice.Iftheirchildweretogetsickand/ordiebecauseoftherejectionofthevaccine,theywouldbemorallyresponsible.ReadMore

Thislastpointraisestheissueofthedilemmawefacewhenthereisnoalternativevaccinesavailablewhichhavenoinvolvementwhatsoeverwiththesehumancelllines.Wehavetwochoices:wecantakethevaccineacceptingallthatweknowaboutthemandhopefullysavelives,protectothers,andhelpendthepandemic.Orwecanrefusethevaccine,andputourselvesandfamilyatongoingriskofthisdeadlydiseaseandbyourrefusaltotakethevaccinepossiblycontributetoastateofaffairswhereinsufficientpeopletakethevaccineandtheCOVID-19pandemicisnoteradicated.

Somemightarguethatnosinisgreaterthananotherandsothisconceptofweighingtheconsequencesofamorallydifficultdecisionisnotvalid.JesusconfirmsthatthereareweightierandlightermattersinGod’slawwhenheaccusesthePhariseesofbeingmoreconcernedaboutlessimportantmattersthanthemoreimportant.Couldwearguethatvaccinerefusersriskmakingthesamemistake?

“Woetoyou,scribesandPharisees,hypocrites!Foryoutithemintanddillandcumin,andhaveneglectedtheweightiermattersofthelaw:justiceandmercyandfaithfulness.(Matthew23:23)

Nottakingthevaccinehasthepotentialtodofarmoreharm,andtocostmanylives

TakingCOVID-19vaccinesin2021areverymuchanactofsocialgood.Itisanactofseekingthewelfarenotjustofourselvesbutotherssincevaccineswillonlyprotectsocietywhenthevastmajorityofpeopletakethem.Asalreadymentionedsomeofusrequireotherpeopletotakevaccinesinorderforustobeprotectedbecausewecannotmakeantibodiesofourown.TheBibleisclearthatalthoughweare“intheworldbutnotofit”(John17:14–16)weshouldplayourcivicduty:

SeekthewelfareofthecitywhereIhavesentyouintoexile,andpraytotheLORDonitsbehalf,forinitswelfareyouwillfindyourwelfare(Jer29:7-8)

Wemustmovenowtothosewhoholdadifferentviewpoint.Andindoingsowemusttreatthemwithrespectdespitethechallengevaccinerefusalpresentstocommunitysafety.

“Whetherornotweinhealthcarehavepersonalconcernsabouttheoriginsofthesecellcultures,wemustregardtheconcernsofthosepatientswhodo.Moreover,withinreasonableboundaries,wehaveanobligationtoallowpatients,andparentsofpatients,theautonomytomakeinformeddecisionsbasedontheirunderstandingofwhatisknown,filteredthroughtheirconvictions.Butwhilewemostoftendefertothisautonomy,thisdilemmaregardingvaccinationismademoredifficultbyitsimplicationsonpublicsafety.Shouldourconcernforthecommongood(immunization)trumpindividualautonomy?”

GeneRudd,MD

6.Analternativeperspective

SomeotherChristiansmaylegitimatelytakeadifferentviewpoint.JohnPiper’srecentpodcastepisodeCanITakeaVaccineMadefromAbortedBabies?atfirstreadorlistenseemstobesuggestingthatChristian’smaywellhaveamoralobjectiontoCOVID-19vaccines.Itimpliesthatnottakingsuchvaccinesmaybeawaytodemonstrateyourdisapprovalofabortion.

Theintroduction,however,seemstomakethedistinctionbetweenvaccinesactuallymadeusinghumancellcultureswhichoriginatedinabortionandthosewhereonlythetestingordevelopmentmayhaveinvolvedthecelllines.Thepodcasteditorexplainstheepisodewas:

“...recordedwaybackinOctober,backwhenitwaswidelyreportedthatamajorethicaldilemmawasloomingforpro-lifeChristiansrelatedtoCOVIDvaccinesmadefromabortedtissuecelllines.Astheweekspassed,however,vaccinesrosetotheforefrontthatdonotposethisethicaldilemma,particularlythosefromPfizerandModerna.”ReadMore

IwanttooutlinesomeoftheargumentsusedbyChristianbrothersandsisterswhotakeadifferentviewpoint.Iamnottalkingaboutthosewhoreflexlyrejectvaccinesbecausetheyare“antivax”or“conspiracytheorists”.

TherearepeoplewhomightdecideduetocarefullythoughtthroughbiblicalreasoningthattheydonotagreewiththepositionIhaveoutlinedsofarinthisarticle.Andtheyarewillingtotaketheconsequences.ThishasasimilaremotionalcontexttothatweseewhenJehovah’sWitnessesrefusebloodproductsnotonlyforthemselvesbutfortheirchildren.Wearetalkingaboutaseriousdecisionwithpotentiallyseriousconsequencesforthosewhorejectvaccinesandthosewhotheirrejectionofvaccinesmightalsoaffect.

WeoweittotheseChristianstofaithfullyexplaintheirviewpointratherthancreateanddemolishastrawman.SofortherestofthisarticleIwilltryandoutlinethealternativeviewpointasfairlyasIcanwhilstshowingwhyIdonotagree.

JohnPiperquotesRomans3:8askeytoformulatingapositionofoppositiontoatleastsomeoftheCOVID-19vaccines:

“Paul’sadversariesaccusedhimof“do[ing]evilthatgoodmaycome.”Paulrespondedtothis,thatitwasaslanderouscharge.Inotherwords,hedistancedhimselffromthatkindofethicalstance.AndIthinkweshouldtoo.Weshouldn’tdoevilthatgoodmaycome.Godalonehastheinfinitewisdomtomanageanentireworldofsininwhichhecanturnhorriblethingsforwiseandgoodpurposes...IfwereallybelievethatthekillingofunbornchildrenisabhorrenttoGodandfallsintothecategoryofthesheddingofinnocentblood,forwhichGod’sjudgmentfell,weshouldnotthinkofturningthiswickednessintoawonderdrugtosaveourlives.”READMORE

WithrespecttoPiperwhoknowsmoreabouttheologythanIeverwillthispassageisnottalkingaboutmoralactionswhereweweighbothgoodandevilconsequencesusingthedoctrineofdoubleeffectoutlinedearlier.ItisreferringtothosewhogoonsinningdeliberatelysothatGodcanshowmoregracebyforgivingthem.SuchtramplingoverthegraceofGodisjustlycondemnedbyPaul.ButforthousandsofyearsChristianshavearguedinthe

doctrineofa“justwar”thatactsofincredibleviolencecanbejustifiedbytheintentionofdealingwithabiggerproblem.

PiperarguesonlyGodcanturnevilaroundforgood,whichisultimatelyofcoursetrue.Butthatdidn’tstopJosephusinghisownsituation,whichwasbroughtaboutdirectlybecauseofthesinofhisbrothers,inordertoworkforthegoodoftheEgyptians.

SurelyChristiansarecalledtoattempttoturneverysituationtheyfindthemselvesinaroundtogood.Suchasthemotherwhowasrapedbutdecidestosomehowraisetheconceivedchildasandemonstrationofgreatlove.Doesshenot,withGod’shelpturnthesincommittedagainstherintogreatgood,andeventhejoyofseeingherchildmature?

TherestofPiper’sarticleaddressesthesanctityoflifeandthehugevalueofeveryhumanbeing.Heevenmakesaparallelwithmartyrdoms,suggestingthatthebelievermaydecidetorefusethisvaccineevenatperiloftheirownlives.WhatPiperdoesn’taddressisthesanctitynotjustofthelifeofthebabythatwasaborteddecadesago,andofthepersondecidingtotakeordeclinethevaccine,butalsoofthemanyotherlivesthateachindividualwhotakesavaccinemightsave.Tomeifweweighatheoreticalriskthatweareperceivedasapprovingofanancientabortionagainsttheveryrealriskofthispandemicbeingallowedtocontinuetodestroylivesandourwayoflife,theresultofthatequationisveryclear.

Ifweweighuponlyourownpotentialdeaththedecisionmightseemverydifferenttosome:

“AbsencefromthebodyispresencewiththeLord.Iamnotafraidofdying.Iamnotgoingtoknowinglyparticipateinthetorture,mutilation,andmurderofaninnocenttoavoidmeetingChristforafewyears”.

GingerTaylor,vaccineactivist,personalcommunication.

Wemightquestionwhethermerelytakingavaccineistoknowinglyparticipateinadecadesoldabortion,ifwearevaccinatedarewereallybydoingsohaving“fellowshipwithdarkness”(2Cor6:14)?Wemightalsoaskifthisequationwasstillvalidifweaddedtothecommentsabove“andtopreventthedeathsofmanyothers”.

AsermonbyJasonGarwoodisoftenreferredtoasanexamplefortheviewofChristianswhoopposetheuseofvaccineswhichinvolvedhumancelllines.ThiscitestwomainScripturesinadditiontoRomans3:8whichPiperquotedabove.

Donotparticipateintheunfruitfuldeedsofdarkness,butinsteadexposethem.(Ephesians5:11)

“Whocanmakethecleanoutoftheunclean?Noone!(Job14:4)

GarwoordurgesChristiansnottoignoremoralquestionsassociatedwithvaccinesstating

“Wearenottosimplyignorethedarknessasweretreattooursafepulpitsandchurches;we’retorevealit,anduncoverit,whichrequiresactivity.Activismisathoroughlybiblicalconcept.”

IftherewasanongoingproductionlinedependentonmoderndayabortionstomakevaccinesthenIagreethatweshouldbeexposingsuchbehaviour.Andyetthereisnosuchactivity.IdothinkitisimportantforChristiansnottojustignoretheissueswehavediscussedinthisarticle,however.

WhilstJobdoessupporttheideathatnohumancanturnevilaroundtogood,asJesus’handsandfeetinthisworldwearesurelycommissionedtojoinhiminhisworkofdemonstratinghislovebyhealingandpreventingsuffering.

7.Conclusion

Weliveinarealworldwhichhasbeencontaminatedbysin.Itisimpossibleforustoevercompletelyavoidtheeffectsofthisfallenbrokenworld.WhilstweliketopretendweareentirelyseparatefromtheunbelievingWorldaroundusthetruthiswearenot.WearecalledtoplayourpartintheimpossiblemiracleofsalvationthatJesuscametoEarthtoperform.Turningsicknessintohealth,sorrowintojoy,sufferingintopatience,fearintopeace.

Andatthebeginningof2021isthereabetterpracticalwaytobringphysicalandhealingtothisWorldthantofullyplayourpartinbanishingCOVID-19bybeingvaccinated,encouragingourfriendsandfamilytobevaccinated,counteringtheliesthatmanyarespreading,andcampaigningforthevaccinetobemadeavailabletoeverynationintheWorld?

WithoutvaccinatingtheentireWorld’spopulationwerisknewvariantsofthevirusarisingandfurtherwavesofmisery.SinceWesterncountriesarebetterequippedinmanycasestotracktheemergenceofanyunexpectedsideeffects,andconfirmefficacyintherealworld,Iunderstandthatitisgoodthattheirmillionsarethefirstbeingvaccinated.Butwemustnothoardthevaccinebut

rathershareitwiththedevelopingworld.TothatendtheactionsoftheOxfordandAstra-ZenecagroupinlicensingamanufacturerinIndiatoproducehugequantitiesoftheirvaccineatafurtherreducedpriceforthedevelopingworldissurelytobewelcomed.

JusticedemandsthatweoffertheselifesavingCOVID-19vaccinestoeveryoneintheWorld.Loveforourneighboursurgesusalltotakeit.

VaccineQandA

• Howdoestheimmunesystemwork?• Howdovaccineswork?• HowdoCOVID-19vaccineswork?• ShouldpeoplewithbloodcancertaketheCOVID-19vaccine?

• ShouldIvolunteerforaCOVID-19Monoclonalantibodypassivevaccinationstudy?

• Howwelldovaccinesworkinbloodcancerpatients?TheCLLdata• Whatispassiveimmunisation?• WhatistheevidencefortheuseofCOVID-19vaccines?Dosomepeople

getinfectedevenaftervaccination?• “WhyistheUKdelayingtheseconddoseofCOVID-19vaccines?”

Moretofollow...“Whichvaccineisbest?”“Dothevaccinespreventasymptomaticspread?”“Whataboutthesideeffects?”“Whyarepeoplewho’vehadCOVID19beingvaccinated?”