My primary objection to gaining medical benefit when I am otherwise completely healthy is that all vaccines available in the US today are developed (during research, production and/or validation) from the cells of aborted children. I believe that all lives matter and those without an ability to defend themselves are the most needing representation. By refusing to take all the current COVID 19 vaccines, I am hoping to encourage the medical industry and big pharma to do better by not choosing to develop medicine based on the cells of children whose mothers chose to kill.
Life begins at conception
The US Federal government health division and the medical industry states that life begins at conception. Since life matters, is precious, and the vulnerable need to be represented, I believe that the harvesting of cell lines from aborted children as ethically and morally bankrupt.
US Federal Health and Human Services states life begins at conception
According to the US Federal Health and Human Services 2018-2022 strategic plan:
HHS is the U.S. Government’s principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services, especially for those who are least able to help themselves. HHS accomplishes its mission through programs and initiatives that cover a wide spectrum of activities, serving and protecting Americans at every stage of life, from conception
https://www.hhs.gov/about/strategic-plan/introduction/index.html
American College of Pediatricians supports life beginning at conception
Moore’s 1974 edition of a human embryology textbook states that development is a continuous process that begins when an ovum is fertilized by a sperm and ends at death. It is a process of change and growth that transforms the zygote, a single cell, into a multicellular adult human being. Moore’s 2008 edition emphasizes that development does not end at birth but extends into early adulthood. Professor Emeritus of Human Embryology of the University of Arizona School of Medicine, Dr. C. Ward Kischer, affirms that “Every human embryologist, worldwide, states that the life of the new individual human being begins at fertilization (conception).” Even authors who philosophically lean towards not attributing the same value to human life at the one-cell stage as they do to later stages of development admit that “As far as human ‘life’ per se, it is, for the most part, uncontroversial among the scientific and philosophical community that life begins at the moment when the genetic information contained in the sperm and ovum combine to form a genetically unique cell.”
https://acpeds.org/position-statements/when-human-life-begins
Biblical Basis for life beginning at conception
My faith holds life as precious. God created all living things and, with that creation, elevated men and women as “in his image” Genesis 1:27. Other passages of scripture point to God’s unique role in creating us and how precious He considers that creation.
“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. … Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them”
(Psalm 139:13, 16)
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
Jeremiah 1:5
“your Redeemer, who formed you from the womb.”
Isaiah 44:24
Paul states that God “had set [him] apart before [he] was born.”
Galatians 1:15
“The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.”
Job 33:4
Given these references, abortion is the taking of a life. However, there is legal dispute as to whether this unborn life is a person. For instance, according to the National Conference of State Legislators:
Currently, at least 38 states have fetal homicide laws: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin. At least 29 states have fetal homicide laws that apply to the earliest stages of pregnancy (“any state of gestation/development,” “conception,” “fertilization” or “post-fertilization”)
https://www.ncsl.org/research/health/fetal-homicide-state-laws.aspx
However, under current US Federal law, a pregnant woman can, with premeditation, kill this life even up to and including the point of viable birth in some states (e.g., New York, Colorado, New Mexico) (see this article)
All current COVID vaccines exploit the abortion of a child for the medical benefit of healthy adults
All versions of currently approved (FDA and Emergency Use) COVID-19 vaccines are developed with the benefit of cell lines derived from aborted babies (some abortions proven to be voluntary).
The Johnson and Johnson Vaccine uses PER C6 cell lines for production and manufacturing phase of their vaccine. The AstraZeneca vaccine also uses aborted fetal cells in development and testing. Moderna and Pfizer used HEK 293 cell lines for research and validation of their mRNA vaccines. (https://www.nebraskamed.com/COVID/you-asked-we-answered-do-the-covid-19-vaccines-contain-aborted-fetal-cells)
It is against my Christian belief to benefit in any way from the sacrifice of babies, let alone in order for an otherwise healthy adult to reduce the probability of getting sick. All life is precious, particularly the life of those who are innocent and vulnerable. I understand that HEK 293 cells are used quite often in drug development and I believe that to still be an immoral act. I believe that unless people stand for their closely held religious beliefs, the medical industry will not invest in innovation that moves away from this terrible practice of harvesting cells from sacrificed children for financial, personal or social benefit.
But the Pope and Billy Graham say it’s OK…
On August 18th 2021, the Pope called receiving the vaccine an “act of love” while the Archdiocese of New York sent a letter to area priests in which they stated that there was no basis for a religious exemption for the vaccine. When addressing the use of fetal cells in production and research, the Vatican says that the evil associated with abortion is remote so it is allowed. The remoteness of the evil seems to be of some debate since the Johnson and Johnson vaccine uses cells from aborted babies in production while the others use similar aborted baby cell lines in research or validation.
Billy Graham also supports the vaccine saying “I believe it is consistent with scripture that we protect our lives and do whatever we can to save life” and that “Jesus would have made reference to and used” vaccines if they were available during his time.
These are compelling and well thought-out arguments for taking the vaccine from those who are or who are seen as leaders of Christians. However, I have two key issues with these statements:
- The Pope seems to be compromising by creating a theoretical philosophy that suggests that evil isn’t evil as long as you are some conceptual distance from it. I find this very creative but not very compelling.
- Billy Graham suggests that life is precious, which it is, but ignores the fact that these companies have built their highly lucrative drugs on the flesh of aborted innocent babies. I suggest that the baby’s life is also precious and must be protected.
If these people wish to take the vaccine, I have no moral or ethical standing to suggest they should not. I also have no concern for them sharing their personal belief and philosophy. Their statements and comments are worthy of consideration to anyone who believes in Jesus as their Savior.
Nevertheless, they are both created beings doing the best they can to guide and teach on behalf of the creator. I also rely on the Holy Spirit, Scripture, and prayer to guide me. If pastors and church leaders are speaking in ways that I believe are inconsistent with the teachings of the Holy Spirit, Scripture and prayer, their words have no weight for me.
I also don’t expect them to force their decisions on me any more than I would force my decisions on them.
I pray that this humble article serves as insight and information for you as you choose the best way you know how. Please make your decision based on the leading of the Holy Spirit, Scripture and prayer and do not let others pressure you.
Maranatha!
References:
For an excellent summary of the current vaccines and their use of tissue from aborted babies, see this: https://lozierinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/CHART-Analysis-of-COVID-19-Vaccines-02June21.pdf