By Etta Daniels // COVID-19 // EEW Magazine Online

Since humankind began, disputes have broken out as people have grappled with truth versus lies. In Romans 14:1, the writer admonished Christians not to quarrel over matters of faith with weaker Jesus-followers who believe differently, saying, “don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong.”

This lesson can translate to our current national debate over the safety, efficacy, and trustworthiness of COVID-19 vaccines. We need to stop arguing and attacking people on their stance when it differs from ours.

Pro-vax. Anti-vax. Hesitant-to-get-the-vax. Whatever position you take on the issue, to reiterate, sniping, fighting, name-calling, and demonizing those with opposing views is not the way forward.

Simply put, that ain’t it.

It is clear that no one wants to die from Coronavirus. Everyone is interested in living in a pandemic-free world where they can be sure family and friends are safe from this deadly virus. What we all cannot seem to agree on is how to get to that ideal place.

Agree or not, tearing into each other, especially as Christians, is the wrong thing to do. Where is our compassion, love, understanding, and willingness to listen to the perspectives of others? When did we turn into vultures, ripping into each other’s souls and heartlessly dismissing those with varying beliefs and approaches?

As we have seen play out on television and social media, COVID-19 and vaccinations have been politicized with divisive, unhelpful rhetoric. Now we are at a stalemate as the pandemic continues to ravage America.

Democrats blame Republicans for the spread of COVID. Likewise, Republicans blame Democrats. Liberals blame Conservatives. Conservatives blame Liberals. And many blame Donald J. Trump, our 45th president, who was beaten by Joe Biden (depending on who you ask) in the November 2020 election.

How are we to make any significant progress if most of our energy is devoted to blaming people and parties for problems instead of finding creative solutions to unify Americans and collectively fight COVID?

We all must admit that America’s polarized views have been exploited and magnified by journalists, bloggers, commentators, and everyday folks with platforms. No single individual, political party or media outlet that has thrown fuel on the flames of division and controversy is innocent. Not CNN. Not Fox News. Not MSNBC. Not the New York Times. Not The Washington Post. Not even The Associated Press. Not your average Twitter user.

Let us all, vaccinated or not, collectively rethink our approach to this issue. Clearly, fighting is getting us nowhere.

A big part of the problem is that “objective” news sources constantly churn out biased headlines. Nearly everything is an opinion with a few facts sprinkled in here and there. News media no longer exists to inform; it aims to influence. Journalists take sides, trash-talk opponents, and drag perceived enemies through the mud which isn’t a good recipe for educating, helping, or uniting.

The 24/7 news cycle, popularity of cable news, and social media with its instant virality have given around-the-clock coverage to what divides us and very little attention to what unites us as a nation.

In Mark 3:25, Jesus said, "And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand."

If America remains divided against itself, it cannot stand. Attacking people for their stance on vaccination—or attacking people period—is not the answer.

Let us pray for one another. Love one another unconditionally. And intercede for our nation at a time when we need it most.

Again, fighting is not the answer. It changes nothing.

For more information about the Coronavirus vaccine, visit CDC.gov.