Tim Keller and Vaccinated Distinctions

Megan Basham reports for The Daily Wire that Tim Keller’s church, Redeemer Presbyterian in New York City has made a quiet announcement that vaccinated congregants can sit on the main floor of the sanctuary. The unvaccinated must sit in the balcony.

Is this necessary? No.

Is it helpful? Again, no. Unless we consider what is helpful along the lines of illustrating the inverse of obedience to the Biblical command for Christians to not show partiality.

“My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?

– James 2:1-13

The Riches of Vaccination

It may seem obscure to some, but consider how chief among the steadily increasing implications of not getting the COVID vaccine is that you may lose your job. And if you are an employer in some places, you may face fines or closure of your business if you do not require vaccination for your employees.

In other words, the evolving definition of what constitutes being “fully vaccinated” may mean that a great many Americans will find themselves impoverished if they have not already. And now, in the context of that realization, consider the ramifications of churches across the nation following the example set by Tim Keller’s church in New York City.

If all of American Christendom follows suit, a distinction will have been made whereby Christ followers made poor by vaccine mandates will be told to sit at the feet. Meanwhile those whose businesses and employment continue on as before will be seated in the place of honor.

Could anything in our day be a more flagrant violation of the command for Christians to not show partiality?

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