There is no doubt that the pro-vaccination camp in this nation has become so ambitious about making sure everyone is vaccinated that it has turned into a cult-like fetish. Largely being pushed by the left, the vaccine industry is seeking to mandate vaccinations for COVID-19 for every single American without any avenue for religious or conscientious objection.

What’s most frightening, however, is that the so-called “Christian right” has jumped aboard this movement and beginning to hand their people over to this cult.

Last week, Reformation Charlotte reported that the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) denounced religious exemptions for vaccinations without regard to one’s freedom of conscience. We then later reported that The Gospel Coalition (TGC) also followed suit and threw their support behind vaccine mandates for church gatherings. It goes without saying that the Roman Catholic Church is also pushing these mandates and requiring “green pass” vaccine passports to enter Vatican City.

Now, one of the most well-known Southern Baptist conservative pastors, Robert Jeffress, is jumping on board the pro-vax “inoculation for all” movement and has denounced religious exemptions for those who object to vaccines. The Associated Press reports:

The Rev. Robert Jeffress of First Baptist Dallas, a Southern Baptist megachurch, said he and his staff “are neither offering nor encouraging members to seek religious exemptions from the vaccine mandates.”

“There is no credible religious argument against the vaccines,” he said via email. “Christians who are troubled by the use of a fetal cell line for the testing of the vaccines would also have to abstain from the use of Tylenol, Pepto Bismol, Ibuprofen, and other products that used the same cell line if they are sincere in their objection.”

Of course, Jeffress’s argument is also dull-minded and many who do object to the vaccine for that reason do also object to the use of other pharmaceuticals in general. And while that is certainly one plausible reason for a Christian to object to the use of these chemicals, it isn’t the only. Many object conscientiously based on their own research and have concluded that the risks outweigh the benefits for them. As Christians, we have freedom of conscience and our conscience should be compelled neither by the state nor the Church.

If you want to encourage people to vaccinate, that’s one thing. You can make your argument for it if you like. But to bind one’s conscience by telling them their religious objection is invalid is actually pretty twisted for a pastor. It’s really sad to see so many Christian leaders caving to the fear of man and government. I hope he repents.