It has been a tumultuous time in our world.
Not just because of the social distancing, mask wearing, sickness, and such. But because of the discord, arguing, flat out disrespect that I have noticed. I have been disappointed. Not as much by the government, although I see and hear all of the noise about there being corruption. I've rather been disappointed in my fellow believers.
I have been silent. I've been watching, researching, listening, and yes... at times I have felt anger and frustration with how our province has been treating it's citizens.
But my heart doesn't break when I walk into a store with a mask. My heart breaks when I see how employees are treated by those who are supposed to be showing Jesus. My heart breaks when I hear of people being turned away from a church service. My heart breaks to hear of people seeking, but having no where to go to find the answers that they are looking for. My heart breaks to hear of the church shutting down. I don't mean the doors of the church, I mean the body of Christ.
It happens on both sides. Whether you are afraid of Covid, and hiding yourself away. Or whether you are against the regulations and staying away from places or doing things for others because you don't want to be inconvenienced by the rules.
I see people who call themselves Christians calling people horrible names because of the way they feel on certain issues. I see churches and families being divided because we can't respect each other the way we should.
People call the virus evil. They call the government wicked. They complain about our freedoms being taken away and the injustice of it all. They forget what the devil's goal is, and that is the division of the people of Christ.
This has been on my heart for a while, but this morning I was thinking about it all again, and this time I can't be silent. This is me calling out my fellow believers.
To be honest, I'm not afraid of Covid. If we had the freedom to choose, I wouldn't wear a mask when I enter a business. But, when this all began, I asked myself what Jesus would do. Would Jesus disobey the government and cause people grief and trouble because he didn't want to cover his face?
When I was mulling this over one day, I thought about the time that Jesus overthrew the tables in the temple and caused chaos. But this would be comparable to righteous anger for things that were happening WITHIN the temple. He was upset that God's house was being turned into an opportunity to buy and sell.
Then I thought about all of the times that the Pharisees asked him questions about political matters. Instead of telling them to rebel against the government, Jesus told them to give what was asked of us. 'Give to Ceaser what is Ceaser's, and to God what is God's."
Jesus diffused situations. He brought peace. He showed love.
I was reading in Romans today, and these verses jumped out at me.
For the Scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might show my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
Nay but, O man, who art thou that replies against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
What if God, willing to show His wrath, and to make His power known, endured with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:
And that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory.
Romans 8:16-23
So, this begs the question. If God is not just in control of... but places people in control. Who are we to disobey and rail against the people with whom we disagree? What if God has placed the people who are in charge in their places, hardens their hearts to the freedoms that we all believe that we should have, so that He can bring glory to His name?
Yet here we are. Refusing to show the love of Jesus to people because we don't like to cover our faces. Refusing to pray for the people in our government because we don't like their choices. Showing hate to those in control of the health regulations because we don't like what they are telling us to do.
Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is NO POWER but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Whosoever therefore resisters the power, resisters the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
Romans 13:1-3
Now, don't get me wrong. I do believe that there is a place to disobey the government, namely when it goes directly against what Jesus asks of us in His word. (Acts 5:29; Peter and the Apostles said that we ought to obey God rather than men.) Which is why I didn't stop seeing family and friends when we were ordered to. According to God's word we are not to forsake the assembling of ourselves (Hebrews 10:25). I'm not here to debate about it, but I don't believe that there is a place in the bible where it talks about fighting for our freedoms or not to wear a mask in a public building.
Am I saying it is fun and I agree with it? Absolutely not. I was 5 days post op when I had to walk alone 1/4 mile underneath the hospital carrying my newborn to get the hole in her heart checked out. It was not fun, but I did survive. That experience was minimal compared to those who had loved ones dying in the hospital, or patients that couldn't receive visitors, or those who had to go through surgeries alone.
I'm also not getting the vaccination. But I respect other's choices to do so. Everyone gets to do what they believe is best for their families. And everyone should be able to do that without being judged and called names.
I feel like I've been all over the place with this post. It's been on my heart for so long, and I couldn't keep the lid on it any longer.
