First, let me say that I highly respect Dan Mohler. When I grow up I want to be just like Dan who I think is one of the purest representations of Jesus on earth. I love his heart and his humility. There is a refreshing simplicity in the way Dan views life and an intimate relationship with Jesus. It’s more than a theology or a doctrine. Dan says that we should wear a mask for those who are afraid if we don’t. He doesn’t seem to believe we need to wear a mask to protect ourselves, but rather to protect those who are afraid of the virus.
To support his claim he quotes Paul from 1 Corinthians 8. 1 Corinthians 8 seems to be a reasonable passage to refer to in this example. Here we find a controversy within the church regarding meat offered to idols. Some people believe that meat offered to idols is unholy and it would be a sin to eat it. Others believe that idols are not real, therefore they cannot pollute the meat. In the end, Paul says that while it is not a sin to eat meat offered to idols, it would be wrong to eat it in front of someone who believes it to be sin and causes them to sin.
One could correlate this passage to the current mask controversy. The reasoning that even if you don’t believe it to be helpful to prevent the spread of the virus, you wear it anyway to put those who think it will at ease. While this seems to be a very loving and Christian thing to do, is it the proper response.
One could look to another Biblical passage where the religious leaders were offended by Jesus and his disciples for their blatant disregard for social and religious etiquette. Remember when the disciples broke the commandment to keep the Sabbath holy in Matthew 12? Remember how they harvested grain and ate it on the Sabbath? How did Jesus respond? He immediately began to rebuke them. No. Not his disciples, but rather the Pharisees. His conclusion was that the day of rest was made for man and not vice versa. He asserts Himself as Lord of the Sabbath.
In Matthew 15, the Pharisees approach Jesus wondering why his disciples neglect to wash their hands as their tradition requires. Jesus goes on to rebuke the Pharisees for breaking God’s commands in order to honor their traditions. He wisely instructs those with ears to hear that it is not what enters a man’s body that defiles him, but rather that which comes out of his mouth. For the condition of a man’s heart is revealed through his words. Everyone was astounded that Jesus would dare rebuke the religious leaders. They even went as far as to ask if He was even aware of how offensive He was.
In Luke 11, even Jesus offended the religious leaders by failing to properly wash His hands before eating. The Pharisees and religious leaders were once again outraged and confronted Him. He did not apologize. He did not get up and go and properly wash His hands so as to pacify those who were crying out for His compliance.
So what’s the difference between Paul’s admonition that we acquiesce to the weaker brother and Jesus’s firm rebuke and refusal to go along with the societal pressure to conform to the will of those in power? Jesus didn’t seem to be concerned with anyone’s feelings. He doesn’t even seem to care that His position and His responses were offensive. He didn’t bow to those who were offended, yet willingly laid down His life for theirs. He prayed that God would forgive them for they didn’t know what they were doing.
The problem that I have with wearing a mask is not so much an infringement upon my rights or that it makes me uncomfortable. Yes, those are things that I have had to discern in discovering why my gut reaction to the mask mandate is negative. I believe that my opposition is so much bigger than the loss of a personal right. I am concerned with the potentially harmful ramifications of a mask mandate. While I don’t think that periodically wearing a mask can be devastating to one’s health, there are not yet reports on the long-term effects.
Then there is the issue of science. Science does not conclusively support the wearing of masks. I’ve read the so-called studies and reports that hail masks as a modern-day miracle. Many of them report that there is not enough evidence to make a proper determination. Many of them use the same kind of “science” that gave us the horrific model of “millions dead” in a matter of days. It’s based upon an assumption, run through a computer algorithm, and reported as a scientific experiment (Texas A&M Study). Then there was the one that claimed that masks could reduce the transmission by up to 80%. The headline looked great. I clicked on it, open to the possibility that I was wrong. But then, I realized that the test was done on a few hamsters. And no, the hamsters did not wear masks. They put a “mask-like” covering over the hamster’s cage and blew coronavirus onto the hamster. The hamsters in the masked cage were up to 80% less likely to test positive. Up to 80%? Isn’t that the same kind of deceptive marketing that retail stores use to get you into the store only to find that nothing in the store is actually 80% off? It’s more like 10%
Then there is all of the science that actually is negatively against the effectiveness of a mask. I’m not going to take time to get into all of that here, but here’s one example:
My concern is that masks are not effective. My concern is that masks are increasing the risk of people contracting the virus. My concern is the false comfort and feeling of protection that it gives. My concern is how many times people touch their face when wearing them. My concern is the reduction of oxygen over an extended period of time. My concern is the mask trapping viruses and other bacteria and prolonging exposure to them. My concern is where your mask has been. My concern is the weakening of millions of immune systems.
But, even greater than these concerns is the fact that I don’t believe the issue is about a mask at all. I think it is conditioning for what is yet to come. The issue of masks is so divisive in our country right now. People have taken sides in a battle of civil war-like proportions. Some have even already given their lives in the fight. The fight exposes the compliant from the rebels. Those who refuse to be masked are marking themselves as the ones who will have to be dealt with accordingly when the vaccine mandate is issued.
It’s so much bigger than a mask. It’s about lock-step. Getting everyone to fall in line for the new world order. And if the mask was an isolated event that was taking place, I don’t think I’d be so concerned. But it’s not. It’s part of a coordinated effort to destroy the fabric of culture. To bring division and chaos and create the need for a savior. It’s part of the communist/Marxist revolution that we see unfolding before our very eyes. It’s not about the mask. If it was the science would support it. It’s about conforming. It’s about control.
Would Jesus wear a mask? What would He do in our situation? Would He put on the mask and take the vaccine to allay the fears of the hysterical mob? Would He gather His disciples together and explain to them that in order for people to not be offended by our message, we have to wear a mask. We have to take the vaccine because we want to help people not be so scared. Would He recommend keeping your mouth shut and falling in line? Would He cite the famous verse in this sermon to love your neighbor as yourself?
Or, would this be one of those times when He rebukes those in power and authority for placing undue and heavy burdens on people? Would He expose their hypocrisy for enforcing rules and laws of which they have no intention of following? Would He call out Dr. Faucci who is now calling for the use of “as much force as is possible” for like a wolf leading the sheep astray? Would He tell the pastors who are tirelessly trying to accommodate every recommendation and jump through every hoop to “depart from me, for I never knew you?”
No, I do not believe Jesus would put on a mask just to appease the angry mob. He didn’t bow His knee when they said He didn’t wash His hands properly. He didn’t apologize when He offended them by claiming He was God’s son. And He didn’t back down when they commanded Him to recant His position.
He didn’t need their acceptance and approval. He wasn’t concerned about appeasing the mob. He was aware of their fear and proclaimed Himself to be the prince of peace. He was the answer they were looking for. Not laws or traditions. He fulfilled the laws which they were so painstakingly trying to enforce. He changed times and seasons. He upended the natural law because He transcended both time and space. He didn’t follow. He led. Even when He was led to the cross, He wasn’t following. He was leading.
Should you wear a mask so you don’t make anyone mad? I’m not sure that’s the right answer. What if we later find out that it is actually the masks that are spreading the virus? Would you still say that the facts are immaterial? That you should still wear the mask as a courtesy to your neighbor?
www.thehealthyamerican.org
0 Comments