Comments on the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic and how professing Christians are responding and how many are being manipulated.
The Christian’s response to the “pandemic” is a disputable matter. Don’t let your zeal about the pandemic override your zeal for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Don’t get caught up in the polarization and manipulation going on. You are set apart. Be an ambassador for Christ.
I’ve been warning against the political manipulation of professing Christians for almost 30 years. This is the most sudden and sweeping example that I have observed.
There is nothing more important than who Jesus is and what is the Gospel that saves.
Two Mobs – There are two mobs going at it. One is yelling, “We want Barabbas!” The other is yelling, “We have no king but Caesar!” After a while they switch. But they’re still going at it… driven by anger incited by the propaganda of demagogues. Ambassadors for Christ do not join the mobs. They represent the true King with eternal priorities.
“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” Colossians 3:1-4
When it comes to times of uncertainty regarding how to proceed in society, we set all relevant scriptures side by side and pray for wisdom as to how to obey the Lord… in the world, but not of the world.
Hebrews 10:24-25, Romans 13:1-4, Philippians 2:4, Acts 5:29
The whole world is under the control of the evil one (see 1 John 5:19). And this has nothing to do with republican or democrat, liberal or conservative.
And yet, God still works His purposes through civil government (see Romans 13). We should honor and obey federal, state, and local governments. We should not be deceived by political agendas and demagogues to disobey God by disobeying the magistrates.
Jesus said, “And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.” Matthew 5:41
Religion is used by the rulers to manipulate and use people politically.
Biblical freedom and political freedom are not the same thing.
Movements Melt Minds. We have a lot of very strong convictions in many areas of life, and yet we don’t consider ourselves to be a part of any movement. We’re called to be in the world but not of the world. Movements have a tendency to become their own religions with their own doctrine and agendas. They tend to become the controlling influence in their followers’ lives.
Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” Matthew 16:23
Politicized piety occurs when Christians are stirred up to demand their rights before Caesar instead of following the priorities of the New Testament.
There’s a difference between Paul appealing to the authorities regarding his citizenship for the sake of the Gospel versus organizing Christians, other religious people and political conservatives to demand their rights.
We should follow Paul’s example. I recommend that Christians not allow themselves to be manipulated and mobilized for worldly political agendas.
There are many things in this subject that are disputable matters and that Christians can reasonably disagree about. The starting point is to examine what the New Testament says about our relationship with civil government and what it does not say; and what the NT says our priorities should be vs what worldly agendas do to distract from those priorities.
When I say “Caesar” I mean civil government. And yet there is a sense in which we continue in the same system as the Roman Empire to this day.
If we agree that judgment is coming, then why do we yoke with the world instead of contending for The Faith?
The fire in Rome in AD 64 was blamed on the Christians by some of the authorities. If there is a resurgence of this pandemic, some might find reasons to blame this on the “Christians”.
The fact that powerful people plan is not the same thing as the idolatrous speculation of a conspiracy theory.
Boys who cry “wolf!” are not helpful in the long run.
The whole world is being prepared for a counterfeit Christ. But I think that “boys who cry wolf” is one of the many ways that people are manipulated and distracted and deceived.
Chicken Little on the Road to Damascus
I’ve been observing an interesting pattern of polarization regarding the pandemic. Conservatives are being fed one line of propaganda for one agenda and liberals are being fed another line of propaganda for another agenda!
It sounds like I’m stating the obvious. Sometimes the obvious needs to be stated!
Manipulated or Set Apart?
How often in our day are professing Christians being manipulated and deceived by demagoguery? A “demagogue” is, “a popular leader who stirs up the people by appealing to their emotions and prejudices. The chief aim of most demagogues is to get power and money for themselves alone.”
When someone observes a conflict in society, the tendency is to try to figure out which side is the good guys and which side is the bad guys and then jump on board the bandwagon of the “good guys”.
But if a powerful ruler thinks like Machiavelli, what is the most powerful means by which to control the outcome of any conflict in society? Control both sides! If Machiavelli is smart enough to think of such deceptions then certainly Satan and his demons are even smarter. And certainly they have inspired worldly leaders in this regard for centuries. Consider how Joshua was also caught up in such worldly, fleshly thinking:
You wonder if, at the Nuremberg rallies, there was somebody… anybody… who looked around at the people with their arms out raised and crying, “Sieg heil!”, and said to themselves, “What am I doing here?”. Or better yet, cried out to the Lord, “Open their eyes!”.
What does it take for a cult follower to realize he’s worshipping the cult leader?
Nimrod was the prototype of the worldly leader that the masses look up to and follow and worship in the political, economic, and religious systems: The man of stature that usurps the role of Christ in the hearts of the people. His kingdom began with Babel which became Babylon. see Gen 10:8-12
I continue to explore what true Christianity is according to the New Testament vs. so much of what is thought of as Christianity by both non-christians and those who profess to be Christians.
I recommend that Christians not follow the crowd.
How shall we not try to be the Holy Spirit in other people’s lives?
Don’t jump off a cliff and then say, “Lord save me!”
January 31st, 2021: I got the first dose of the Moderna COVID vaccine last Thursday. I haven’t had any noticeable side effects. Maybe a little fatigue was related. The Kitsap County Health web site appointment system and the process at the former Harrison Hospital in East Bremerton was well run, I thought.