Proverbs 18:13 He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.
The church is where many people turn during times of crisis, even those who may not regularly attend. Remember after 9/11, churches were filled with people. This year, albeit an induced crisis, has been a crisis, none the less. With this, once again, to increase the effect of having the American people up against the ropes, many politicians, strangely most were from one political party, decide that it was not safe for people to go to church and started putting regulations on how and if they could gather and worship.
Sanctuary: a place of refuge . . .
The same party pushing these regulations and prohibitions, are the same ones that have been violating the 2nd amendment already, so it should come as no surprise that they hold the 1st amendment in the same regard . .
This is also the same party that is promoting abortion, making it easier to kill not only unborn, but new born babies . . . If they can diminish the church as one of the biggest opponents of this movement, they will have won! So many churches have closed their doors or lost many of their regular attenders due to these needless restrictions.
Our rights, as spelled out in the constitution, are nothing but a hinderance to those who want to rule us.
This country was founded to get away from the government interfering with the church and this is the true purpose of the separation of church and state.
Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
It was good to see that John MacArthur gets it. Even after being threatened by governing officials, he stood his ground, and with that, he moved up towards the top of my list of favored pastors . . .
Well, you can’t argue with that, and in fact the Supreme Court also agrees. Fortunately they are still enforcing some of the constitution . . .
I know, there are many that will reference Romans 13 about being in subjection to the government but why did Paul end up in jail, Daniel in the lion’s den and three men in a fiery furnace? They all went against the government. When the choice comes between doing what God says and doing what man/government says, it should be an simple choice to make.
Hebrews 10:25 “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching”. But in this case, it appears that the church just doesn’t have room for everyone. Once again, the Supreme Court has ruled that none of the induced mandates apply to the church.
Even though the choice may be simple, I didn’t say it was going to be easy.
Lets bring that forward to today. Many churches today pray for, encourage and support the persecuted church that not only meets at the risk of going to jail, but some at the risk of death and they are going against the government.
Are we willing to do what we encourage others to do? How long before we have to start meeting in secret?
If we don’t push back, they will push us as far as they can. Just this year Virginia is pushing LGBT regulations on the church . . . How are you with that?
How about the abortion laws passed by our Virginia government . . . Are we supposed to be go along with that?
As believers in Christ, and brothers and sisters in Christ, we should not let this bring division within the church, but due to the lack of understand of everything that has been going on, we have set up an adversarial environment between those who have done the research and those who just watch the news.
First we need to remember that the church is exempt from any of these useless mandates, but if you feel that masks work, by all means wear one. If your sick, you shouldn’t be in church to start with . . .
When we come into the church, we enter the sanctuary. Let’s just think about this for a second. This should be a “sanctuary” from the world. Now I’m not suggesting that we start handling poisonous snakes or anything like that, but do we not believe that God will keep us safe in His sanctuary?
There are many that don’t wear masks, and for that reason they are not going to church due to these perceived mask mandates. For this reason, church attendance is at an all time low, at a time when it should be at an all time high. There are also others that do attend and wear them by force, not through fear, and it is a relief to them to see others not wearing them.
Then there are those who attend, having done the research and don’t wear masks causing others who have not done the research, not to attend due to their perception, propagated by the propaganda outlets, that the non-maskers are just selfish and endangering everyone.
Please understand that we are being conditioned . . If they came out today and said that this virus no longer existed, people would still be wearing masks because that’s what they have been conditioned to do.
I was asked by someone in the church, how not wearing a mask would effect my testimony . . . and to be frank, it is an outward sign that I have not been deceived. Should we not, as Christians, have discernment through the Holy Spirit to rightly divide truth? Now I know that many, including church staff feel they need to wear masks even though they know the truth, but it may be time for a display of faith over fear.
Romans 12:2 tells us not to be conformed to this world, but here we are . . .
The governing bodies that are imposing these mandates are not going to give us our freedom back, we will have to take it . . . and if you believe differently, you have been deceived . . .
It is my intent, in these times, to surround myself with those who are not easily deceived, as the deceptions’ have just begun and will lead further and further from the truth.
