Over the past few months, Americans have been given so much information on COVID-19 that has been contradicted by the experts that no one seems to know what the truth is. The WHO, CDC, state and federal health officials have all given out information that they later say is inaccurate. So what are we to believe?
The COVID-19 has not only taken on a political view; it has become a religious issue. Christians have become mask bullies. Some are saying that "if Jesus were alive, he would wear a mask." I question their understanding of what Jesus would do. He seems to go contrary to many of the required mandates of the day. Here is what Jesus did.
Mark 7:1-8
Some Pharisees and some teachers of the law came from Jerusalem and gathered around Jesus. They saw that some of his followers ate food with hands that were not clean, meaning that they did not wash their hands in a particular way. The Pharisees and all the other Jews never eat before washing their hands in this unique way. They do this to follow the traditions they have from their great leaders who lived long ago. And when these Jews buy something in the market, they never eat it until they wash it specially. They also follow other rules from their people who lived before them. They follow the rules like the washing of cups, pitchers, and pots.
The Pharisees and teachers of the law said to Jesus, "Your followers don't follow the traditions we have from our great leaders who lived long ago. They eat their food with hands that are not clean. Why do they do this?"
Jesus answered, "You are all hypocrites. Isaiah was right when he wrote these words from God about you:
'These people honor me with their words,
but I am not really important to them.
Their worship of me is worthless.
The things they teach are only human rules.'
You have stopped following God's commands, preferring instead the man-made rules you got from others."
When people judge my choice not to wear a mask and condemn me for not being loving, thoughtful, and kind, where are their love, thoughtfulness, and kindness? Why are they more concerned about the mandates of an ungodly governor or mayor than the commandments of God that they are breaking daily?
Then he said, "You show great skill in avoiding the commands of God so that you can follow your own teachings! Moses said, 'You must respect your father and mother.' He also said, 'Whoever says anything bad to their father or mother must be killed.' But you teach that people can say to their father or mother, 'I have something I could use to help you, but I will not use it for you. I will give it to God.' You are telling people that they do not have to do anything for their father or mother. So you are teaching that it is not essential to do what God said. You think it is more important to follow those traditions you have, which you pass on to others. And you do many things like that."
I am reminded of another passage of scripture that comes to mind.
Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
Some will tell you it is the Christian thing to do and question your salvation if you do not wear a mask. Let me give a perspective that you may find offensive.
So you understand the choice I have made here is what I believe, and I have made my choices based on what I believe to be true.
A large, prospective, randomized clinical trial (RCT); and the first RCT ever conducted of cloth masks came to this conclusion.
"This study is the first RCT of cloth masks, and the results caution against the use of cloth masks. Moisture retention, reuse of cloth masks and poor filtration may result in an increased risk of infection."
https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/5/4/e006577
From the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) School of Public Health. "Cloth masks are ineffective as source control and PPE, surgical masks have some role to play in preventing emissions from infected patients, and respirators are the best choice for protecting healthcare and other frontline workers, but not recommended for source control. These recommendations apply to the pandemic and non-pandemic situations."
"WHO stands by recommendation to not wear masks if you are not sick or not caring for someone who is sick . . . There is no specific evidence to suggest that the wearing of masks by the mass population has any potential benefit. There's some evidence to suggest the opposite in the misuse of wearing a mask properly or fitting it properly," Dr. Mike Ryan, executive director of the WHO health emergencies program.
https://edition.cnn.com/2020/03/30/world/coronavirus-who-masks-recommendation-trnd/index.html
Although "CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies), especially in areas of significant community-based transmission,". . . there are no scientific citations provided to support this on the report.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html
CDC says masks don't work for the flu. "No recommendation can be made at this time for mask use in the community by asymptomatic persons, including those at high risk for complications, to prevent exposure to influenza viruses."
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/infectioncontrol/maskguidance.htm
On a separate page related to face covering, the CDC provides seven publications to support their recommendation– but none of the studies support that wearing a mask is effective or safe in preventing transmission. They only support that transmission is the person to person
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cloth-face-cover.html
On March 2, the U.S. Surgeon General said, "one of the things they shouldn't be doing, the general public, is going out and buying masks. It does not help, and it has not been proven to be effective at preventing the spread of Coronavirus decreasing amongst the general public".
That is the science I have chosen to accept. You have the right to accept what you believe to be true.
There are Christians that are so terrified of becoming ill or dying from COVID-19 that they will not attend Church unless everyone wears a mask. They ignore the admonition, 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.
These same Christians demand people be in 100% compliance with the governor's mandates regarding the wearing of a mask, crowd size, and social distancing. Yet, they are not in compliance with God's commandments and can judge your actions as a Christian based on wearing a mask. These same Christians have no problem with their place of worship being closed to enforce mandates that have proven unsuccessful in stopping COVID-19. The worship of God is second to the orders of an ungodly government official. Is it any wonder why God does not bless the Church?
Let me say this in as much love and kindness as I can. If you fear getting COVID-19, stay home, wear your mask, limit your contact with friends and family until your irrational fears are under control. However, let those of us who realize life is short and the time we have with friends and family and those of the household of faith is short, and we want as much time together as we can have without the constraints of fear and being bullied.
I believe that you have the freedom to choose how you live your life. You are a free moral agent making life and death decisions everyday based on what you believe. I respect your choice. If you want to wear a mask, social distance, avoid personal contact, limit your interaction with people, I will not question your life as a Christian, nor question your salvation. However, I expect the same consideration and trust you will not demand my acceptance of something I find questionable or jeopardize my family's safety by forcing me to accept your choices.
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