Dear friends on both sides of this issue,

Stop shivering in the shadows and start standing in the sunshine.

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Y’all need to stop with the morbid fear

This post goes out to people on **both** sides of the issue, especially Christians, who have allowed their COVID-related fears to reach unbiblical, unhealthy levels. And I’m going to try to avoid revealing my vaccine status here…because it’s not the point. If you somehow figure it out, don’t expect me to give you a gold star. It’s irrelevant.

Also, this is not a blog about public policy or medicine. I will try to say precisely nothing about the wisdom of mandates or vaccines. It doesn’t mean I don’t have opinions about public policy or medicine…it’s just that I have much more important things to talk to you about, and I don’t want to dilute the message.

One more caveat: if you or a loved one is suffering from COVID now, have suffered through it previously, or your loved one died of COVID, or COVID-related circumstances have visited extreme economic hardship on you, then let me extend my sympathies to you, and assure you that I’m not discouraging you from speaking about your experiences.

OK, caveats are done, so here’s what I want to say: My dearly beloved y’all, my heart is heavy for you, because of all the morbid fear I see out there. Some of you are afraid of COVID, some of you are afraid of economic issues, and some of you are afraid of a conspiracy.

There’s a better way, dear friend.

“I’m just practicing reasonable caution.” No you’re not!

Well, OK, some of you are, but I’m not addressing you. I’m not talking about taking precautions…against COVID or against vaccines.

I’m listening to y’all…and I hear plenty of fear that withstands ALL the precautions you are taking. It’s making you sick!

I’m talking about the fear that persists even after you put on that mask. Even after you get that booster shot. Even after you sanitize your hands. Even after you socially distance. I’m talking to those of you who wag your fingers or cluck your tongues at other believers when they catch COVID at church. Jesus never applied “Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God” to people hazarding their lives in an attempt to follow their convictions based on the Word of God. He cited this commandment when Satan wanted Him to jump off a temple pinnacle for the sole purpose of tipping God’s hand. That is completely different than someone taking a risk by assembling with the saints!

Now I turn to the other group that I equally love. For those of you who are refusing the vaccine and are afraid of the economic repercussions of your decision: trust in God to provide for your needs. Jesus would never countenance the daily, creeping fear of want or fear of persecution that is afflicting you, regardless of your reason for refusing the vaccine. “I’m not afraid of the vaccine. I just don’t want it for XYZ reasons.” Fine…but are you afraid of what’s going to happen to you as a result of not getting it? Then I’m rebuking you, in love, just as much as the first group. Either get the shot or refuse it…but always trust in God to provide!!

COVID Worries: The Lightning Round

If you’re worried about what mandate Biden will issue next, COVID is dimming your light.

If you’re worried about a deadlier variant originating in the cells of the unvaccinated, COVID is dimming your love.

If you’re worried about your local health department’s latest restrictive rule, COVID is dimming your hope.

If you’re worried about breakthrough infections because Jen Psaki caught COVID, COVID is dimming your peace.

If you’re worried about world leaders using a “plandemic” to effect a Great Reset, COVID is dimming your faith.

If you’re worried about a long wait time for toddlers’ vaccines, COVID is dimming your joy.

Yes: let’s focus on the BIG issues

Don’t think for a minute that I’m sitting in some ivory tower somewhere looking down on you. No, my friends, I’m in the trenches right next to you. I have plenty of potential exposure to the virus. I’m asthmatic, which probably makes me even more vulnerable. I have a full-time job, bills to pay and a family to feed. So yes, I want to focus on the BIG issues just as much as you do.

And just what are those BIG issues, from a Christian perspective? Here’s a big one:

[1Pe 5:8 KJV] 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Oh yes, my friends, the battle is real, the hunt is on, and we are the prey. Do you see those hungry eyes in the night, staring out of the gloom at my family and yours? That is the very reason I’m writing this blog post, my friends! Worries and fears over vaccines, new rules, and your wallet are the perfect way for us to lose focus on the spiritual dangers facing us.

Check out this report from HQ…the context makes it clear that the demonic “advantage” is gained if we don’t forgive:

[2Co 2:11 KJV] 11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

Satan wants to rip up your marriage and mine…and what better tool than unforgiveness? He wants us devouring vast quantities of drugs and alcohol, so that we ourselves can be devoured. He wants your child to not even know what a pronoun is.

He wants us angrily shouting at each other and breaking off fellowship. In a hyper-connected world of billions of people, He wants the vaccinated to focus on (1) the most severe, long-lasting, torturous and complicated cases of COVID they can dig up, as well as (2) the most extreme, insane, irrational, anti-vax social media posts they can find. He wants the unvaccinated to (1) spend every minute of the day worried about how they will provide for their families after they get fired, and (2) to focus on the most heavy-handed, hostile, condescending, sneering and hateful tweets they can find.

See what the Enemy is tricking us into doing to ourselves, my friends?

Be a COVERED person, not a COVID person

So, in the interest of focusing on the BIG issues, I’m begging you to stop being “COVID people”! Instead, be “COVERED people”:

[Psa 140:7 KJV] 7 O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast COVERED my head in the day of battle.

After conferring with our military consultant and artist, I can confirm that the dragon is shooting “ballista bullets”.

If you think I’m taking this anti-worry thing too far, consider that Jesus rebuked His disciples for freaking out when there was a LITERAL STORM ON THE BRINK OF DROWNING THEM. That wasn’t even morbid fear…that was MORTAL fear. And Jesus said Nuh-uh.

[Mar 4:40 KJV] 40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

So, I believe He just as firmly rebukes us for the storms we’re freaking out over. In this context, it does not matter what your storm or my storm is, dearly beloved; we need to lovingly rebuke each other when we take our eyes off the Savior and put them on the waves.

So, in literal terms, what am I exhorting you to do? Take your worries to the Lord…and leave them there!!!

[Phl 4:6 KJV] 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Remember that filthy nasty hungry lion hunting us? Well, just ONE verse prior to that verse, we find this exhortation:

[1Pe 5:7 KJV] 7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Which begs the question…is there a connection between holding on to your cares with a kung fu grip and being susceptible to spiritual predation? Conversely, is there a connection between casting your cares on the Lord and being protected from the lion? Hmmmmm…

Peace!