Seek Unity, Fear the Lord, and Wash Your Hands

I’m in no way an expert on the medical aspects of COVID-19. What I do know is our enemy, Satan, loves to take moments of crisis and divide people by steering them toward extremes. On one hand, anybody who refuses to vaccinate themselves and their children is selfish and hates humanity. On the other hand, anyone who receives the vaccine has let lies pollute their reasoning and fear control their life. I know I’m exaggerating and simplifying both positions, but I do so to make a broader point. Like all extremes, there is another option which largely gets ignored.

Here’s the third option: Seek unity, fear the Lord, and love your neighbor by washing your hands and practicing some level of social distancing. Such an option can exist regardless of what you think about the virus, face masks, or the vaccine. If you are a Christian, you can love a vaccinated person in the same way and in the same sense as an unvaccinated person. You can show love and kindness to those you disagree with.

I assure you, the world will continue to divide over this issue and many others. May it not be so in the church. Jesus prayed for our unity, and unlike the world, we have a perfect leader whose words are true.

A Better Kingdom, A Perfect King

Christians are not of this world even as their Lord is not of this world (John 17:16). They operate under the authority of Scripture. They follow the leadership of their king.

Although the world may scratch their heads at some of our decisions, we must remain faithful first to Jesus and only secondarily to the government or any other human institution or opinion of man. Yes, Scripture requires us to obey our governing authorities, but not at the expense of disobeying our Lord.

Jesus is perfect. He is king. He has commanded us to love one another (John 13:34). His kingdom is in our midst and we are citizens of that kingdom. We do not have to divide because we do not belong to this divisive world. Let the world pass away. We belong to a better kingdom with a perfect king.

Dear Christians, while we continue to navigate the complexities of COVID-19, seek unity, fear the Lord, and wash your hands.