Forget About It!

It used to be Calvinism/Arminianism, method of baptism, style of worship, size of a church, the nature of hell etc. These days you can throw in Vax/No-vax, mask/no-mask, even Republican/Democrat as the fishbones that can divide the body. Fishbones as defined by Spurgeon as all those untidy little things that can have us at each other's throats (figuratively of course)!  What else can we say about these things? Oh yeah, they're non-essentials; where you stand on them has no bearing on your salvation. Where you stand on Jesus Christ does have bearing!

It's funny how I used to get more worked up about these very fishbones until I had an epiphany. Maybe not such an epiphany, since it was the realization of what a hypocrite I am. I have and still do engage in social intercourse with people all over the spectrum relating to all manner of personal stances. What I mean is that your views on most anything (if I'm even aware) from abortion to women in the military, your religion (or lack of), personal habits, occupation, etc.; are of no interest to me if they are not the reason we are interacting. We may be playing a sport, riding motorcycles, attending a Trump rally (ah, those were the days) or any number of things where these topics don't come up. If we're focused on sharing a mutually enjoyable activity, who cares.

Oh, but how that will change at church! Now everything you do and think that runs contrary to where I stand on the afore-mentioned fishbones matters a lot! I can ignore all these as we're winding down the road on our Harleys with the wind in our hair (if we still have it), but don't tell me we can worship under the same roof if you think someone can lose their salvation, when clearly, they can't (just jokes folks, I'm not trying to start another post here). But why should that be? How screwed up is it that riding a stupid motorcycle (my wife's perspective; she's not wrong) allows us to extend grace to others that differ from us, but when our main focus is worshipping our Lord, we're all about being fruit inspectors? Oh yeah, we're generally pretty messed up, makes sense.

There's a line in Remember the Titans (highly recommended BTW) where Denzel Washington lauds one of his players for being a "...self-aware man". I like to think one of the ways God is working out my sanctification is by increasing my self-awareness of my sin, or at least, my foibles. My progress in this area has been predicated on two realizations: that what others do with their fishbones is their business and I am just as guilty of thinking my own fishbones are really fillets.

There is an old adage about people often needing reminding more than education. It's not a knock on education as without education, there would be very little to be reminded about. More of a general observation that the basic, bedrock things like reading, writing, arithmetic, manners and such can easily be neglected at the expense of "higher" education. I believe this is even more applicable in Christian circles where what Christ did on the Cross is lost in "higher" theological fishbones that many tend to get tangled in. Many (I know I still do) enjoy wrangling with others (iron sharpens iron, right?) on issues either unexplainable this side of Glory or need the minds of Macarthur, Sproul, or C.S. Lewis to explain. Iron can sharpen iron, but it also can dull it if not done properly. We run the risk of dulling our senses to the simple and wonderful message of the Cross when we spend too much time grinding away at concepts, often advanced by men.

Not coincidentally, my growth in this area has been bolstered by our fairly recent discovery of a new church. We have become more immersed here than probably any other church we've attended. Being involved in an adult fellowship group has helped me realize the importance of similarities and often the unimportance of differences. It illuminates that basic Christian tenet that we are all made in the image of Christ, and we all have our strengths and weaknesses (reminding right?). It is a Baptist church, but large enough to be comprised of many different demographics and political leanings. Therefore, fishbones are everywhere! So, when someone asks me if I'm pre-trib, post trib, KJV, NIV, ESV, paper or plastic; you know what my response will be: Forget About It! 

Who You Calling Stupid!?

 I've largely avoided getting sucked into the "Pro-vax" vs "Anti-vax" debate, as I did with the "Pro-mask" vs "Anti-mask" debate. I was (and am) anti-mask and only did one post on that and generally avoided getting into public discourse regarding same. It truly was a bridge to nowhere. A similar dynamic has unfolded with the vaccine. I am unashamedly anti-vax and wasn't intending to write anything until I heard some moron recently on our local college public radio station. 

This man was on with one of the on-air personalities I had heard before. It's basically a format where the two guys banter back and forth about current events, giving light comment and opinion. The one guy whose name I don't remember was involved somehow with the college science department and apparently a referee of local school athletics. Anyway, this dude at some point decided to make it clear that not only was he a pro-vaxer, anyone who wasn't was an idiot (I think his exact word was stupid). He continued his rant by stating that hospital emergency departments were being overrun by this "idiots" as they were constituting the bulk of new Covid cases. He even insinuated that people were dying as they couldn't access treatment because of this situation. Well, the more he talked, the more he cemented his moronic position as as he was spewing both regurgitated progressive views and total ignorance of actual activities as it relates to health care. His most repugnant point (and the straw for this camel's back) was when he suggested that the unvaccinated should not be treated due to their "stupid" decision to not get vaccinated. Essentially: they've made their own beds and should now sleep in them.

To say that it's a shame that this institution of higher learning (ahem), would let this guy spout off is an understatement. Although most colleges are pretty left-leaning (especially in the liberal town I live close to) this babbling fool should have had his mic cut off. It's not so much that he feels this way (I'm sure he's not alone) it's that he besmirched the organization that allowed him the forum. And I'm not interested in rebutting the "science" behind pro/anti vaccines. It doesn't matter because either side can find "experts" on both sides of the debate. Forget about the politics and conspiracy theories too. What I want to speak to are two realities that can't be debated: hypocrisy and long-term effects.

Let me take the second point first as it is cut and dry: Nobody, whether it's Dr. Oz, Dr. Doolittle, Einstein (work with me here), or Oprah knows the long-term effects of these shots. They just don't. And don't think just because the FDA approves them, they're ok; not necessarily. It's easy to research approved drugs that were later taken off the market due to dangerous side effects. And those medications weren't rushed like the Covid ones were.

The hypocrisy requires a bit more explanation and interpretation, but I feel is just as undeniable as the point made in the previous paragraph. Those that feel that unvaccinated people should somehow be relegated to second class citizen status as it relates to their need for emergency care due to Covid are drinking the same Kool-Aid as those who believed the government was acting in our own best interests when Draconian lock-down measures were implemented. That was not the motivation then, and it isn't now; it's all about control. Anyone who equates "stupid" choices to access to health care would have to turn away most of those who show up at emergency rooms. I know, as I work in a hospital emergency room on a regular basis. I don't know how anyone can say making a sober, informed decision to not receive a vaccine that is (here I will borrow a comment I saw on a video chat thread) "...so safe that you have to be threatened to take it - for a disease so deadly you have to be tested to know you have it." is stupid. But I'll play your game and ask what would you call those who present at emergency because:

• they got drunk and had an accident
• hurt because they weren't wearing protective gear
• hurt because they weren't using caution
• they smoke cigarettes
• they use illegal drugs or legal like cannabis 
• too reckless (think ice fisherman, skiers, weekend warriors)
• their obesity results in a myriad of health issues

I could give many more examples of what I would consider "stupid" people, using your parameters. Another factor is those who show up with non-emergent complaints. In my experience, I would guess that 50% at best show up with clear emergent situations (i.e. trauma, serious illness/health conditions etc.). The rest use emergency as an urgent care, and even many of those are things like the sniffles, sore muscles, banged a shin on a stool (I am not making that up). In short the ER's are clogged up with snowflakes and those who don't care about living a healthy lifestyle. They want sympathy and drugs rather than some self-discipline when it comes to healthy choices. So yeah, if you go to a hospital with a sprained ankle (as you suggested you might), you may have to wait awhile if they do any intelligent triage.

So, therein lies your hypocrisy. I would wager that very few (if any) who believe non-vaxers are stupid, reckless, insensitive types putting everyone else in danger would put any of the afore mentioned in the bullet points in the same category. But those mentioned above endanger the lives of others constantly. Whether it's first responders risking themselves in a rescue, families subjected to drunk drivers, second hand smoke, victims of alcohol/drug induced crimes, or just lazy people driving up the cost of healthcare; let's call a spade a spade.

As followers of Jesus, we are called to treasure the lives and physical bodies we have been given, so those that purposely conduct themselves to contradict this need to do some reflection. Until then, if their silly (let's say sinful, as we all tend to be) behavior lands them in the ER, they should be seen. This certainly applies to someone choosing not to get a needle stuck in their arm so they can be injected with a relatively unknown substance. If going forward people start developing serious health issues related to these vaccines are you going to refer to them as stupid? Well, I guess that would be the height of hypocrisy if you took the poke.

It's All About Me

 

As I have never been shy about spouting off on issues of the day (especially emotional ones) it's somewhat of a modern miracle that I haven't become caught up in the quagmire of social media. Probably more evidence of how God watches over His sheep, as this sheep (in a positive sense of those following the Good Shepard; not those drinking the progressive Kool-Aid) would be constantly entwined in the brambles of social discordant discourse. Technically I guess blogging is social media, but it is to Twitter, Snapchat, TikTok, etc; what snail mail is to email. You have more time to compose and edit your thoughts before you blast them off into cyber-space, where they essentially orbit the world of opinion forever. 

 

Back in the day you could (I certainly did; and do) say something you wished you hadn’t, but it was just between you and the offended parties. It may have been quickly forgotten, or never given much attention, but it was gone as quickly as the mist of James 4:14. Granted, someone could have paid special attention, maybe even writing it down, but that would certainly not be the norm. Today however, forget it! It's not only written down, but it's available for ANYONE to peruse, and weigh in on. Essentially, assume nothing is said in confidence these days.

 

All of this as a lengthy segue to the application of James (one of my personal favorite books of the Bible) 1:19-20, which basically says to listen carefully and get a grip before you respond, as swift, angry responses are not what ambassadors of Christ should demonstrate. All of the afore-mentioned instant response social media platforms are the exact antithesis of James. The instant gratification, look at me, 15 minutes of fame, combative nature of them is so appealing to our culture (the World). As Believers, we need to consider how much we want to have to do with these things. I think James makes it clear; less is more. Less involvement with such non-sense is more better (righteous). And I haven't even touched on the Bible exhorting to us to be humble and the Beatitudes that clearly are not represented on these platforms. 

 

Of course, this sinful bent in the human race (by the way, the only race; but I'm not going down that Rabbit trail) is nothing new. What is new is our capability (ergo temptation) to allow these "little foxes" to ruin the vineyard of righteousness. From the Garden going forward we have always been totally sinful. People are no better or worse than 2000 years ago; society in terms of 1. (if not acceptance) of behavior that was once considered abhorrent (if not sinful) has definitely worsened. My feeling is a lot of this can be explained by the accessibility for the masses to sin via all the electronic options. This sin inherent in social media was not available in the not-too-distant past. But I'm sure Screwtape and Wormwood (you don't know who they are, and you call yourself a Christian!) are falling off their chairs laughing over the followers of the Enemy making fools of themselves and damaging their witness on social media. 

 

I would like to close with a couple considerations: 

1. Is it a sin to be on these sites; of course not. But they certainly can be portals to sinful behavior.

2. Does anyone really care about your opinion; probably not. Let's be honest; opinions are like noses; everyone has one and they can only vary so much. Me too. I know my opinion doesn't matter much to anyone but myself (sad but true), but it's still fun to share it (for me). So here we are getting to the nut of the matter: the sharing of an opinion is more for the satisfaction of the sharer than the sharee (did I just invent a word?). So, I suppose we can add selfishness to the list of negative aspects of dabbling in social media. 

So, I will avoid the "instant gratification" social medias and stick to my "Boomer blog". It has a cathartic effect for me and helps to keep my mind engaged and hopefully my writing skills (of which I have precious few) honed. But enough about me, what do you think about me?