That’s right. I don’t have COVID-19. And, yes, I believe that God has protected my family and myself from it. But I am sick of a couple of other things. First, I’m sick of the news media and the Democrats blaming President Trump, Republicans, conservatives, and Christians for this disease. They have repeatedly spread fear, misinformation, out-right lies, and hate. They say Trump has murdered Americans because of his response to this crisis. While they held up relief legislation for nearly two weeks to admittedly advance their agenda, cases increased from 7,800 to 121,500 and over 2,000 deaths. As people are dying, are confused and fearful, Democrats played politics with our lives. They should be ashamed.
While I believe God has protected my family and myself from COVID-19 so far, we also have not tempted God during this pandemic. We have taken great precaution and used wisdom that we might not get this disease or spread it to others. We are careful how and when we get food. We stay to ourselves. We check up on our friends and loved ones by phone or online. We hold our church services using Zoom. In short, we are not being stupid. And, yes, we have strong faith. As I have quoted 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” So the other thing I am sick of are those claiming to be Christians, yet do and say things that endanger lives and bring ridicule aimed at God and Christ. An example comes from a well-known televangelist and name it/claim it theologist.
He shouted on March 29, “In the name of Jesus, standing in the office of the profit of God, I execute judgment on you COVID-19…I call you gone…No more…And the United States of America is healed and well again…It’s dead. At exactly 12 noon on the 29th day of March. It’s over. It’s over.” He and another preacher agreed that COVID-19 is dead, done, and has “ceased to exist.” At the risk of offending many, this is wrong in so many ways. God is the Master. We are the servants. We pray, we act. He chooses His response to our requests. Since this “office of the prophet directive,” COVID-19 has expanded in the US by the thousands. America is not healed. When Christ should be presented as the answer, hope and salvation, this invites ridicule, and endangers lives as people who believe this proclamation ignore the warnings.
Those who say people lack faith if they don’t attend church in person, or believe that God will protect them from the virus no matter what they do (and many have come down with COVID-19, some have died), or make proclamations as if they are God, are part of the problem, not the solution. This foolishness gives people a false sense of security and they do things that jeopardize themselves, their families and the rest of us. Or it brings ridicule upon all Christians. Does this honor God? Does this bring others to the Lord in this time of need? Remember Christs’ words in Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Pray. Act. Encourage.
