Please folks, start to panic & worry even more as the sky is falling… again!
This new strain… ahh forget it. I’m not going to waste time re-hashing what the media will use to try to create panic in the next few weeks / months about. And I won’t predict the usefulness of any ‘vaccine’ or booster for this new strain. Nor will I go on about how many new strains there will be over the next few years & the accompanying new jabs 1at this stage they are not vaccinations. And they certainly are not immunisations. that will become available and then mandated.
I want to take a different tack:
Well done Aussies, Well done Christians!
Something unites the camps in this ‘war’. Although totally opposed to some of each other’s stance, the MOTIVE for many is the same: Love for others.
1 John 3:16-18 (NLT) We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?
Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.
You see, Christians have a responsibility to look out for and protect others – just as Jesus has commanded them to do 2John 15:12-14 (NLT) This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. – especially the poor & marginalised. True Christians take this very seriously. In fact, it is an area that makes it possible to judge whether someone actually is a Christian (or just says / thinks they are) 31 John 3:14-17 (NLT) If we love our brothers and sisters who are believers, it proves that we have passed from death to life. But a person who has no love is still dead. Anyone who hates another brother or sister is really a murderer at heart. And you know that murderers don’t have eternal life within them.
We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?. Jesus Himself will judge those who think they are Christians based on their actions in this area…#soberingthought! 🤔😵4Matthew 25:31-46 (NLT) But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left.
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’
“Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’
“Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’
“Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’
“And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’
“And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”
All throughout history, Christians have obeyed Jesus, and stood up for the marginalised / oppressed. In the current ‘Covid-19 climate’, it is the topic on every Christian’s lips. So much so, it can be quite annoying! 5Who cares about Covid / Mandates / Government? Let’s talk about JESUS! Let’s get our focus off the issues and on to Him! He is in control & wants us to share the Good News with others, not operate in fear about a disease!
But the thread that under pins every conversation I have had with Christians on this issue is their love & concern for others. Every time. I know men who have gone completely against their desire and conviction, just to keep their family together (where the partner is totally in support of the jab). For many, it is not ‘just’ their immediate families or friends. Not just their circle of influence. Not just their communities – but others in general. Below are 3 common Christian positions on CoVid-19 (or other sickness):
1) Those who AGREE:
Some people who are fully convinced that the jab 6 is safe, effective and an acceptable response to this pandemic…
- they believe what the media publishes
- they think the drug companies have good intentions and can be trusted
- they don’t mind that there has not been the normal testing, and don’t question why a disclaimer is needed for a mandated, ‘safe’, ‘vaccination’
- they haven’t thought through the flawed logic of the numerous memes about Polio and Tetanus vaccinations
- they believe that being unvaccinated is a danger to others (even those who are vaccinated(!))
These Christians are quick to roll up their sleeves and get the jab(s). While for some it is their own fear driving their compliance, but for the Christians I know it is:
Love. For. Others!
2) Those who JAB:
Another group of people I know are totally opposed to the jab7, like *totally*:
- they are aware of the personal risks that the media can’t / won’t publish,
- they have discovered the long term consequences that silenced doctors and immunologists are trying to communicate,
- they hate the idea of the never ending roundabout of strains (and therefore boosters) that will be coming
- they disagree with the way the jabs are made (which supports the death of the most vulnerable)
But, in order to keep in contact with people they are trying to help, or in order to hold together their family, they roll up their sleeves up. Why? Love. For. Others.
Love. For. Others.
3) Those who REFUSE:
I know people who are concerned what the mandates will mean for others, later on down the track. The government’s power & authority grab, while it may not affect them much now, they know the slippery slope is very, very real.
In a year or three, when the government decides they want to silence, penalise or jail people groups, those people groups will be completely defenceless. It will be too late. Right now, they can’t see it. Right now the issue at hand isn’t that big a deal. Right now they are suckered in by financial incentives – but later the consequences will be huge.
Some Christians I know are willing to go to jail now, to try to protect these people later. They are willing to sacrifice their time and comfort now, to stand with the people that will not be able to later.
What is it that motivates them? Love for others!
Love. For. Others!
So, next time you judge others for their differing stance – next time you think you know better, just stop & question…”what is their goal?”, “what is their motive?”
You may be surprised that the person you are criticising, the very person you are angry at, may be the very person that is doing it for you.
Just like why Jesus died on the cross – He knew what was coming, He knew how bad it would be (and it was VERY bad) – but He did it anyway. He did it for you…
Jesus died so that you could live. So LIVE!
“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.
“There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.” John 3:16-21 (NLT)
Lord, help us to navigate the decisions and situations that are happening now and in the future. May our actions be guided by your love and wisdom. Help us to stand up for those who are truly vulnerable and for those who will be in the future. And help us to see from other’s perspectives and love those who have a different stance / opinion. Thank you for loving us and doing all for us.
Footnotes:
- 1at this stage they are not vaccinations. And they certainly are not immunisations.
- 2John 15:12-14 (NLT) This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.
- 31 John 3:14-17 (NLT) If we love our brothers and sisters who are believers, it proves that we have passed from death to life. But a person who has no love is still dead. Anyone who hates another brother or sister is really a murderer at heart. And you know that murderers don’t have eternal life within them.
We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? - 4Matthew 25:31-46 (NLT) But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left.
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’
“Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’
“Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’
“Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’
“And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’
“And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.” - 5Who cares about Covid / Mandates / Government? Let’s talk about JESUS! Let’s get our focus off the issues and on to Him! He is in control & wants us to share the Good News with others, not operate in fear about a disease!
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