Monroe Dispatch - No Struggle, No Progress

As someone who "has not been called" to preach the gospel of Jesus, but one who is also a member of the body of Christ, we are reminded to "preach" the gospel at every opportunity that we are given. In a nation where many people look at America as a "Christian" nation because famous men/women of the cloth have said so, there are moments when people that we look to in times of crisis, confuses us. An example of how Christians do/say things that those in the world must have wondering, is the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Over the last year, we have seen various members of the religious community almost lead rebellions against the government as it tried to bring the pandemic under control. They cited their opposition to government lead intervention on how many people could be in the congregation during religious service, as "an attack" on their religious freedoms to assemble. They were joined by conservative politicians who are always looking for the next political issue to keep them in power, as they jumped on the "freedom" bandwagon. Even as the death toll climbed into the hundreds of thousands, with hospitals being overrun with sick/dying people, the freedom issue has not(pun intended) died. One would expect that if one group of people were on one accord especially in the face of a pandemic that seems to have no end in the foreseeable future, would be people who say they are members of the body of Christ. Many may think that those who are Shepherds of the flock would be the first to have an open mind to hear/listen and go to God for direction. But an apparent divide among many evangelical leaders appears to show two different types of gospels being preached, with the followers right in the middle of that divide. Some of them are telling their congregation to get "religious exempt" status from their leaders as a way from not taking the vaccine shots, even those they know that the vaccines have saved thousands of lives. A while back, this reporter said that when people encourage others to not get vaccinated, saying that the vaccines are a danger and the virus itself is just like catching the flu, they are mocking God. As we see governors in certain states who will not actively encourage mask mandates in order to save lives, many religious leaders see that as a license to use the "freedom card" to not even mandate their followers to wear masks or get the vaccine. By not wearing masks among themselves, congregants can easily be spreaders of the virus, as no one is exempt from getting sick. Those in the body of Christ have the freedom to practice their religion as they choose, but that freedom does not mean it can be used to harm others. A few visits to any hospital should be proof enough that Jesus wants us to live/have that "abundant" life, so that we can go about doing the work for the kingdom. Yes, doing the work of the kingdom. We are sent out to preach the gospel, feed the hungry, visit the sick, but more importantly we are to love your neighbor, be of service and be a blessing to others. What bigger blessing can there be for us saving lives both physically and spiritually? Religious people in this nation have the kinds of freedom to practice their faith that people in some nations yearn. One thing that Jesus wasn't, and that was a politician. Politicians compromise their beliefs depending on how the wind the wind is blowing. Religious leaders should not just because a politician wants to stay in power. Jesus didn't compromise because of His love for us. If we follow the examples that Jesus laid out for us, perhaps the hospitals would not be as full as they are, the graves a little less full and more people in the congregation, Remember, the world is watching. So is God.