The Great Mask Debate

This was originally posted on Instagram and Facebook on September 7th (before I started this blog). I’m posting this on the blog today, because I am sharing a follow-up post today as well entitled: The Great Mask Debate {Revisited}.

Welp. This is way harder than I imagined. I’ve typed, deleted, and retyped. I’ve overthought and under cared. I’ve under thought and over cared. I’ve read and reread my words, held them up to God’s Word, and prayed they’d be the right words — words that don’t neglect others’ feelings but still reflect God’s truth.

Being brave is hard, but I guess that’s the point, right? It’s all heart, but it doesn’t forget its head. It sometimes reins in the passion in order to accomplish its purpose. Balancing being soft spoken and outspoken requires a dexterity of discernment that loves others by both taming the tongue and telling the truth. So, here’s my feeble attempt to do just that...

I cannot be indifferent to what is going on in the world, if I’m called to make a difference in the world. Bravery is more than speaking up with empty words, it’s standing up on the firm foundation of God’s Word.

I am usually not a pot stirrer by nature, but God is a heart stirrer by His Spirit, and He’s been stirring my heart with these questions:

{Tabitha, are you hiding behind your cutesy quotes and propensity to please, all the while being silenced by fear, maybe not fear of a virus, but fear of the cost of standing up in the face of fear? Are you shooting straight, or playing it safe?}

I’m finally weighing in to the great mask debate — not to be a rebel, not to be insensitive and unloving, actually quite the contrary. I believe the most loving thing I can do is speak the truth as I understand it. I believe the most obedient thing I can do is take what I believe God has spoken to my heart and share it with yours. I believe the bravest thing we all can do is trust God together.

I believe these masks are masking a way bigger issue for the future of Christianity, far worse than Covid — an issue that has the potential to claim far more souls and reveal far more co-morbidities on the slippery slope of mindlessly going with the flow, trusting worldly authorities over the Ultimate Authority.

Masks may or may not prevent the spread of a virus, but, to me, they reveal a whole lot more — the desensitizing of a society, the controlling of a culture, the silencing of any sound that speaks against its agenda.

I am not a conspiracy theorist, but as I read God’s Word and watch this world respond to a virus in a way that puts more trust in changing data than an unchanging God, I can’t help but be saddened by the long term effects of it all.

What are we doing? Who are we believing? Who/what are we fearing?

If we are doing something or believing a narrative that asks us to respond in fear to a virus that has statistically and scientifically been proven to not be as bad as originally predicted, then we’re compromising our faith, and that’s far more detrimental to our future and our freedom.

I love the way Proverbs 9:10 puts it. The first part doesn’t change much with translation, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom...” The last part, however, reminds us that God gave us a brain to use, wisdom can be found, understanding is possible, and good judgement and insight follow fear of the Lord...

NIV: “...and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”
NLT: “... Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.”
ESV: “...and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.”

Is this virus real? Yes. Have people died from it? Yes. Does that grieve the heart of God? Yes. But you know what else grieves the heart of God? Lack of faith and timid trust.

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” ~ Hebrews‬ ‭11:6‬

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” ~ 2 Timothy‬ ‭1:7‬

So, why am I posting this exactly?

I’m not posting this to get you to take off your mask if you prefer to wear one.

I am posting this to urge you to open your eyes, both physically and spiritually — stay alert and aware of what’s going on around us.

I’m not posting this to stir the pot and fuel the fire.

I am posting this to stir your heart and fan the flame of the gift of God in you (2 Timothy 1:6).

It’s time we fear God more than we fear man or mandates.

So, before I push post, I’m spending time praying for you (and me). The people pleaser in me doesn’t want to hurt or offend, but the Spirit of God in me desires to simply trust Him.

Father, help us. Give us discernment and wisdom that trusts you and your life-giving, fear-fleeing truth. May we live as though we believe that truth truly sets us free. In Jesus’s Name, Amen

{Please hear me: I am not saying wearing a mask = not trusting God.}