Love and Service in Action

Remember I said the Lord had been working on my heart in a couple areas as I read through Galatians. Well, here’s round two.

The same disclaimer applies. 🙂

So…when we started Galatians (after reading Romans and I & II Corinthians in the last couple of months as well) the debate was heating up in Kansas about wearing a face mask. The order had been issued by the governor, and counties and cities were meeting to decide what was right for each community.*

*I’m a believer in local government, so I support these kinds of decisions being made at a local level. I should add here that if I have an opinion about an issue, I let my local and state representatives know about it politely. Decently. And in order. Moving on.

I’m not here to debate the science of whether face masks are effective or not. For the purpose of this post, it really is irrelevant.

As I watched people react to the issue, it was troubling to see such judgment from both sides. Those wearing a mask are called sheep. Those not wearing a mask are called ignorant. And those names just scratch the surface of what I’ve seen splashed across my social media feeds.

The truth is I don’t know by looking at a person why they are choosing to wear or not wear a mask. And it is not my place to judge them.

Unfortunately, this is not what is happening. I’ve seen people be rude and ugly to each other over wearing masks or not wearing masks. I’ve seen videos posted of those that are standing up for their “rights” and lashing out at store employees and insisting on their right to come inside without a mask. And then there are the posts from the other side implying that a person who chooses not to wear a mask could not possibly be educated, caring, or concerned.

Anyway, as I was reading in Galatians and considering the new mask requirements (some businesses have chosen to enforce the governor’s order) coming to my community, these verses stood out to me:

“For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For, all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.”

Galatians 5:13-15

Galatians is written to believers, so I’m considering this in that context. The theme of Galatians reminds believers that they had been freed from the law. Salvation through Jesus Christ set them free from following the law–God’s law, not the government’s law just to be clear. The first part of verse thirteen is talking about that liberty. “Occasion to the flesh” is talking about using our liberty as an excuse to indulge in sin. That is not actually what I want to focus on…

Except that the word liberty reminded of Romans 14 and I Corinthians 8. Check them out for yourself. A good summary would be that, we as Christians, will have different convictions and standards (not talking about sin here–sin is sin). We must seek to please the Lord in the decisions we make, not judge others for their decisions, and be careful that our actions don’t “put a stumblingblock, or occasion to fall in our brother’s way (Romans 14:13).” When we make decisions based on that liberty without considering another who might be offended by it, we “sin against Christ (I Corinthians 8:12).”

Back to Galatians. We are told to “…by love serve one another, ” and to “love thy neighbour as thyself.” So what does that look like in action in regards to masks?

Mutual respect and consideration. No judgment. No shaming. No digging in our heels and insisting we are right.

No Masks

When you see that someone is wearing a mask, be careful to maintain the recommended social distance to ensure they feel comfortable. No judgment about why they are choosing to wear a mask. If a doctor’s office, store, restaurant, etc. asks you to wear a mask, do it. If you don’t want to wear the mask, don’t go there. Your testimony is more important than your “freedom” to not wear a mask.

Mask Wearers

When you see someone not wearing a mask, maintain your distance so you feel comfortable. No judgment about why they are choosing not to wear a mask. No snide comments or “shaming.” Your testimony is more important than your feeling that everyone should wear a mask.

Both Sides

“But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed of another (vs. 15).”

Here we are again…me picturing Satan counting his victory, this time over how he has managed to divide believers over a face mask.

So instead…let’s…

Do justly.

Love mercy.

Walk humbly.

P.S. This week we are reading Ephesians (July 8-14th). Care to join us?