LIE: Fear and anxiety are unconquerable TRUTH: Fear and anxiety can and must be conquered We feel trapped and have no clue how to overcome fear. Some downplay it as anxiety and believe that no one can live fear free. But they would be wrong.[1] Now, let me quickly say
If, however, Christianity and the church are in fact reactionary and static, it is because they have lost the basic meaning of the Christian life, which is freedom. They have transformed revelation into a religion. Religion is indeed a conservative, retarding, and restrictive force. In this transformation fellowship with Christ is lost and with it the purity for which everything is pure and everything is possible. This is why it seems to me that the most urgent and decisive task for Christians today, on the basis of fellowship with Christ, is to recover the full meaning of freedom.
Yet our freedom is not without challenge. We find ourselves surrounded by menacing powers that threaten to destroy our souls, if not our bodies also. But even though we may have a clear awareness of our state, we do not need to be afraid. This is freedom.
We are like Daniel in the lion’s den, in a world we cannot escape, but in which we are empowered — not an inherent power, but a power embodying the Spirit of God. We use our freedom to love and thereby point to and show the world what an awesome God we serve.
Back in April when I wrote Why I won’t be taking the vaccine, assuming I will have a choice, I had barely heard of the mRNA vaccine, but now the term is everywhere. All that I said then is still valid, but that was based on my knowledge of ‘conventional’ vaccines (MMR, DTaP, Hib, etc). I assumed that the COVID-19 vaccine would be a similar formulation, and use a similar vaccine technology — basically the introduction of a weakened or dead virus to stimulate the immune system.
Well, I assumed wrong — big time!
The word slavery conjures up images of men and women in chains, taskmasters lashing the backs of laborers, of obsequious uniformed house servants saying, ‘Yes massa; No massa.’ But the fact is, over the centuries the face of slavery has morphed into many forms, some brutal and degrading; others more humane and subtle. Regardless, slavery is inevitable for all. It is foundational to our present human condition.
Tyranny attacks us human beings and seeks to enslave us; it does not recognize the dignity of the individual human being, but seeks to conform and control and adapt and assimilate us into their ‘society.’ It seeks to suppress all opposition. It often poses . . .
I count at least four good reasons not to take the vaccine. But only the fourth and final reason is truly a ‘bridge too far.’ The first three reasons are good enough to justify refusal, but if I’m right, only the fourth makes it absolutely untouchable, unthinkable.
Success is usually measured in terms of enumeration – things that can be counted: bank balances, house square footage, annual income, tax dollars averted, etc. Success also inhabits the related domain of the numbered: number of subscribers, of customers, of widgets sold, number of congregants, Twitter followers, IQ score, etc. In one sense, there’s nothing wrong with this. After all, Jesus . . .
Lie: The powerless are insignificant.
Truth: The powerless, teamed with God, overcome the powerful.
I’m sure that the giant Goliath mistakenly believed this same lie too as he sized up David. Goliath never considered that the reverse might be true. He couldn’t imagine that, in five minutes he would be dead. But such are the exploits of God who . . .
Lie: Suffering is bad and is to be avoided.
Truth: Suffering is good if embraced with hope in God.
Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. — Hebrews 12:11
Suffering comes in many forms and from many sources, but all forms of suffering are ultimately redeemable by God, even from the most evil sources and means. Some suffering is temporary, some permanent; some physical, some emotional; some mental, some genetic; some suffering is purely from . . .
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