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Faith Not Folly
Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Apr 4, 2020 (message contributor)
Summary: Do not fear during this pandemic, but use common sense or discernment.
Some pastors are turning this stay home order into a 1st Amendment issue when it is a common sense issue. If there were gangs of men roaming the streets randomly killing women would you send your female loved ones out on shopping trips?
If the numbers were only 2% of the women were wounded or killed would you have faith that your loved one would be one of the 98%? What if she became one of the 2%? Would you blame God or question your faith?
Proverbs 22:3 A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.
Proverbs 27:12 A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.
God said it twice to make sure we get the concept. This virus is an evil that we should be hiding ourselves from not grandstanding in the name of faith. Indeed, such folly only gives those who want to close churches permanently more ammunition. There is a fine line between faith and folly and some have clearly crossed the line.
Just in this area, a woman who goes to a church of around ten people got the virus. They had closed the church shortly before she got it only because the pastor was in a town that was on lockdown. Most of the ten are 65 and over including the pastor and his wife. The woman is recovering, but it could have taken down the rest of the church. They ducked a bullet by the grace of God.
Pastors are to protect the sheep, not needlessly expose them to the wolves. This is not a time to make a statement. If I were still a pastor, I would shut it down and do streaming video because I would love my congregation enough to want to see all of them after the danger is passed. I just seem to think that is what Jesus would tell His people as the Good Shepherd rather than tempting the Lord using scripture just like satan did in the wilderness.
Be wise! Be safe! Be in church when the storm is passed. Maranatha!