The Philosophical and Theological Concerns of (COVID-19) Safetyism

Intro: I think one of the sneakiest attacks from the enemy is the assurance of a safe and comfortable life. To get us to become distracted by (and dependent on) the things of this world. In so, we become attached to this world, un-wanting to leave it because it starts to feel like our true home. So, blind without the desire to see, we walk a slow, comfortable path away from the Lord. God does not promise us the longevity of life, neither a prosperous life in the pursuit of happiness, nor a comfortable life; quite the opposite to be exact. Something the Lord does promise us is that we will suffer… Let’s be weary of the false promises of safety which ultimately lead to us into living a comfortable, selfish, and un-sacrificial life.

1. Man is not your enemy, but the spiritual evils of this world are. Our true battles are not of our physical world. The Devil is a master of trickery, deception, confusion, and distorting values of goodness for evil. Yet even the spiritual evils (resulting in sin) of this world are not to be feared; put on the full amor of God! We do not need to fear the sin of man, for all is in the hands of the Lord. So, as we must not fear, we must also stand firm against our transgressors. If the actions of man are contrary to strongly convicted beliefs in the hearts of many believers, the many have the right to not follow the mandates of Godless men, and, to stand firm against them. As to the Christian brothers and sisters who stand divided on many of the issues at hand, remember that these are of little concern to the Lord. Do not let us become so distracted by our opinions on worldly matters that we waste time trying to conform our brothers and sister to hold our same worldly opinions, but that we may be most concerned with the conditions of their hearts. May we not fold or bend to the convictions of our heart in order to hold onto a job, our pride, or status in society. May they take everything, for the world has no grip on us. With integrity and faith, we must hold to the convictions of the heart grounded firmly in the Lord. For sin is our true enemy, not flesh and blood, not disease, not natural disasters, yet sin.

2. The existence of another human, whether they are vaccinated, unvaccinated, immune, masked or unmasked is not a threat to your existence. Get this idea out of your head. Love others do not fear others. When Jesus healed the Leper, was he afraid of catching the disease or being near to him? (May I remind you at the time Leprosy was feared to be HIGHLY contagious and was a devasting disease that isolated you from involvement in society) Yet, Jesus did not fear, instead He accepted the man and healed him. This is an example of what love looks like. When you were sick as a child, do you believe, out of “love” your mother and family would abandon you in your sickness? Unwilling to come near, bring you soup, or place a cold towel on your head? Believing it best to keep you isolated from others for their safety? I know when I was sick all I wanted was the comfort of my mother. Would it be loving of her to keep her distance out of safety? Or to draw near out of love despite the risk of illness? Which is the better representation of love to you? I will say it again, Love others do not Fear others. Do your best for each other’s health, but isolation (lockdowns), avoidance (social distancing), discrimination (vaccine passports), dehumanization (masks), coercion (vaccine mandates), are not Godly answers to these humanly concerns. In moderation and in other context some of these elements can be good; staying home when sick, wearing a mask when knowingly ill or in a medical setting, offering the option of newly developed medical treatments, all these things can be good! But I’m afraid I do not need to explain in today’s context why I believe how they have been distorted and implemented to no longer be good; and how these these things have become the negative adjectives I described them with.

3. Many will say they do not fear the virus but “I fear for others who may be vulnerable.” THIS is still fear and this does not come from the Lord. Do not fear for the nameless and faceless group of “others”. Care for others, yes. But if you do not even know for whom to care or protect what a daunting and hopeless task you have been given to accomplish. Although, if you believe and wish that the lives of all humankind be placed on your shoulders, then so be the souls of all humankind as well. If may you be judged for every life you could have possibly increased the chances of being protected, may you also be judged for every soul you could have possibly increased the chances of being saved. Because you see, you can always be doing more to protect the lives of others. Do you eat out in public these days? Dangerous. Do you drive instead of taking public transportation? Dangerous. Do you not wear a mask around friends and family? Dangerous. (You wear it around strangers but not around those you love most! Why?) If you may passively be responsible for “murder”, may you be passively responsible for the souls you did not attempt to touch and have perished due to your unwillingness to share the gospel. To what extent do you want to carry responsibility for all lives? As to what extent do you want to carry responsibility for all souls? You see, leave matters of God in the hands of God.

4. “For my grandma” one might say. “For my Immunocompromised friend” says another. “Do as I do, for me, and for them, or else you are actively a threat to my/their existence.” This is an ultimatum; “Do as I do, or be against me”. Must we treat our brothers and sisters with contempt if they do not behave as we do? If they have not been convicted on the same matters in such that have I? No! DO what is that of the Lord, but do not find contempt for others out of fear that they pose a threat when you fully understand their actions are passive and not against you nor against the teachings of the Lord (if you need further understanding read Romans 14). Do not demand that the will of the world bend to the few as so we, collectively, as a society, may possibly have the slightest chance at increasing the longevity of already mortal lives. For at what cost? In this mode of thinking any action that is not actively for the protection of another, becomes actively against another; and that is a lie. With this logic should we also ban our obese friends from eating fast food. Or do we passively sit by as we share a pizza with them? Do we abolish the fast-food industry completely? IF we are not against it, we must be for it! We must be for the demise of our friends and family as we willingly sit back and allow such massive quantities of processed foods be present in out grocery stores. Heart-disease is the number 1 killer in America! Now you see, I could go down a list of everyday ordinances which kill people, but I think you get the point. And I do not mock the vulnerable and the hardships of others, but I find it hard that even they would request the entire world change on their behalf, for, nonetheless a sense of safety which is not guaranteed nor possible to truly obtain as we need to face the simple fact that we are mortal, and we will all die. To not be acting for, does not mean to be acting against.

5. DO NOT FEAR. Fear does not become righteous just because you are fearing in the name of others (even more so in a sense where you have absolutely so little control). When looking even deeper into this matter, even this sense of fear (fear of spreading COVID) is not fear at someone’s loss of life, but fear that YOU may have caused their loss of life. This motivation still comes from the self. This “fearing for others” grounds itself in a false identity of selflessness. When in fact, this is some cheap gimmick of what true selflessness is. Reduced someone’s risk of death by .001% by wearing a mask? I mean theoretically reduced risk of death since this in incalculable and immeasurable. (This abounds on the basis of if/if not you are sick, if/if not you spread the virus, if/if not the other person has made good, healthy life choices that have not put them at risk, If/if not they have natural immunity, if/if not they have been vaccinated, if/if not they fall deathly ill (which is statistically extremely low), if/if not they choose to seek timely and effective medical treatment, if/if not the doctors make the right decisions in treating the patient, if/if not they pass away, if/if not they passed away due to Covid or other health related issues.) But nonetheless, congrats on your noble lifesaving efforts by wearing a mask or getting vaccinated. I’m glad you have been blinded by the hurt, torment, sadness, loss, and frustration that has been afflicting the hearts of many. I’m glad you have been blinded to the damage the unjust policies and mandates have done to the world. I’m glad you have been blinded to the spiritual and civil unrest that is ever so quickly growing. I’m glad you have been blinded to the insurmountable power you have placed in the hands of man to protect you and assume power and control over even the most minute aspects of your life. At least you must be truly selfless. But may I ask? What is selflessness that comes at the cost of someone else’s distress? (If you are still not following, to demand that one is selfish for not getting the vaccine or not wearing a mask in public settings, is to imply those who do so are selfless. It may just be the case that individuals wish to act in the best interest of those around them and themselves in both instances, and we should not divide ourselves on such small instances that have such minor impacts on the overall toll of this virus. For the toll of the virus is on the world, but the toll of human action is on the spirit.)

6. Those who advocate to mandate vaccines for all are the same people to suggest denying health care for those who remain unvaccinated and fall ill. These people have no understanding of grace, forgiveness, or compassion and should not be listened to on matters of moral issues. Should the doctors who staged a walkout also be encouraged to operate under these same principles for all patients? For obese patients who can’t seem to exercise or eat healthy? For patients who willingly use illegal substances and overdose? For those who inflict damage on themselves due to nothing but stupidity? Of course not. But I think you know what this is called; it’s hypocrisy.

7. If there is one thing we know about God’s character, it is that He knows what is good for the individual and for all humankind. Yet, even with such perfect knowledge He does not force the “good” (His will) upon anyone. He allows us to choose. He knew if we were forced to accept his love, we would also be forced to question His love’s actual goodness. With no alternative to see otherwise, how could we know His love is not deceitful and robbing us of real, better, and more profound love and goodness? Although GOD IS GOOD. His will is perfect and is always founded in Love. Unfortunately for the will of man we cannot say the same. So, when we look at a creation of man, such as the COVID vaccine, a creation that is fairly disputed in its efficacy, necessity, and bodily effects due to lack of long-term studies, YET we are told it is GOOD for all and it may do no harm. Since it is defined and proclaimed as GOOD by powerful people and powerful institutions, we MUST take it. Because they have declared it as something good, all must participate in it. This inevitably will create distrust and the omission of conflicting conclusions about its goodness (since it has already been defined as ultimately good, there is no turning back). You see, this distrust is rightfully due, as distrust should always be due when we are not presented with a choice (or manipulated enough that the choice is no longer is ours, yet a silhouette of choice (a lie)). You see God does not operate this way, God does not force, coerce, or demand from us, He asks. So, I know when man begins to force, coerce, and demand, his will is not aligned with Gods.

My Biblical References/References

by section:

1. Ephesians 6:10-20

2. Matthew 8

3. C.S Lewis, Screwtape Letters. This section (I would say) could be written into its own chapter of the Screwtape Letters, as another eye-opening example of how the Devil tricks us and distorts values that were originally good, into some far from it. Read chapter 26 as it touches on similar themes.

4. Romans 14

5. Of course, nearly any scripture that speaks on fear is an easy reference, but what came to mind was this passage: Job 1:5.

6. This is a general message on hypocrisy. I have no sources for this is something easily defined and understood by most.

7. Genesis Chapters 1-3. I have also written expansively on this topic if you wish to dive further into the existence of sin and why God had to give us the obtainable ability to sin and act against Him.