Faith and common sense

For the first time since the pandemic began, I worry a little.

The news of the rising spread of the new variant, and the prediction that cases are going to spike in the next few weeks and might possibly overwhelm hospitals was sobering.  I could take all precautions and hole up in the flat, but would still need to go out for supplies and you never know what could happen - and when fatigue sets in, so does carelessness.  If I fall sick here under the current conditions where hospitals are struggling, it could be disastrous.

So when news came that we would be brought home for vaccination, that was very much welcome.  I very much look forward to coming home, not just because of safety but also I miss you all very much.  The time alone has taken a bit of a toll, but keeping busy and occupied has helped.  Writing this blog has also been a great source of comfort.

The other great source of comfort has been prayer and fellowship online.  Faith is our rock, and yet as these times show, faith is sometimes misused and misplaced (?) and that may lead to other problems. I pray for protection, guidance and wisdom to guide me through difficult times and help me make the right choices.  With the news that vaccines have been developed and being rolled out, there are believers who deem it dangerous for various reasons.  Just as there have been those who dismiss this as a hoax, or simply believe that God will protect them from illness, or heal them miraculously.  One group that believes this are Christian Scientists (there are others).

They may have seemingly convincing reasons, but I always detect a hint of arrogance or pride in the arguments, that they somehow have the inside track on what God wants or approves of, and often it's almost as if the more extreme the position the better for them.  Or that their faith is so strong that they trust God protects them no matter what.

There are some who argue that this is like the devil tempting God (Matthew 4:5-7) and putting Him to the test. I guess this is like saying "Yes, God can protect and heal you but maybe that's not part of the plan, or you are not as high on the agenda as you think you are." Otherwise there would be no believers who die of illness right?  Of course they will still argue that those who died or fell ill weren't strong enough in their faith.  I have one word for them. Job.  

The other way to test their theories is to see if it applies universally to everything in their lives.  Someone said they would not take the covid vaccine because it was introducing foreign DNA into the body or something along those lines. And that this is not what God intended for our bodies. Hmm... It just sounds made up right?

Other more...interesting arguments include one that says the vaccine is the mark of the beast as described in the Book of Revelation.  Right... I can't say if they are right or loony, but again it sounds like they just want to find a biblical reason to be different or contrarian.

Then there are those who are perhaps confused. They say it's not safe because the testing was rushed.  Well perhaps but that's not a biblical argument in any case.