As a young boy one of my favorite TV series was The Lone Ranger. At the end of each episode, someone would always ask “Who was that masked man?”
Lately, I’ve found myself using that phrase somewhat in jest as I become more and more disturbed by this scientific and statistical silliness in wearing masks.
Do we really think this COVID-19 pandemic will simply go away as we blindly follow the so-called experts who demand such action as patriotic? In my opinion, there’s nothing patriotic in wearing masks. Especially once you’ve even followed the collective constructive recommendation to be vaccinated.
I feel qualified to voice my opinion on this topic, having contracted a fairly serious case of COVID-19 last August and recently subjecting myself to both Pfizer vaccines. As far as I’m concerned, I’ve done my part to beat this virus, and I’m fed up with our government touting terms like an American Rescue Plan in our masked faces.
In the original TV series, Clayton Moore’s character wore a mask to hide his identity. At least his mask didn’t cover his nose and mouth. His breathing was not restricted and impaired like ours.
We don’t need our government rescuing us from the virus. We need to be rescued from restrictive control.
Listen to these words from Psalm 1:1: “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, or walk in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.”
Just look at the duplicitous actions of those who tell us what to do as they negligently break their own rules. The examples are numerous and aren’t even worthy of mention. We must stop continually moving those proverbial goal posts.
I’m running across more and more in our community who are simply fed up with the restrictions being placed on our society. Yes, I still carry my mask and will honor those businesses that expect me to wear it in order to receive service. I do it out of respect for the well-being of each business, but I have no respect for those behind such decrees.
It’s unfortunate that so many have died, but I for one have no faith in the science and statistics being presented to justify such punitive actions.
For more than a millennium before the birth of Christ, Israel was steeped in a religious system that attempted to follow well over 600 laws. Apparently the Ten Commandments weren’t sufficient.
Listen to these words of Christ found in Matthew 5:17: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”
We, too, must use common sense and realize that our love for mankind should be sufficient to weather this present storm. Many are afraid. But we must come to realize the government can’t take away our unalienable rights to assemble and worship and meet together.
Throughout this past year we’ve seen a great upheaval caused by the pandemic — promulgated by the actions and edicts of many powerful people in government, medicine, media and business who seemingly want to take us down for the count. Their tactics are devious and divisive.
Jesus’ half-brother, Jude, speaks of these things in his short epistle. In Jude 17-19, we read “But dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. They said to you, ‘In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.’ These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.”
We need to remain strong in our convictions and not be persuaded to give in to every whim of those who want to take control of our lives. Here in America, we have a wonderful legacy planted by our forefathers, and there comes a time when we must take a stand for what we know is God’s will for our lives.
And by the way, I look forward to seeing some of you possibly walking around our community without a mask as well very soon.
Passages to Ponder
— Jim Langley has been writing for more than 30 years while working as a life and health insurance agent in Santa Barbara. In recent years, his passion has turned to writing about his personal relationship with God, and his goal is to encourage others to draw near to Him as well. As a longtime member of CBMC of Santa Barbara (Christian Business Men’s Connection), he started writing Fourth Quarter Strategies columns in 2014, and he now reaches an international audience through the CBMC International devotional Monday Manna. He can be contacted at jim@fourthquarterstrategies.com for more information. Click here for previous columns. The opinions expressed are his own.