We hear a lot about the need for "Social Distancing" these days, to impede the spread of the Virus, and I am in total agreement with this!! But I would suggest that many religious people need to start practicing some SPIRITUAL Distancing from certain spiritual "LEADERS." Please, allow me to elaborate.
I'm talking about the Christian pastor in Florida who held a live service recently, defying the Government's stay-at-home order and enabling his CONGREGATION to do so. I mean, has he ever preached from the Scripture passages where God tells us to SUBMIT TO HUMAN AUTHORITIES?? Does he even READ them?? True, if they tell us we cannot worship God AT ALL, well, that's a different story...in THAT case "we must obey God rather than men." But no one told this pastor he couldn't LIVE-STREAM his message like my church, and countless others, do. It's merely a temporary change of HOW we meet....no one is saying we CAN'T worship Him. CHRISTIANS HAVE NO EXCUSE TO DEFY THE GOVERNMENT AT THIS POINT!! If your pastor tells you to....run.
I'm also talking about the Orthodox Jews in Lakewood, NJ (not far from me) who have CONSISTENTLY violated the Governor's "Shelter in Place" edict by having large gatherings. Well, sadly, SIX RABBIS IN THAT TOWN HAVE NOW PERISHED FROM THE CORONAVIRUS. This proves two things....1.) The Government was NOT lying when they told us this Virus is spread through gatherings and 2.) You can break MAN'S laws and seemingly get away with it (they have gathered despite MANY attempts by the Governor to shut them down) but you can't break GOD'S laws with impunity. God has promised that "we will reap what we sow" and God is NO respecter of persons. Cop out and call me "anti-Semitic" if you want, but I'm anti-LAWLESSNESS and anti-ARROGANCE. And if your Rabbi tells you it's okay to congregate at this point, practice "Spiritual Distancing." Run!! Run to a true Christian church that preaches the Gospel.
In fact, many, like Roman Catholics, should have been practicing "Spiritual Distancing" long BEFORE this crisis hit. My Catholic friend, please, I beg you, ask yourself, WHY IS FRANKLIN GRAHAM, A TRUE CHRISTIAN LEADER, DOING MORE TO HELP MEET THE TANGIBLE NEEDS OF THE SUFFERING IN ITALY THAN THE ***POPE*** APPARENTLY IS??!! The Pope "lives" in Italy, Lol!! Where is HIS love for the suffering right in his backyard??
We should NOT practice "Spiritual Distancing" from our GODLY pastors, brothers-and-sisters in Christ who we can't see "in person" at this time OR from TITHING and GIVING to our church (by mail, if needs be)!! Again, I am only talking about "Spiritual Distancing" from those we SHOULD distance ourselves from, NOT from people or obligations we need to keep going as best we can, using technology and even SNAIL MAIL, when necessary.
In closing, the painting above was done by Pieter Brugel the Elder in 1568 (Public Domain). It depicts something JESUS warned against..."the blind leading the blind." Jesus warned that BOTH will "fall into the ditch" that way. Beware of those who are spiritually blind, who are "blind" to what GOD says we should do, and how we should live, and RUN from their influence. This crisis is helping to bring out who those "blind" leaders ARE.
If YOUR religious "leader" is going against God's Word, it's time to start practicing some SPIRITUAL Distancing....from them.
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