Health Workers PLEAD for Public Cooperation

[Originally posted on October 10, 2020 … reposting 14 months later on December 9, 2021 because it is still the case… it is still true!]

I don’t think that Jesus gave us the option of sitting at a distance and doing nothing. Jesus didn’t want us to be silent and say NOTHING. Jesus wanted us to say something! And more than that, Jesus wanted us to DO SOMETHING. Jesus wants us to DO THE RIGHT THING!

Christianity revolves around two commands that Jesus said encompass everything! (Matthew 22:36-40)

First … Love God!

Second … Love Others!

Loving others means placing their needs and well-being before our own. In Romans 12:10 Paul even went so far as to imply that we should look at it as a contest to see which of us can best place the needs of others before our own! Of course, Paul was writing in Greek, and his words need to be translated into English. There are a variety of ways of phrasing what Paul said … here are a few translations (which ALL are saying the same thing but with different words):

  • Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. (ESV)
  • Be devoted to one another with mutual love, showing eagerness in honoring one another. (NET)
  • Live in true devotion to one another, loving each other as sisters and brothers. Be first to honor others by putting them first. (Voice)
  • Love each other like brothers and sisters. Give each other more honor than you want for yourselves. (NCV)
  • Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. (NLT)

As Christians, we should not need others to PLEAD with us to do the right thing, as the health workers and medical community are pleading for public cooperation (which they say is as simple as wearing a face mask whenever around others and adhering to the 6 foot social distancing recommendation).  Months ago, our churches should have imprinted face masks for all their congregation to wear when out in the public. Face masks that say “I place your well being before my own“.  Face masks that say, “Others Before Self” or even using the funky urban style messaging: “Others B4 Self“.

Our health workers are PLEADING with us (see the headline in the photo at the top of this article) … will any church step up and get masks for EVERYONE in their church to wear … face masks that boldly say WHY they are wearing them? Why? Because they are CHRISTIAN … and that’s what a Christian does … place others well-being before their own (yes, it is proven that face masks work to protect OTHERS – see source => PBS scientific explanation video).  Why not advance the kingdom by advancing the well-being of those around us? Don’t spout off a Bible verse at others while not wearing a mask. Instead, silently serve others and let the face mask speak for itself!

Others Before Self

There are many many many places that can make a custom imprinted face mask for you and your church. I will offer one company as an example, only because I have used their services in the past and found them to be excellent. The company’s name is “4Imprint”. You can call them at 877-446-7746 or visit their website to see their custom imprint face masks available … some even with 24 hour rush shipping! Click => Custom Imprinted Facemasks

Ask your church if they would be willing to give out “Others Before Self” face masks … and if so please let me know – I WANT ONE TOO! Face masks are NOT a political statement! They are a Christian statement placing others before self!

UPDATE: A few hours after I posted this article, it seemed that I should rethink having the word “Christian” on the face mask.  Perhaps back at the end of February or first week of March it may have been OK. But now our country has seen too much of how various people are behaving that it may come off as arrogant or hypocritical.  So … just having a face mask that says Others Before Self is sufficient, because if anyone asks you about it, you then have the opportunity to explain why!

I personally wrote this and grant permission to copy or use any of this for your own articles or posts – Len Lindsay (God Is In Our Midst) [second image is courtesy of ThinkDivinely.com ]