Why followers of Christ should wear a mask and get a jab!

 

Reflection 31^st January 2021

 It is good to hear that many of you who will be reading this have received their Covid vaccines – although there are plenty of us who are still waiting. And the Covid vaccine got me thinking about the passage from 1 Corinthians we’re looking at today.

In recent months, you may have seen on television protests by people about wearing masks. Or as they see it “being made to wear masks”. They see wearing masks as an affront to their personal liberty. No one tells them what to do. Those advocating that the wearing of a mask infringes their civil liberties include Jeremy Corbyn’s brother Piers, and the actor Lawrence Fox. Fox has even gone so far as to buy online a badge saying, “I am entitled not to wear a mask”. (I’m not sure if he’s explained why he’s entitled to potentially infect others though.) And a good many of those saying they shouldn’t have to wear a mask are also saying they shouldn’t have to have a Covid vaccination either.

What has this got to do with the first century church in Corinth?

Corinth was a very cosmopolitan city with people from across the Roman Empire. Consequently, we believe that the church in Corinth was made up of a broad cross section of people. There were people who were Jewish by heritage, but also people who were Greek and Roman. There were people who’d formerly worshipped at one of the many shrines to false gods. There were slaves, and people who we would call “working class”, as well as the more well to do, and intellectuals.

Due to its cosmopolitan nature, there were many temples dedicated to false gods, and as part of the rituals for these temples, people sacrificed animals. The meat from these sacrifices was then sold in markets. The converts feared they would be tempted back to their old ways. The Jewish Christians found it abhorrent that such meat was eaten. The Jews drew upon their heritage that said they should not worship idols and hence meat that came from worshipping idols was tainted. On the other hand, the Greek Christians, many of whom were well educated and versed in philosophy, took the view that given that there is only one true God, the gods represented by the idols do not exist, and consequently there is no problem eating meat obtained in that way.

⁴ So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: we know that ‘An idol is nothing at all in the world’ and that ‘There is no God but one.’ 1 Cor 8:4 NIV.

If you like, the intellectuals felt “they knew best”.

For the “ordinary people” in the church, and for those of Jewish heritage, this stance was hurtful. As I’ve said for Jewish people it ran against one of the Commandments and for non-Jews who perhaps had converted from one of the false religions there was a concern of slipping back into old ways.

Paul’s own convictions are similar to those “in the know”. But he does not take sides favouring the strong (those who eat idol meat) against the weak (those who refrain.) He reminds the church that they must take a view founded on love, not upon knowledge. And this applies to what might be termed Christian freedom too. We are given free will by God. But at all times we must remember that Christian freedom is founded on love, God’s love for us in Jesus Christ. Christian freedom means being a slave to Christ, so that in the Christian life we are responsible to one another. That is central to what is meant by to be in Christ.

³⁴ “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. ³⁵ By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13: 34 - 35

Earlier in Corinthians (see 1 Cor 3: 1 – 2) Paul has made the point that there are plenty in the church at Corinth who are still “mere infants in Christ”. In other words, those whose faith is still not mature. Therefore, Paul advises the Corinthians that as they make their choices, they must be careful not to harm others among them who may be less mature and therefore more susceptible to influence. Paul argues, believers must not only consider how their action fits them, and their relation to God, but also how such action might affect another.

Believers are capable of self-control, and they are responsible for their decisions and actions based upon them. But weaker believers must look to, and learn from, their stronger faith brothers and sisters, who must therefore act more responsibly toward their weaker brothers and sisters.

You may be familiar with a poem by John Donne the 17^th century priest.

No man is an island entire of itself; every man

is a piece of the continent, a part of the main;

 “No man is an island” is quite a well-known phrase. But it is a useful summary, I feel, of the point Paul is making. Every person, like it or not, is connected to and interdependent on, someone else. Sadly, we seem to have drifted into a mindset amongst many in this country – though thankfully they are the minority – that it’s all about “me”.

 Paul makes it clear that if we act so as not to care for our sisters and brothers, especially those weaker than ourselves in some way, then we are being sinful. And, in particular, we will be sinning against Christ.

 ¹² When you sin against them in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 1 Cor 8:12 NIV

Christ died for every person; even those who don’t know him or reject him. Therefore, to cause harm to someone for whom Christ died, is to work against Christ. This is especially so within the body of Christ, the Church, but it is true in everyday life too.

 Coming back to the here and now. I’m not personally aware of anyone who is refusing to wear a mask or is refusing the vaccine. But I feel that as Christians we have a duty not only to our weaker brothers and sisters in Christ, but to all people, to act in love. And acting in love means caring for other people. In wearing a mask, we are caring for others by not spreading the virus. In getting vaccinated we are caring for others too.

We should be aware of setting a good example in every decision, and choice, and action we take. That is why I felt it was right that our churches closed at the start of this current lockdown. We could have remained open under the rules, but was it the right thing to do? What message would we be sending had we done so? Even if it had no effect on others, I feel it would enrich our own faithful response to God. God wants us as his children to act in his image and that means most of all loving others. And in our Covid times loving others means not putting others at risk.