UPDATE: I believe Paul says that we should consider others more important than ourselves. This aligns with his teachings on the weaker brother. EVERYONE is a weaker brother to me. EVERYONE is a weaker brother to you. There is no implication in the article below that some people are weaker in the faith than others. (updated November 11, 2021)
Original Post: November 6, 2021: I have a lot of strong opinions about things. I have strong opinions about the sabbath, about evangelism, about my family. I have strong opinions about the vision and mission of this church. I have strong opinions politically and strong opinions about food. I also have many strong opinions about the pandemic, vaccine mandates and liberty of conscience. One thing I don’t have a strong opinion about is wearing a mask. Why?
Well, let me restate that. I hate wearing masks. My ears get tired. My face gets tired. Sometimes I feel like I can’t communicate with people in a mask. When I haven’t shaved, or I’m chewing gum, the mask gets constantly pulled down and I have to keep pulling it up. Get this straight, I hate wearing masks.
However, I think Paul, the apostle, has something to say to this:
Romans 14:13–23 (NCV) Do Not Cause Others to Sin
13 For that reason we should stop judging each other. We must make up our minds not to do anything that will make another Christian sin. 14 I am in the Lord Jesus, and I know that there is no food that is wrong to eat. But if a person believes something is wrong, that thing is wrong for him. 15 If you hurt your brother’s or sister’s faith because of something you eat, you are not really following the way of love. Do not destroy someone’s faith by eating food he thinks is wrong, because Christ died for him. 16 Do not allow what you think is good to become what others say is evil. 17 In the kingdom of God, eating and drinking are not important. The important things are living right with God, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 Anyone who serves Christ by living this way is pleasing God and will be accepted by other people.
19 So let us try to do what makes peace and helps one another. 20 Do not let the eating of food destroy the work of God. All foods are all right to eat, but it is wrong to eat food that causes someone else to sin. 21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that will cause your brother or sister to sin.
22 Your beliefs about these things should be kept secret between you and God. People are happy if they can do what they think is right without feeling guilty. 23 But those who eat something without being sure it is right are wrong because they did not believe it was right. Anything that is done without believing it is right is a sin.
Now, to be sure, the specific context of what this is about is food sacrificed to idols. Paul is basically saying, that food sacrificed to an idol means nothing. Why? Because idols are nothing. They really aren’t a god, therefore Christians are free to eat food sacrificed to idols without sinning. HOWEVER…if someone sees you eating that does not understand this, then you cannot, because you might cause them to sin.
DID YOU GET THIS? It’s not a sin, but if they believe it is, and they see you do it, you might influence them to do something they think is a sin. Therefore, you cause them to sin.
How in the world does this relate to masks? Glad you asked. Paul says that we should watch out for the weaker brother. Here’s how I see it relates to masks. Some people feel masks aren’t doing anything. Some people feel like masks are wrong. Some people feel like forcing people to wear masks is stomping on their freedoms.
Paul would say, “you might be right, but are you living for the weaker brother?”
In other words, some people are scared that people aren’t wearing masks. Some people are more worried about the virus than you and they think masks are vitally important. So, when you think about not needing to wear a mask, have you considered the “weaker brother?” Have you considered those who are scared?
I’m not saying that everyone who wears a mask is weaker in their faith than others. I’m saying, that as Christians, our calling is not to consider ourselves first, but others first. Jesus Others then You. JOY. If your not wearing a masks makes you feel more important, makes you able to enjoy worship more that’s fine. Yet, have you considered the people who are scared by your not wearing a mask? Have you considered the people that are not comfortable? Have you considered the weaker brother? Have you considered others first? (read Philippians 2 on this one).
Just a thought on this Sabbath morning. I encourage you to pray through this.
Philippians 2:4–5 (NIV) 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
