Do Not Worry

Epistle 2:
“Do Not Worry”

Grace, mercy, peace and love be to you, one and all.

There is no doubt about it; we are living in uncertain times. We have been, in fact, for quite awhile now. This threat of global pandemic is really the most recent example, and though arguably the greatest threat we all face, it is not the only one that shows just how uncertain times have gotten. Some of the other examples I can think of  are: 

-Increasingly corrupt politicians, governments, and world leaders
-The ever growing proliferation of fake news/use of alternative facts
-Climate change
-War/the growing tensions between nations, even while under threat of this pandemic
-The proliferation of ‘Social Justice’ in all of its forms
-False teachers and abusive clergies undermining God’s work within the Church
-‘Over the top’ conspiracy theories, gossip, rumors, etc.

In all of this, in particular in regards to ‘Social Justice’, I see a trend to encourage people into rebellion against God – or at least religion- in order to ‘free ourselves’ from some evil racist, fascist, sexist, oppressive Patriarchy. As we seem to move ever farther and farther from the Way of God, it seems to me the more uncertain times get. 

From here, I could go into a whole lot more detail about the Social Justice movement and how ‘SJW’’s (Social Justice Warriors) go through some incredible mental gymnastics in order to make much of their clearly ungodly values seem like the right and good way to go; ergo the ‘religious’ and especially Christian way is oppressive and therefore evil, but that’s not what this post is actually about. I will touch very briefly on some of the over the top conspiracy theories and rumors that have come up, as they may prove relevant. I’m sure some of you have heard people express their theories about how the COVID-19 virus was released deliberately so that (insert country here) can exploit the crisis for political or economic gain. You have heard that the virus itself is a kind of ‘false flag’ or hoax created by (insert government here) towards the same end as those who call the virus a weapon. These are just two examples that I have heard come up a number of times. There is of course also the idea that this virus, this pandemic, is a sign of the end times; some may even refer to Revelation, specifically the Four Horsemen. I have come across some posts that do exactly that.

But all of that is just to illustrate how uncertain these times are, and have been for awhile. Let us not forget that in all of this uncertainty we have one thing that is certain; a loving God who is with us and will not abandon us. As frightening as things might get, we can be sure of that. Now, I can understand why some may be wondering how we can not worry. I’ll tell you:

God told us not to worry.

While there may be some validity to some of the theories of governments and media using the pandemic to some sinister agenda – never let a good crisis go to waste, after all – none of that changes the truth that we are told not to worry. Even *if* we are seeing signs of the end of the age unfold before our eyes, we are told not to let this alarm us; we are told to remain vigilant and always be ready for the return of our Lord, but not be fearful of the world or the devil.

God told us not to worry.

In Christ’s own words according to the Gospel of Matthew:

²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? ²⁷ And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?^[g] 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, ²⁹ yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. ³⁰ But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? ³¹ Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. ³³ But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

³⁴ “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

(Matthew 6:25-34, ESV)

I’m sure that some might have an opinion or perspective about some of the theories that have been circulating in relation to a lot of the so-called Social Justice rhetoric, the rapidly degeneration of Godly values in the public sector – particularly when it comes to pop culture, mainstream media, and politics-  and especially with the pandemic. As I said, there may even be some validity to some of the theories; if there is a way for a government to set up some kind of police state or a system in accordance to human standards apart from God’s will, then there is a chance they will attempt to do just that. I say this not to be alarmist, or to encourage any rebellion; only to illustrate that we need to be watchful and to keep God’s authority ahead of all. I’m thinking of Daniel as an example. Some might even see the Horseman of Pestilence when regarding this pandemic; I’ll not say one or the other. I will, however remind all who read this letter that Jesus spoke to His disciples about the end of the age:

³ As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” ⁴ And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. ⁵ For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. ⁶ And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. ⁷ For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. ⁸ All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.

⁹ “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. ¹⁰ And then many will fall away^[a] and betray one another and hate one another. ¹¹ And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. ¹² And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. ¹³ But the one who endures to the end will be saved. ¹⁴ And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”

(Matthew 24:3-14, ESV)

"See that you are not alarmed"; again, we are told not to worry. We are told to see to it we are not led astray. Even when lawlessness is increased, and there are wars, famines, earthquakes in various places, we must endure to the end. Even when tribulation and death come our way, and we are hated by nations for His name’s sake, we must endure. We must stay alert and remain ready for His return.

^42 “Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. ⁴³ But know this; that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. ⁴⁴ Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

(Matthew 24:42-44 ESV)

          So do not waste time and energy with worry. By all means remain vigilant and at the ready, but do not worry. See to it that you are living in a manner which honors God in the works and person of Christ above all, but do not worry.  To wrap it up, I can think of two things we should never worry about: That which we cannot change (if we can’t change it, then worrying will not change it), and that which we can change (why worry if we can change it?)