Making my defense
I was posed these thoughts and asked to respond.
Background, a friend shared his thoughts with me [which is linked to a series of Facebook posts where a person asked “Where in the Bible does it say not to wear a mask?”] as we responded to the original query and then each other. My friend's response -- that initiated this response -- is the topic of this post and is below—but first, before I responded -- the theme title scripture actually popped into my mind which then spawned this post after prayer and time in the shower.
My response will separate out the question into 3 components:
- Who is responsible for the global crisis that has a thin piece of paper attached to our ears as a tangibly divisive issue
- How we receive our clarity of thought while preparing to give the answer
Part One
“as a prisoner inside my head trying to understand
of how lawyers would be qualified to determine someone's true belief to
accommodate a requested exemption status especially in
terms of a denial.”
Response: Lawyers are not qualified to determine belief of someone requesting exemption status. They are required to be knowledgeable of the law. All the law. The law that is straight forward like do not commit murder to case law which fine tunes a portion or the whole of that law which cases have already been argued and the history and disposition of the case as recorded in the public record. If no history is available, then the attorney will commit to determining through extrapolation whether or not there can be a case made because of some peculiarity of the potential case before him. If they feel they can win a case, they will likely set about making it.
How we get inside the head of the probable case against conscientious objection is to see what they see in US Law, State Law, Local Law and Case Law? So let’s take religious objection as an example. The US Law on religious objection [inclusive of conscientious objection] is determined primarily, it would seem by looking through cases, on if the ‘religion’ to which the individual case is being argued does in fact provide either conscientious determination as to the veracity of the topic -- vis-à-vis – the church does demand, require or expect explicit adherence to that matter or they leave it to you to exercise your own conscience based on your understanding of scripture and from prayerfully considering the matter you decide you have a right to decline the adherence to the alleged legal requirement to, for instance, wear a mask. If though, there is no official Church tenet and it is merely a free believing citizen who has through prayer and mediation in GOD’s Word, determined it goes against a person’s conscience then they must -- as Peter wrote, ‘be ready to make a defense for to ANYONE who demands a reason for the ‘hope’ in you but respectfully so as to perhaps cause the hearer to see your sincerity and faith.
On the legal standing regarding masks and the enforcement especially from a religious perspective what to do? Wisdom is always needed in making our commitment conscientiously. We go therefore to an if/then argument.
Government issues a mandate/Or strongly worded request to wear a mask BECAUSE it protects you and others from spreading a virus/disease.
Which mask should you wear? Initially, it was the masks like they wear in the hospital [likeness pictured here] that most people were rushing to acquire.
However, soon enough an article written in April 2020 [ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7153751/ ] became widespread. It is now ‘retracted’ but the data within the original article was enlightening. The ‘retraction’ decision can be found here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7273461/ . You can determine by the language of the retraction whether it changes the results of the study. Since April 2020 the ever-changing mask suggestions has undermined the efficacy of any ‘mandate’ being positively reliable. There’s that.
So, from a person’s conscientious stand if masks are not truly as effective and if there can be NO LAW or mandate because said law could be rendered mute and arguable from a health and religious point of view. A law must be equal in its imposition and should soundly be proven as reason to that end. There is far too much distance in opinion among physicians as to the effectiveness of the masks initially suggested in its ability to stop the tiny virus from penetration into or worse out of from being propelled by the power of a cough. So, “if” a mask does not truly and provably beyond doubt prevent the wearer from inhaling it through this mask or worse, definitely does not prevent it from being coughed outside the mask “then” how could it be right to impose the wearing of the mask? If you are a Doctor you may be able to argue the health portion of the matter.
Offered only as opinion and only in response to a challenge.
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NOTICE: If you are feeling inclined or
feeling led to want Jesus as your Savior, your leader, your King, your source
of Peace and Joy but are feeling woefully inadequate, uninformed on how best to
get to know HIM, or find yourself at wit’s end because you believe yourself
trapped and in need of GOD, please know Jesus stands ready to welcome you with
HIS Holy Spirit. Believe these words: “16 For God so
loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever
believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. “—John
3:16
EM: contact@lightwritingmatters.com
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DISCLAIMER: The thoughts published on this
blog, in total, are the opinions, thoughts and considerations of the writer/author
of every post published. It is assumed that research by the reader will lead
the reader to their own conclusions. It is not the writer’s intent to make a
judgment of anyone but to allow GOD’s Word to do what it does. “For the word of
GOD is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged
sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow;
it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all
creation is hidden from GOD’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare
before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” – Hebrews 4:12 [NIV]
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