I had a conversation with someone I care about this week, and I'm struggling.

We've all been through the craziness of the past (almost) two years. We've gone through lockdowns, mask mandates, church/business/school/work closings, watching death tolls rise... all of it. We are the ones who've made it through so far. God has been good.

Some of us have seen first hand what COVID-19 does to people, some of us have heard about it from our loved ones, and some of us only know what we see on the news. It is very unfortunate that, from the beginning, the former president turned a highly contagious disease into a political debate. We have not recovered from that mistake.

Despite the fact that this virus is highly contagious and masks have proven to help us protect each other, there are ongoing arguments about the reasons people refuse to wear masks.

During this conversation, the man I am "talking to" disclosed that instead of wearing a mask, he prays before he leaves the house and has faith God will protect him. My first thought was "that is the most ignorant thing I've heard today," but I did not say that to him because I'm learning to communicate like an adult instead of immediately insulting other people's opinions. "Children and fools" is the next thought I had. My grandma always said, "God protects children and fools."

How did mask-wearing become an issue of faith, though?

We lock our homes at night, we lock our cars, we visit the doctor, we take medication, we (try to) eat well, we look both ways before crossing the street, we throw out spoiled milk, we work to make money, we pay bills... We do all these things on a daily basis to keep ourselves as well as possible physically, so why would wearing (or not wearing) a mask be the one place where someone decides to exercise faith instead of the good common sense God gave us?

During this conversation, I gave the example of a woman from a church I used to attend who had high blood pressure. She said she was not going to take her blood pressure medication because she trusted God to heal her. She ended up in the hospital and almost died. Not because she didn't have faith or because God didn't want to heal her, but because she wasn't taking her medication.

Why must we tempt God?

God gave this woman a good doctor and good medication to keep her well until she could get her pressure under control and no longer need the medication. He has given us scientists with knowledge, he has given us intelligence and common sense, He has given us masks to protect ourselves and each other until we no longer need them.

It is ignorant, and quite arrogant, to refuse all the things God makes available for our use and then put it back on Him to save us from harm (and this goes far beyond COVID and masks).

Yes, there have been times when I'm running low on gas in my car and I pray and ask God to help me make it to the station instead of breaking down on the side of the road. But, I take my car to the station and add more gas, I don't go home and then get back in the car the next morning (still with no gas) and pray God helps me make it to each of my errands and then back home.

Faith should not be used as a substitute for intelligent thinking. God created us special. He created us in His image. He created us to have thoughts and feelings and curiosities and decision-making skills. Unlike most animals, we do not exist in a constant state of instinct-based actions.

There are times when we must absolutely practice faith. Sometimes life calls for us to believe in God for things other people cannot see, imagine, or understand. But sometimes, I think we use "faith" irresponsibly.

In Matthew 4:7 (NKJV), Jesus says, "It is written again, 'You shall not tempt the Lord your God.'" In other versions it says, "You shall not put the Lord your God to the test." This was in response to Satan telling Jesus to exercise His divinity while in the wilderness. Using His power for His own sake. If He was actually God, He could command the angels... turn the rocks... save Himself.

We're also told to "taste and see" and to trust in God (Psalm 34). So what makes one act faith and another arrogance? Intention.

If my intention is to ignore every useful, helpful, positive, knowledgeable piece of information in order to do whatever it is that I want to do, and then tell God to keep me safe, that is arrogance.

If my intention is to walk a path I cannot see because God is leading me there, and trusting Him to provide my needs despite my fears and doubts, that is faith.

I have seen God protect people form their foolish decisions (including me from my own), however, I'm not in the business of tempting God. God loves us, but I don't think He allows us to continually (and intentionally) test His grace.

But who am I to know the heart of God and what He will and won't put up with?

Be blessed.

-CH