Category: repentance

The Thing About Masks

On By Dr. William James Carter, IIn Change, COVID 19, repentance2 Comments

     Over the past year and a half, mask-wearing has become very cultic. You see people wearing masks everywhere. They are in their cars alone. They are walking down the street alone. In the parks and on sidewalks people are wearing masks as though their lives depend on them. And, I suspect it is their choice but that the reasoning is way off. This is to say, most will say the ineffective mask-wearing is because they don’t want to take any chance of getting a virus that is much smaller than the pores in the masks. But that does not matter. The lies and fear must be perpetuated at every cost. So the wearing of ineffective mask-wearing must continue.[1]

     With this in mind, one must wonder why this push for the general populace to wear ineffective masks. To answer this one must reasonably understand the purpose of forced mask-wearing. You see, masks pull from individual identity. When individuality is removed individuals are forced into lockstep at the behest of those seeking to control them. For instance, some cultures force some of their people to wear face-coverings.  It is said the reasoning is for modesty. However, the identities of those forced to wear masks are removed and they are consequently “slaves” to those ordering the wearing of masks. Still, there are culturally and historically many reasons for wearing masks[2] yet the medical reasons do not stand where the general populace is concerned.

     No matter the many reasons for mask-wearing one thing is clear; masks hide identity. Those wearing masks are difficult, if not impossible, to identify which is why criminals use face coverings as they carry on their dirty deeds. The intentional hiding of identity falls in line with hypocrisy. The idea of a hypocrite stems from the Greek “hupŏkritēs” which has been likened to the wearing of a mask. More specifically the hypocrite is one who puts on a show pretending to be somebody or something he is not.

     This is important because many hanging around the Church are not Christians. They have all the moves and say the right words. They know when to say “amen” and have perfected the dance and when to raise their hands. Yet, lives are far from Christian. It might be more prudent to call these “Sunday saints.” This is because they live the perfect Christian life Sunday morning but that the rest of the week one would have a hard time seeing the Christian. The reason for the trouble is because these are no Christians but that they have infiltrated the Church. They have a form of godliness even while denying the power of godliness. The Sunday “worship” is nothing more than showtime at the Apollo.

     The thing about masks is that they cover and conceal. They hide and disguise. Masks allow for the continuation of misdeeds if those deeds are by the oppressor or the one choosing to put on a show. In either case, it is time to remove the masks. It is time to come clean. Masks are uncomfortable and must be removed from time to time for relief thereby revealing the real person behind the mask. This is the reason Jesus repudiates hypocrites in Mathew 7:5. He does this because hypocrites often hold a double standard. They look for the minute problems of others whilst the overwhelming issues they have are ignored.

Yes, it is time to remove the masks. The continual wearing of masks has no benefits and serves only to create divides while propagating ill health. The thing about masks is that they hide and shield while the mask wearers infiltrated and destroy. It is time; it is past time to remove the masks.  

[1] https://thefederalist.com/2020/10/29/these-12-graphs-show-mask-mandates-do-nothing-to-stop-covid/

[2] http://uzspace.unizulu.ac.za/bitstream/handle/10530/295/Wearing%20masks.%20Khulekani%20C.%20Mbatha.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

Tied Hands

On By Dr. William James Carter, IIn Holiness, repentance1 Comment

There has been much talk against the police here of late. They have been attacked on every level and especially politically. The President of the United States believes that the attire of the police is too intimidating. Even more local politicians have basically all but blamed police officers for things that have gone wrong in communities across the country. Consider, for instance, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake who told the police to stand down during the Freddy Gray riots. She then suggested that the police were not doing their jobs when the fact is their hands were tied behind their backs by the mayor.

Since those tragic riots the murder rate in Baltimore has sky-rocketed. Officers are concerned about doing their jobs because they don’t want false charges brought upon them. Now, it has yet to be made public what actually caused the death of Mr. Gray. This, however, has not stopped the mayor and others from coming down on the officers with the full force of their offices. The police have been maligned to such an extent that if they do their jobs they are wrong and if they don’t they are just as wrong. Well, who can work under such circumstances as that? No wonder murder has gone up! And, still citizens say the police are in the way too much and when criminals take over they are called upon them to return. But, why would they with tied hands?

People being moved by false emotions are no new thing. I recall working as a substitute teacher in Fort Smith, Arkansas. There, at the time, was much talk about the use of red pens to grade papers. Even more the idea of telling a child he provided a wrong answer was gaining ground among some. This, as it were, caused the child to have his feelings hurt or was feeling intimidated upon by reason of the red pen marks or bad grades. By extension the teachers’ hands, in some cases, were tied because they were not allowed to properly assess the progress of the students which inevitably led to failure of the one whose feelings were hurt. Hence, when the hands of authority figures are tied then comes the failure of those who should heed the sage advice of those authority figures.

Tied hands not only cause problems in the public sphere but also in the church. We have come to a time when preachers are not “allowed” to preach the Gospel. To call sin sin is to be a bigot in this day and age. There is now a “feel good” gospel this is permeating the thoughts of some while others simply want their Sunday fix without being told how to live outside the church. This has resulted in the preachers’ hands being tied. Some want the full churches and want people to feel comfortable in church so there is often no cry against sin. This has created a double standard in the church which has poured into the streets where right is wrong and wrong has become right.

This is how the “hands” of Christ have been tied. All too often there is no standard of holiness presented by those who are to lead the way. Also, the way many “Christians” dress pulls away from the standards of holiness. Even so, the preaching of Christ has nearly been nullified to the extent that many see no need to have Christ as Lord and Saviour. They see no reason to bow to the One who can give them eternal life because insofar as they are concerned life is this fading time on earth. Therefore, when one sees no reason to honour the Holy One the redemptive hands of the Redeemer are tied so that He cannot pull sinners from darkness.

Romans 8:34 reads, “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” This intercession is not for those who choose not Christ rather it is for those that love Him and His appearing. When this happens our enemy makes accusations for us. However, because Christ makes intercession, much like an attorney for his clients, He can only represent those that have “hired” Him. Those who do not fall under the redemptive arm of Christ have tied the hands of Christ so that there is no defense for them. There is no salvation because deliverance has not been sought. The only end that can be had is death and destruction much like what is taking place in Baltimore. When the hands of authority are tied there can be no good end.

Do you have the hands of Christ tied? Are you willing to let Christ in so that he can plead your case or will you continue to live a destructive life wherein death is the only clear outcome? Please make a decision to untie the hands of Christ so that you can live a life of total victory.