Those in the state and federal governments are not the only ones to be providing resources to combat the Coronavirus pandemic; private citizens are doing their part as well. Cascade Lacrosse is making face shields for medical personnel, rather than the sport helmet and protective gear they specialize in; Nieman Marcus employees will be manufacturing scrubs from materials donated by Joann Fabrics & Crafts. And on Monday, 3/30/20, President Trump invited MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell to talk about his contribution at the daily press conference. He announced that, although his company had already begun to manufacture 10,000 medical masks per day, he was now going to dedicate 75% of his manufacturing capacity and ramp up to 50,000 masks per day.
You would expect that all Americans would get behind him--but immediately, he was mocked by folks like CNN reporter Jim Acosta; MSNBC anchor Ali Velshi; Miami Herold reporter Julie K. Brown; and "Morning Joe" co-host Mika Brzezinski. Why? Partly because they would be dismissive of anything that the President would endorse; but I think also because Mr. Lindell didn't stop by simply noting his role in producing masks. He went on to say, "God gave us grace on November 8, 2016, to change the course we were on. God had been taken out of our schools and lives, a nation had turned its back on God. I encourage you to use this time at home to get back in the word. Read our Bible and spend time with our families."
While some ridiculed him as both a Trump supporter and the "MyPillow guy," there were many that also scoffed at his open belief in God. These would have been the same ones that derided Vice President Pence for having opened his Covid-19 task force meetings with prayer. As for me, I find it refreshing and a real blessing to hear men speak openly of the Creator of the Universe; particularly those that are in authority. And there are other men in the current administration that behave similarly, such as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo; or head of Housing and Urban Development, Dr. Ben Carson; or US Attorney General William Barr. It almost non-existent in politics, unless it will gain you votes--and I don't believe that is the case with these men. I think they are simply unashamed. And of course, there is nothing found in Christ of which we ought to be ashamed.
Judah had become corrupt, from the common man on the street, even to the priest that was supposed to be leading them spiritually. As a nation, they had committed spiritual adultery by serving false gods, but rather than calling the nation to repentance, the priests were more interested in money, and were telling the people that everything was alright. They were saying, "peace, peace," but there wasn't peace--not with God! So God asked, "'Were they ashamed because of the abomination they have done? They were not even ashamed at all; they did not even know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; at the time that I punish them, they shall be cast down,' says the LORD," Jer 6:15.
There are some things for which we should be ashamed; our sin would certainly be chief among them! Paul wrote, "For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is death. But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord," Rom 6:20-23.
Sin brings only death; but there is nothing at all to be ashamed of in Christ. Those of us that claim to be in Christ--are we ashamed of the one that brought us salvation; that freed us from sin? Are we hesitant to speak about Him, and about what it means to serve Him, just because someone might get upset? Or because they might ridicule us? Or because it is uncomfortable?
If is a little awkward or uncomfortable now, it will be more than uncomfortable later--as Jesus noted, "For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? For what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" In other words, what is there here that is worth giving up your eternal soul? Because that is exactly what you do when you are ashamed of speaking out about your relationship with the Lord, or ashamed of what He has said. So He continued, "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels," Mk 8:36-38.
There is no shame in the truth that leads to salvation; and that would lead Paul to say, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek," Rom 1:16.
