Although just a kid, I remember the euphoria when Dr. Jonas Salk discovered the polio vaccine. There probably were people who refused back then, just as some today refuse vaccinations for Covid. Newscast after newscast shows doctors… the word come from the Latin word “docere,” to teach… We see learned people trying to teach that the vaccine is both safe and necessary for the welfare of us all. But some people for whatever reasons…
A key concept in 1 Peter is obedience. Christians are “children of obedience” (1:14, 22), which goes directly against deep-seated convictions of independent American individualists, which is on full display in this crisis. St. Paul speaks of “the obedience of faith” (Romans 1:5), meaning obedience is integral to faith, submission to God whom we can’t see and to others whom we can see. Putting others above ourselves is rooted in Jesus himself, who became a servant for our sakes (Philippians 2:3-11) and now is exalted over all things.
“Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor” (1 Peter 2:13-17).
Invincible ignorance is nothing new. The key word is “invincible.” The only sure thing when dealing with invincible ignorance is hope for the Day when the exalted Christ is seen and makes all things whole. Hope “that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. In this hope we were saved” (Romans 8:21, 24). Just as there’s “long-haul Covid,” we have long-haul hope.
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