See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. - Ephesians 5:15-16 (NKJV)
We have a responsibility as Christians relating to how we walk in this world both internally and outwardly as commentaries on our key verses outline. Both speak to our witness for Christ. Inwardly, if we live a life contrary to what we preach or claim to believe then we are seen rightly as hypocrites. Our outward walk is how we interact with those who do not know Christ as their savior. Once again, will we be viewed as hypocrites raising our hands on Sundays and bringing down the hammer during the week upon the world? Will be seen as humble, forbearing, kind, understanding? Or will we be seen as myopic, cruel, arrogant and yes even stupid? It does not matter what the issue is either. Our witness for Christ must be first even if we feel right about the matter at hand. Such is the case with the disagreements in this country over the virus and the mitigation standards set out by science and our government. Many churches took their stands to disobey authority in violation of scripture, and reopen their churches to full capacity, masks or no masks. May other Christian leaders brag about such disobedience. Karen Hardin appears to be one of these. Hardin makes her living off the flock and is a writer at Charisma News where the above linked article can be found. Let us reason once more as Hardin leads us through a confrontation she created at her local store who insisted she needed to wear a mask.
"Freedom. We hear a lot about that from the left who say they supposedly fight for freedom.
But for who? All I see is a group working hard to take our constitutional freedoms and give them to people who are not citizens or to those who want to change our Constitution and steal the freedoms of the majority ... especially Christians. And they will continue unless we decide to say, "Enough!" This past week I went into a grocery story I commonly frequent. It is the only store where I still shop that requires a mask. However, more often than not, I go in without one.
Before anyone gets enraged over that statement, let me say I am in a state in which the mask mandate has been lifted. Also, all but two of the branches of the store where I have shopped, are in cities which also have no mask mandate. So, the obvious conclusion is that they are no longer required, right? Wrong." - Karen Hardin
So Hardin, who claims to be an intercessor, decided to not abide by the store's policy even though she knew full well what it was. That is not freedom. It is selfishness. It is petulance. It is a childlike behavior that would get most toddlers spanked. Unlike a toddler however, Hardin has responsibility beyond her feelings of being put upon. She has responsibilities for Christ and the Gospel. She has her witness and to so casually toss it aside for something as simple as wearing a mask reveals that she could care less about the cause of Jesus Christ. Now as you read her account of this interaction realize that she is proudly admitting this behavior. She is flaunting how indescribably arrogant she was in pursuit of her perception of personal freedom. Never mind that the store also has freedoms and Karen Hardin does not get to dictate to them what freedoms get to be upheld.
"I walked in last week to buy one item--a quick in and out trip. I walked in sans a mask and headed over to the item. Almost immediately a clerk walked up to me with a box of masks in her hand.
