This past weekend, I wore my mask into the church building even though the CDC and our denominational leadership agreed that those who have been fully vaccinated no longer need to wear a mask. This is something new for those of us you have only recently returned to in-person worship. I certainly welcome getting rid of my mask, but wanted to be considerate of others who may for one reason or another have yet to receive their shots.
I'm told that it's a fashion faux pas to wear both a belt and suspenders! Etiquette says it's one or the other! I know The pastors of our church gave us heads up about the change in mask policy before Sunday. With this announcement, I thought of two things that needed immediate attention with the relaxing of the previous mandate.
One thing involved the need to get back to shaving the stubble from my face and the other was the need to buy some chewing gum to be used as a breath freshener! The latter was my attempt at being considerate in another way of those who might move within the social distance space and pick up a hint of halitosis.
Jesus was about changing things up! He wanted his followers to rise to a level of righteousness that was authentic and exceeded the legalistic showiness of the religious leaders of the first century. They did their acts of righteousness to be seen by others Matthew This was hypocrisy, a spiritual faux pas of play-acting! Change requires new structures. Jesus taught through a parable that you cannot put new wine in old wine skins Matthew In the parable, He pointed out how fasting was a matter of the heart and the motivations for fasting were between God and the individual believer.
The practice of publicizing one's personal piety giving and praying included was not the intent of the law. Jesus exposed this pretension as inauthentic and burdensome to the followers of the new way! Guidelines and mandates can become burdensome.
