Spiritual Face Covering and Spiritual Social Distancing

I bet you are tired of social distancing and face coverings! Social distancing and face coverings are not natural. At times, both seem pointless and contradictory. I’ve been thinking about “information and idea viruses” and I’ve been thinking about “spiritual, emotional, psychological and mental social distancing” and “face coverings.”

“Information viruses”, or ideas or posts that aren’t true, or the veracity of which isn’t verifiable, originate with “liberals”, “conservatives”, people of “faith” and “atheist” and they thrive on Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, Instagram and other social media posts. Information viruses discuss COVID-19, BLM, Blue Lives Matter, face coverings, restrictions on churches, should school open, should school be remote or a hybrid, do children spread COVID-19, etc., etc.

“Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” (Philippians 4:8 NLT) Paul’s instruction describes “spiritual, psychological, mental and emotional, social distancing.” Too often people social distance their thinking but do not socially distance what they adopt. Too often if something is “viral” and emotionally tugs at the heart the post gets shared. Discerning what is true and false is a missing practice in people’s lives.

Discernment is asking the questions, “Is this true? Is this honorable? Is this right and pure? Spiritual, emotional, psychological, and mental social distancing should be the response to information viruses. Keep your distance from non-sense! Research the source of the post. Sift through the post. Accept what is acceptable and reject what is questionable, or that comes from a questionable source.

We are also directed to use face coverings, or filters, for our speech. Face coverings protect the other person from my germs; they are not for my protection. “Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.” (Ephesians 4:29 NLT) Spiritual, emotional, psychological, and mental face coverings on my speech are for protecting the other person.

Put on your “spiritual face covering,” and practice “spiritual social distancing.”