an unseen enemy

pre-script: this post assumes context under New Jersey legislation as published here, and, as always, personal experience.

the family of virus responsible for this year's pandemic has been studied since the 1960s, some strains of which regularly cause the common cold [immune-response]. certain of these pathogens have become more virulent: two particular strains have caused recent epidemics, notwithstanding the current "novel" strain, which is to say they cause more severe "respiratory syndromes." so, it is not from mere supposition that we were told how this virus was expected to behave: how it should spread, what symptoms it induced, and who among us were perceived the most vulnerable to infection.
much of the initial regulations (such as stay-at-home orders) came from the foresight of avoiding mass-panic. since our front-line of defense was medical, the existing supply of personal protective equipment was funneled in support of those professionals fighting on it, until such time as a fair, public distribution of such gear could be maintained. crimes of hoarding, for example, were enforced under US Code Title 50 § 4512. additionally, from a governing stance, keeping outbreak-cases at a manageable rate works against the collapse of an obviously limited system. those most severely affected were placed on ventilators as availability dictated, as this was the greatest treatment hospitals could supply at the time.

from the start, however, the vast majority of people were guided by their fear, and thus their ignorance. they heard about the symptoms and the mortality-rate, and while some personal responses were helpful, many were hurtful. beyond the spread of the disease, people were spreading disinformation, conjecture and gossip; they were forming stigmas or judging people or ordinances; if it is spread between people, then they will avoid people. and if it is spread through air, though it is not necessarily "airborne," they will avoid air.... but the laws that have since been set in place are more liberating. there are limitations, certainly, but equality is yet the goal. they were formed, firstly, by those with a responsibility to protect, and lastly, for those receiving protection:

"It shall be the duty of every person or entity in this State or doing business in this State and of the members of the governing body and every official, employee, or agent of every political subdivision in this State and of each member of all other governmental bodies, agencies, and authorities in this State of any nature whatsoever, to cooperate fully [in all matters concerning this Executive Order]."
-EO103, EO104, EO107, EO109-EO113, EO115, EO118, EO121, EO122, EO125, EO126, EO133, EO142, EO143, EO145-EO150, EO152-EO158, EO161, EO163, EO165, EO168, EO173, EO175, EO181, EO183, EO187, EO190, EO192, EO194, EO196, EO204, EO207

the written regulations remind us that our enemy is not flesh and blood, but rather a disease which a person may [or may not] be able to transmit. we are guarded, then, from instances of likely transmission, not from the people themselves. for example: if you cannot keep your distance from a person, wear protective gear when within that person's infectious radius. the obvious dispute to this is that, if a person is not infectious (i.e., is not infected, whether symptomatic or otherwise), none of those measures enacted to prevent spreading the viral disease need be taken by that person. but the reason our laws don't clarify this is because of the legal precedence of the Americans with Disabilities Act. in essence, it is better to assume everyone can spread a contagion than to single out either the "healthy" or the "sick."
now, whether or not people agree with this is up to them, but under law it is a matter of confidentiality. in that same vein, the law also acknowledges that our protective gear isn't flawless and that it can cause certain people of the population undue harm: namely, those with pre-existing medical conditions.

"Where a customer or other visitor declines to wear a face mask on the premises due to a disability that inhibits such usage, neither the employer nor its employees shall require the individual to produce medical documentation verifying the stated condition, unless production is otherwise required by State or federal law."
-EO192:1.b.ii.2

if you did not fall under this bit of legislation, you might look at it as a matter of greater-vs.-lesser evil and demand either compliance or abstinence for all; that's fair, right? but the laws depict that delicate balance between protecting against the spread of a communicable disease and protection for an individual's health. now, you can legally keep your distance from someone who is declining to wear a mask, and such a person is still allowed to conduct business, albeit "via a reasonable accommodation, pursuant to ADA and NJ[Law Against Discrimination]..." (EO192:1.b.ii.1). it is noted, however, specific to a direct employer-employee relationship, medical documentation "may" be required (EO192:1.b.i.4), but employee-employee relationships and patron relationships endow no special authority over an individual's claim.
barring a medical condition which may be confirmed under appropriate law, having an age less than two-years or impracticability for wearing a mask (specified under EO 192:1.b) are the only legal excuses from the particular requirement governing all in-person business. for example, a dentist need not enforce "masking" of patients within his office, just as restauranteurs do not require seated patrons to wear a mask while eating. these laws express an equality toward business-owners to carry on ordinary business.
of course, then, it is not that the disease simply does not spread under such circumstances, but that it is likely not present to be accountable. neither does it spontaneously appear when it is accountable.

our dealings, this year, with the virus are an apparent demonstration of our combatting an unseen force, and so it only reminds me of that ever-present enemy which those belonging to Christ face.

"Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."
-Ephesians 6.11-12 

"You will not fear the terror of night,/ nor the arrow that flies by day,/ nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,/ nor the plague that destroys at midday."
-Psalm 91.5-6

truly in Scripture, plague and pestilence and famine and sickness can be used by God as forms of chastisement (Num 12.10-15). but this does not make them less evil of occurrences. nor is stating such meant to imply that sickness is always punishment for sin (Mk 5.25-34). yet, we are reminded that this "old order" will have passed away upon the establishment of God's eternal kingdom (Rev 21): there will be neither pain nor any impure thing within it. so we can agree that this pandemic is evil, especially as it has affected believers and nonbelievers alike--but that it has affected them equally, i would not be so quick to argue.

"We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us. On Him we have set our hope that He will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many."
-II Corinthians 1.8-11

"Even though I walk/ through the valley of the shadow of death,/ I will fear no evil,/ for You are with me;/ Your rod and Your staff,/ they comfort me."
-Psalm 23.4

just as we take on our spiritual battles by reliance on God, i believe many people have fought this physical enemy to the same glory and praise of God. i say this as encouragement. my chronic asthma puts me at higher risk should i ever contract the disease, but neither am i fearful nor reckless in my associations with others. i know a woman whose terminal illness prevents her from wearing a mask, yet her faith has already afforded her the blessing of years when doctors had given her months. i know another woman, in her nineties, who was told after a medical check-up that she had the viral antibodies for the disease. i know others who were so stricken, they spent time on ventilators. these are survival stories where "odds" are not in one's favor.

"'See, it is I who created the blacksmith/ who fans the coals into flame/ and forges a weapon fit for its work./ And it is I who have created the destroyer to work havoc;/ no weapon forged against you will prevail,/ and you will refute every tongue that accuses you./ This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD,/ and this is their vindication from Me,'/ declares the LORD."
-Isaiah 54.16-17

"It is better to take refuge in the LORD/ than to trust in man./ It is better to take refuge in the LORD/ than to trust in princes."
-Psalm 118.8-9

but i know another who passed away before the chaos gripped our country, before our lives were changed by emergency legislation or pandemoniac shopping or direct contact with the virus. i would look at that, also, to God's glory.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."
-Romans 8.28

"The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen."
-II Timothy 4.18

II Corinthians 4 serves to encourage us with the surpassing greatness of the world beyond this one such that we should experience no fear while limited in the present world. though we suffer, we are not ultimately defeated (vs. 8-9), and the chapter makes it obvious that this includes physical death (v. 14), so, of course, "our light and momentary troubles" (v. 17)--our dealings with the schemes of our unseen enemy which may directly lead us to doubt or indirectly distract us from God's sovereignty throughout--are as mere trials through which we are called to persevere (Ja 1.12). no matter the physical outcome, those who belong to the Father are saved through Him (Jn 10.27-29).

"But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command."
-II Thessalonians 3.3-4

"I lift my eyes up to the hills--/ where does my help come from?/ My help comes from the LORD,/ the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip--/ He who watches over you will not slumber;/ indeed, He who watches over Israel/ will neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD watches over you--/ the LORD is your shade at your right hand;/ the sun will not harm you by day,/ nor the moon by night.
The LORD will keep you from all harm--/ He will watch over your life;/ the LORD will watch over your coming and going/ both now and forevermore."
-Psalm 121

practically every psalm addresses God's care for His people. and yes, it affects people differently, and i believe that according to the measure of faith we may have. but truly, how few of us attain to the maturity, or increase of faith, Christ asks of us (Php 3.14-16). what physical power we may have available to us through prayer, yet not that we may boast of it (Acts 19.13-17). rather, our only boasting is in the work of Christ (I Cor 15.17; Gal 6.14).

"'I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."
-Luke 10.19-20

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:/ 'For Your sake we face death all day long;/ we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.'/ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
-Romans 8.35-39

in memoriam: M.E. 12-26-20

post-script: i did not intend for the publish date to coincide with the anniversary of our knowledge of the novel virus.