You probably have never heard of ISO-19, for I made it up. But it stands for something very real, and often deadly. I have chosen this phrase to mean isolation (the ISO part) due to restrictions designed to protect people from Covid-19.
My son Seth is 16 years old, and my daughter Abby is 13. Just this past week they attended a chapel talk at their school put on by one of their classmates whose senior project was on Suicide Awareness and Prevention. It’s heartbreaking to discover that teenage suicides are increasing. While suicide deaths among teens often have underlying, complicated causes, there is little doubt that one large contributing cause is restrictions designed to protect kids from Covid-19. In other words, some are dying—at least in part—from ISO-19.
I read a news story today. The title was “Mother of teen who committed suicide ‘because of COVID isolation' sues Illinois governor.” The subtitle was: “Lisa Mara Moore says her son became depressed when his senior year was upended by coronavirus restrictions.” The article reports:
Lisa Mara Moore’s son Trevor Till, who was hoping to go to the state championships for pole vaulting in his senior year of high school but couldn’t because of coronavirus restrictions, committed suicide in October. Moore said she believes "100 percent" that the lockdown "changed Trevor from who he was to the person that did this.”
Another headline reported: Student Suicides Drive Las Vegas Schools to Reopen. The tragedy is similar.
“A surge of student suicides in the Clark County school district in Nevada is driving the district to reopen for in-person learning, The New York Times reported on Sunday…‘When we started to see the uptick in children taking their lives, we knew it wasn’t just the Covid numbers we need to look at anymore,’ Clark County superintendent Jesus Clark told the Times. ‘We have to find a way to put our hands on our kids, to see them, to look at them. They’ve got to start seeing some movement, some hope.”
After witnessing firsthand the catastrophic damage to teens from Covid-19 restrictions, “we knew,” said the Clark County superintendent, “it wasn’t just the Covid numbers we need to look at anymore.” Unfortunately, “the Covid numbers” have been the media’s incessant focus for nearly a year. Infections—up. Deaths—up. As a result, Covid restrictions have gone up, too.
But there is another side to this tragedy. We should also consider the costs of isolation, social distancing, closed schools, closed churches, anxiety, depression, loneliness, lost jobs, destroyed businesses, increased drug use, hopelessness, despair, and suicides.
Less than a week ago I flew from Spokane, WA, to the Washington Dulles airport, en route to Hartland College, where I spoke four times on the stirring prophecy of Revelation 17. In the midst of this global ongoing pandemic (which isn’t over yet), my overall focus has been to teach the Word of the Lord. “The words of God shall be fulfilled,” declared a holy angel in Revelation 17:17. Thankfully, we had a wonderful season of blessing at Hartland Institute. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, Hartland cancelled previous convocations, but their leaders decided to keep the Winter Convocation intact.
So, prayerfully, I boarded a plane, and went.
In numerous airports and on the planes, I can’t tell you how many times I heard announced, “We are committed to your health. We want to keep you safe. Wear a mask at all times. Maintain social distancing. Wash your hands.” But as I looked around, I couldn’t help but ponder the other side—the hidden consequences of some of these restrictions. Due to everyone wearing masks—myself included—people couldn’t fully see each other’s faces. There were no visible smiles to brighten one’s day, and fewer handshakes. Everyone kept their distance, and hardly talked.
“Avoid visiting your family during Thanksgiving,” Americans were advised last fall. “Don’t hug your relatives. You might give them Covid-19.”
Believe me, I’ve been thinking hard about these things, as I’m sure you have been, too. I don’t want people to get sick, or to die of Covid-19. But neither do I want people to suffer, to lose their jobs and businesses, or even die, from ISO-19. We seem to be between a rock and a hard place. Yes, we should be committed to the health of our families, friends, and neighbors, but we should be equally concerned about their mental health, depression, loss of income, and even suicides that are the result of Covid-19 restrictions.
This is a guess, but I am guessing that nearly half the country doesn’t believe that so many current Covid measures are truly necessary. But the other half does. What the true percentages are, I don’t know. But I do know that lots of people I meet think that many restrictions have gone too far.
Just this past week I went into a local Perfection Tire business to get my oil changed. “You can’t wait in our lobby,” a masked employee told me with obvious frustration, “because the Covid Police made us remove our furniture, so there is no place to sit.” He freely volunteered this information, and I could tell he wasn’t happy about it.
Personally—and I know I’m not alone—I don’t like wearing masks. The main reason is because I don’t like breathing my own exhaled air. I also don’t like social distancing, for I am a people person. I like shaking hands, too, hugging people, seeing their faces, and having my day brightened by happy smiles. I also believe that feeling good increases happy brain endorphins, which can help strengthen my immune system to fight Covid-19, should I get it. “Do you care about others?” some may wonder. Yes, I do, and that’s why, in these Covid-days, after thinking hard about these difficult realities, I am also concerned about the consequences of ISO-19, which is causing terrible damage.
“Again and again,” Ellen White testified, “the angel has said to me, ‘Press together, press together, be of one mind, of one judgment,’ Christ is the leader, and you are brethren; follow Him.” Letter 4, 1890. Paul also wrote that we shouldn’t forsake assembling together. Instead, we should assemble “more and more, as [we] see the day approaching.” Hebrews 10:25.
Is it possible for God’s people to “press together” and to be “of one mind” in the midst of such polarizing Covid times?
Personally, I have never witnessed such raging division in society as we are witnessing today—on all sides, in politics, and throughout social media. All too often, such division spills over into God’s church. In this article, I wish to avoid pontificating. Neither will I offer any sort of comprehensive strategy to address the Covid crisis. I’m not a physician, or a governor, but a minister of the gospel, a husband, and a dad. I will offer a few simple thoughts I hope will be valuable.
It’s quite obvious that many believe in masks, while many don’t. Many believe in social distancing, while others don’t. Many believe they should receive the vaccine, while others don’t. All too often, we look aghast on those who believe differently than we do. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that everyone on earth should agree with each other, or that there is no right or wrong. Hardly. But in many cases, I think Paul’s words apply, “Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind” (Romans 14:5).
Here is my appeal: Whether you are wrestling with Covid issues in your home, in your school, in your church, at an educational institute like Hartland College, at the Conference level, and on up, I think (here’s my two cents) that we should give everyone we meet the freedom to “be fully persuaded in his own mind.”
If you want to wear a mask, by all means do it, but don’t force others to do it. If you want to keep your distance, not shake hands, and avoid hugs, or if you want to stay home because you are concerned for your health (and that of others) by all means do that. But try not to judge others who sincerely don’t see things exactly as you do. Personally, I don’t think it’s right for those who believe in masks to accuse those who don’t of just being selfish. Who knows, they may be thinking that all these restrictions are also causing terrible damage to America and the world, and they don’t want to support the carnage. Or, they may just want to breathe better simply out of concern for their own health.
On the other hand, those who choose not to wear masks shouldn’t accuse those who wear them of being mindless compliers. America is divided enough already. Let’s not be part of the problem, but part of the solution. In so doing, I hope we will all recognize that Covid-19 and ISO-19 are both serious problems. Sober reflection should teach us that. Those who have suffered from Covid-19 and ISO-19 both need love, sympathy, ministry, prayers and support.
Let’s take the high road.
Adventists especially should respect freedom of conscience.
Notice carefully what Peter wrote:
Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing (1 Peter 3:8,9).
Be respectful. As much as possible, we should seek to “press together” in these divisive times. We also must keep in mind that, above the confusion, conflict and intense controversies that daily surround us, “The words of God shall be fulfilled.” Revelation 17:17. Jesus Christ and His Holy Word must be our Rock. Let that be our main focus. God’s Book has notified us that we are in the last days, and that our Savior will soon return in the clouds. The sure word of prophecy also reveals that it is time for God’s three angels’ messages of Revelation 14:6-12 to belt the world—Covid or no Covid.
Let’s not become so distracted by everything around us that we neglect the God-ordained mission of the church. The gospel must be preached to a lost world. Jesus Christ must be lifted up, so that “all” may be drawn to Him (see John 12:31). Above all—we must never forget this—our greatest work is to manifest the character of Jesus Christ to others so that they might be won over by the revelation of His love, tenderness, and mercy through us. Read this carefully:
The golden rule is the principle of true courtesy, and its truest illustration is seen in the life and character of Jesus. Oh, what rays of softness and beauty shone forth in the daily life of our Saviour! What sweetness flowed from His very presence! The same spirit will be revealed in His children. Those with whom Christ dwells will be surrounded with a divine atmosphere. Their white robes of purity will be fragrant with perfume from the garden of the Lord. Their faces will reflect light from His, brightening the path for stumbling and weary feet (Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, p. 135).
Amidst Covid controversies, may God help us reveal Christ’s “sweetness,” “softness,” and “beauty” in our daily lives. This is our highest calling.
If not us, who?
If not now, when?
In our discussions with others, let us never forget “the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith…” Matthew 23:23. Let’s not become so distracted by raging Covid debates that we forget our heavenly calling.
“When the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.” Christ is waiting with longing desire for the manifestation of Himself in His church. When the character of Christ shall be perfectly reproduced in His people, then He will come to claim them as His own (Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 69).
And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come (Matthew 24:14).
…in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as He has declared to His servants the prophets (Revelation 10:7).
May that glorious day come soon!
Steve Wohlberg is the Speaker/Director of White Horse Media. He is the author of 40+ books, including his two newest books, Approaching Armageddon and The Bloody Woman and the Seven-Headed Beast. He also teaches the online health course, Sprouting with Steve. His ministry website is whitehorsemedia.com.