It’s happened again. Something rather innocuous has
become the latest battle in the ongoing culture wars; this time the fight is
over wearing masks. How did a question of the best way to address public health
become a partisan cage match with both sides throwing rhetorical Molotov cocktails
at each other? One side says wearing masks is political correctness run amok
that infringes upon personal freedom. The other side says not wearing masks is
ignorant and irresponsible behavior with fatal consequences for society. At its
most extreme people who refuse to wear masks have reacted violently when stores
require them to do so, and those wanting everyone to wear masks in public have
aggressively intimidated people who refuse. Our society may respond this way to
questions of wearing masks or not, but these are the wrong questions (and
actions) for anyone seeking to follow Christ.
As with every other question, Christians pondering the
question of whether or not to wear a mask in public should first look to the
life and teachings of Jesus before all other considerations.
No, Jesus never gave instructions on whether or not to
wear a mask in public during a viral outbreak, but he did provide instructions
about how Christians should treat the most vulnerable in society. COVID-19 has shown
itself to be the most dangerous for people who are elderly, people who are
non-white without access to quality healthcare, people in prison and people
with compromised immune systems—in sum, the most vulnerable in our society.
In his ministry to the sick, poor, hungry and outcasts,
Jesus demonstrated how his disciples should show love. From the beggar Lazarus on
the rich man’s doorstep to the man beaten and left for dead helped by the
Samaritan, Jesus taught to be his follower means to care for those who are most
vulnerable in their physical condition. In one of Jesus’ most startling
teachings, he declares whoever welcomes a stranger, provides food, drink or
clothing to one without, or cares for the sick or imprisoned person has done
the same for Christ himself! In other words, Christ is incarnate in every
vulnerable member of society (Matthew 25:31-46).
Building on this Christ-like ethic of caring for the
vulnerable, the apostle Paul dealt with questions of individual freedom and
responsibility for one’s fellow person. In 1 Corinthians 10, Paul addresses a
dispute over eating food sacrificed to idols, a commonplace custom in the
Greco-Roman world and maybe the most nutritious food the average person could
get. Paul says you have the freedom to do so, after all idols aren’t real, but
if by doing so a fellow Christian sees you doing so and is influenced to return
to a non-Christian religious practice, then it is your responsibility to
consider that person’s well-being before you exercise your own freedom. He addresses a similar issue in Romans 14 and
says, “If your brother or sister is being injured by what you eat, you are
no longer walking in love.” In other
words, you may have the freedom to do something, but if it negatively affects
your neighbor you shouldn’t do it.
Jesus said the second greatest commandment after
loving God is loving your neighbor, and Paul declares, “The whole law is summed up in a single commandment, ‘You
shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Galatians 5:14 NRSV) In other words, if one wishes to
follow Jesus and take Christ’s name as a part of one’s identity, the first
question to ask in making decisions is how does this choice affect others
around me, especially those who are more vulnerable than I am? Just because I have the freedom to do
something does not make it right or good in and of itself. Furthermore, as Christians who claim to
follow Christ’s example of sacrificing our own comfort and convenience for the
sake of others we are called to do likewise (see Paul’s discussion of having
the “mind of Christ” in Philippians 2).
So when it comes to wearing a mask or not when we are
outside our immediate family or our “bubble” or safety, the question that
Christians should ask is what shows love of my neighbor, wearing or not wearing
a mask? I have the freedom not to wear
one, but what if I am an asymptomatic carrier of COVID-19 and without meaning
to I transmit droplets of moisture by breathing or speaking onto someone else,
especially someone who’s immune system cannot fight off the virus?
For me, the answer is clear, however effective or
ineffective wearing a cloth mask may be, the people who are medical experts sayit is better to wear a mask than not if I want to avoid unknowingly spreadingCOVID-19 to others, especially the most vulnerable. So, as a Christian, I have the freedom not to
wear a mask except when it may hurt others. Let the culture warriors rage, I am
not basing my decisions upon what either side says anyway.
The question of wearing masks or not reminds us that
for this and every question of behavior the choices of Christians should be grounded
in Jesus’ clear demonstration of love for others, especially the most
vulnerable.
Grace and Peace,
Chase
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