By Mike and Rebecca Bellanti

2020 has not gone as planned (thank you Captain Obvious).  January and February felt like a normal January and February. Enter March and the world exploded. Like anyone else in places of leadership, I was scrambling to figure out what to do. I listened to health care officials, had lots of meetings and conversations. I searched the scriptures and prayed that God would give me wisdom and direction. I can honestly say that over the last four months I have done the very best I can. Have I gotten it right? I don’t know yet, some would say yes, some would say no. It seems that there is not an answer to this question.

The muddy waters of our current situation have pushed us into a state of fear, not feeling safe, looking for a consistent voice, and being bombarded with 1000 inconsistent voices. When we are afraid, confused, unsure of what to do, or believe we react. From my perspective, this reaction has taken the form of accusation. Accusation leads to division. The divisions have become political and religious,  a very dangerous combination. The safer at home order was met with resistance and now the biggest issue…masks. I have never seen so much anger, verbal violence, and unbelievable behavior over a piece of cloth like I have in the last ninety days. I am not saying this to minimize it, it grieves me deeply. As a follower of Christ, I think we can do better.

Personally, if I walk into a store and they require a mask I wear it. I don’t really like them and they remind me how bad my breath smells when I forgot that mint after lunch. But I like Menards so I wear it. If I am in a crowded place I wear one. If it really does protect others then I am happy to do it.  Honestly, I have no idea if they work or not. There seems to be some pretty compelling evidence they do work, but then there is a smaller body of evidence that says they don’t and they actually make things worse. Who is right? I don’t know. I am not a scientist or a medical professional. I am a Pastor, my specialty is theology so I am going to stay in my lane. This article is not about masks or no mask, this is about what we are displaying in our faith, character, and values by our words and our actions. 

The problem for Christians is when we express our opinions as accusations, we start talking over each other, judging others for being incompetent, lashing out in anger, etc. Making statements like, “If you are not wearing a mask then you are acting unchristian” or “Jesus would wear a mask”. On the opposite side of the aisle, no mask advocates say things like “The government is controlling us”. “My rights are being taken away” and “We are living in fear, not faith”.

Honestly, the last one bothers me the most because it is inconsistent with how we live in other areas of our life. When we are sick and go to the doctor are we living in fear? When we get in the car we put on our seatbelt (something that the government makes us do by the way) are we living in fear? I lock my door at night….you get the point. Recently, I was speaking with a woman and she was saying things like I trust God, I have faith, not fear! Then five minutes later (literally, five minutes later)  she was telling me about a medical device she had to wear and how she felt so comforted by having this device on and that she would be worried about her health if she did not have it. Yes, this is me feeling irritated. Maybe Captain Obvious could have cleared this one up.

We are in a state of division as a country and fractured within the church. Division causes disconnection from each other, disconnection from one another is shame. Shaming others for not agreeing with you is a weapon, a powerful weapon striking severe injuries to the unity of the Body of Christ. 

We all have opinions and that is good, but we must also consider that we may be wrong, and most importantly we may not understand the fears, concerns, and experiences of others. Maybe masks trigger panic attacks in one person, while another is concerned for their loved one with a medical condition that makes them more vulnerable to complications if they become infected. The question “What does love require of me right now?” is a good place to start to restore the unity of believers.

My challenge, for all those that follow Jesus, reflect on these passages from the Bible and let the Holy Spirit speak: 

1 Peter 3:8

Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.

Galatians 5:14-15

 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. 

Galatians 6:2

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.