Dear Christian, stop!
Just stop! I’ve been seeing so many posts online recently from self-proclaimed “pro-life” Christians that don’t seem very pro-life. It really saddens me and reveals the modern state of the American Evangelical Church.
When you’re more obsessed and concerned with your “personal freedom” than the lives and safety of others around you, you’re not following Jesus’ commands to love others more than yourself. When you’re more concerned with winning “culture wars” than with people’s health, you’re not being very pro-life. When you act like a spoiled brat and refuse to wear a mask even though it can save lives, you’re not being very pro-life. When you post conspiracy theory videos from disgraced scientists in the middle of a pandemic that is killing hundreds of thousands of people around the world, you’re not being very pro-life. When you’re more concerned with your church “opening up” than with your neighbors’ health, you should probably reread the gospels.
The church is not a building, it’s a people. It’s ridiculous how we have the most advanced technology the world has ever seen to aid us and connect us during this pandemic but Christians would rather infect others to be in the same building than to attend online church. So just stop it, who are you helping? What are you trying to accomplish? You talk about unity and how divisive liberals are when they hold the President accountable, yet you post such ridiculous articles and videos that are most likely spread by bots designed to divide the country. Think about your actions and what your posts say about you and what they communicate to non-Christians. It communicates selfishness, anti-science, and how little you care for others. You’re hurting your witness, more and more people will leave the church and not look back. You are embarrassing the rest of us, so just stop.
Jesus never promised personal freedom. He promised freedom from sin, freedom from condemnation, and freedom from salvation through laws.
“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge in the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” – Galatians 5:13-14.
“‘I have the right to do anything,’ you say-but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”- but I will not be mastered by anything.” – 1 Corinthians 6:12.
“Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves.” – 1 Peter 2:16.
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.” – Romans 8:1-2.
Unwrap the American flag from your Bible, it doesn’t belong there. Don’t confuse the Bible with the US Constitution, they are not synonymous, and it wasn’t written by God. America is not God’s favorite country, we are not special. Think of how narcissistic and childish we look to other countries around the world.
It’s sad when theology is shaped by politics, where politicians who claim to be Christians can shape entire cultures, demand loyalty, and receive it. All that a white, conservative politician has to do is proclaim to be Christian, and they have the Evangelical vote in the palm of their hands. This is why we have separation of church and state, to prevent the mixing of the two. They saw the damage that it can do to both the church and the state in England and that’s why it’s in the Constitution.
Just wear the mask and stay home!