(OPINION) ETH – Well-known evangelical Pastor Rick Warren is causing controversy on social media after he said the most practical way to love your neighbor is to wear a face mask.
According to the Todd Starnes Show, The statement was made during a March 2021 appearance on “ChurchPulse Weekly Live,” where Warren was asked about pastors saying things such as ‘the government is trying to suppress the church by not allowing them to open’ and ‘we’re going to get shut down on social media because we’re Christians.’
Warren stated: “I totally reject that idea,” said Warren, who announced his retirement from Saddleback Church in Orange County, California in June. “The very fact that people tried to politicize the pandemic is just dumb.” On a Twitter account by “Woke Preacher Clips”.
Warren was heard saying that “this is a safety issue, not a First Amendment issue.” “Now, you might have a case if everything else opened up except the church, but we’re not being discriminated against,” said Warren. “We went an entire football season. Sporting events are shut down.
There are no concerts going on. Theaters are shut down. Restaurants in southern California are shut down.” If churches were the only places closed, then Warren said he would be the first one to raise my hand to say ‘we’re being discriminated against.’ “This is not a discrimination issue, this is a health care issue,” he added.
“The Bible says ‘love your neighbor as yourself’ (and) the most practical way you can love your neighbor right now is to wear a mask. To not wear one basically says ‘I don’t care about you’ or ‘I don’t even care about your fears.’”
