Love Thy Neighbor, Except?…
March 29, 2021 | Sundance | 160 Comments

https://theconservativetreehouse.com/2021/03/29/love-thy-neighbor-except/

It has taken me a few hours to diminish the anger that surfaced when I first saw these two pictures below.

As readers will note I have taken exception to the lack of strong leadership from the church during this COVID crisis. During a time when fellowship is most needed, most urgently needed, many churches are collapsing under their own fear. This is not a good outcome.

Suffice to say, there is absolutely nothing sensible about the position of this church as pictured; NOTHING.

First, for vaccinated people there is absolutely nothing to fear from the decision of another person not to vaccinate themselves. A non-vaccinated person does not represent a greater risk to a person who is vaccinated against the COVID virus. It is abject nonsense to make any other argument.

Second, this purposeful division is akin to saying ‘good people on the right, pesky non-good people on the left’. Setting up “classes of distinction” based on voluntary compliance with a non-FDA-approved test vaccine is ridiculous in the extreme. For a faith-based organization to be doing this is beyond the pale.

There is absolutely nothing christian about dividing people based on their vaccination status. Jesus did not say “love thy neighbor” and proceed to inject a qualifying “unless” in the statement.

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” “The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”

Fellowship is critical during this COVID isolation that has befallen many people in various states where the virus has been weaponized to create fear. There is nothing more valuable than the connection we share to each other; nothing is more purposeful; nothing is more inherently spiritual than being a source of light, hope, faith and love for our family, friends and community.

I would strongly urge any faith-based organization to evaluate their messaging around the COVID-19 virus and immediately cease any overt or implied message that draws lines of division in any congregation. THAT is the job of leadership. Comfort the afflicted, and stand strong amid the evil seeking to divide our nation.



-- excerpt, rest at link above --