1: Masks hide the light of our countenance (cf. Psalm 89:15; Proverbs 16:15; Job 29:24). God gave us 43 muscles for facial expression. Masks dehumanize heartfelt interaction (cf. Proverbs 27:19). The world must see the love of Jesus on our bright faces! Ecclesiastes 8:1: "...a man's wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed.” Matthew 5:16: "Let your light so shine before men…"

2: Masks promote irrational fear. Of the 1832 cholera plague in New York City, revivalist Charles Finney wrote, "I recollect counting, from the door of our house, five hearses drawn up at the same time, at different doors within sight.” Thankfully, covid is nothing like this or like Ebola. Masks promote an irrational fear of what is a cold or flu. People die from flus, colds, pneumonia, and many other things every year, sadly; but for the Christian, the worst case is to die and go to heaven with Jesus (II Corinthians 5:8).

3: Masks are ineffective and harmful. Covid particles are 0.1 microns, compared to 30-40 or 80-500 micron gaps in surgical or cloth masks. That’s like throwing sand against a chain-link fence. Worse, prolonged usage reduces immune response by re-breathed CO2 and less oxygen. People hold in their hand—or set on the dinner table—their saliva-saturated masks, the perfect breeding ground for disease. Such unsanitary practices outweigh any supposed benefit. They also give a false sense of security.

4: God commands unmasked, close fellowship in the church. Four times, Paul commanded the warm social greeting of his day, “an holy kiss” (Romans 16:16; I Corinthians 16:20; II Corinthians 13:12; I Thessalonians 5:26), perhaps analogous in our day with handshakes and hugs. Also, many who wear masks violate bigger “covid rules” by congregating or handshaking, making the mask merely a symbol, not a sincere health effort. Romans 12:9: "Let love be without dissimulation [hypocrisy]."

Answering Objections

1: “What about obeying authority (Romans 13)?” We must obey God first, our ultimate Authority (Acts 5:29), and God has commanded unmasked, close fellowship among Christians (see above).

2. “Isn't this virus real?” The question isn't whether the virus exists, but whether our society’s reaction has been appropriate. Suicides, domestic violence, and all sorts of evil have increased with the hyped fear and tyrannical mask and isolation mandates.

3. “Shouldn't you love your neighbor?” Yes, and we are loving them by offering meaningful social interaction as God intended, and by combatting our society’s crippling fear, which is the real pandemic in this situation. II Timothy 1:7: “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

Through prayer, we can know what to do in every situation (John 16:13; James 1:5)!

Paul saw the light on the road to De-Mask-Us.

Let your light shine!