Christian, Please Wear a Face Mask: Part 1
“ ‘Wearing a mask is for smug liberals. Refusing to is for reckless Republicans.’ If only things were that simple; if only we could laugh off the debate as hyperbolic virtue signaling from both sides. Most likely by the time you read this, though, we will have tragically raced past the 100,000 mark in this country’s fatality count.” - John Ellis
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Face masks have become a new shibboleth within the Christian community. If you wear one, you’re a socialist liberal who hates freedom of religion. If you don’t wear one, you don’t love your neighbor and need to check your salvation.
Please.
Mr. Ellis needs to calm down a bit, I think.
A few points here:
First, embracing conspiracy theories may be annoying, but it isn’t actually a reflection on someone’s intellect. I know we don’t like to view it this way, but there are flat-earthers who are smarter than us. There are smart people who believe ridiculous things, so saying you have “no respect for their intellect” might make you feel better, but is likely wrongheaded. As for why smart people buy into them in the first place, well, it varies. But there are plenty of reasons we don’t need to go into here for why the credibility of many of our institutions is shot.
With regard to this, “Bringing shame down on Christ’s Church in this country, it appears that much of the antimask, anti-social distancing crowd is made up of conservative evangelicals. That’s true from what I’ve seen online and heard from others, at least…” may I first note the lack of discretion in giving overdue credit to one’s own perception (usually Twitter/FB formed) on such matters? I personally have a hard time believing all those beaches are crowded with exclusively Evangelical bodies.
Furthermore, whenever people bring out the “Evangelical” punching bag, I always wonder how much of the opprobrium is really due to a religious as opposed to a demographic category. I understand it’s frustrating when large swaths of your religion agree with their own demographic on socio-political issues over against you and your more educated, upper class friends, but is it really as surprising as is made out?
Finally, re. wearing a mask itself, I wear one, and I’m in favor of wearing them. But let’s not pretend that wearing a mask is a no-risk activity in itself. I have a friend in China who has told me of a few deaths already, in her area, due to lack of oxygen from wearing a mask inappropriately/overlong. It’s not just fringe-conspiracy theory that there can be potential problems from them.
At any rate, be a little patient with people. Do you really think that if any Christian knew they would be putting your health at risk, they would forego a mask? I don’t. What you are lamenting is a loss of public trust in the experts. And as I mentioned earlier, that’s something for which they have a share in the blame.
No.
Our congregation also met in person yesterday and engaged in congregational singing, despite dire warnings of evil droplets from TGC. We encouraged people to wear masks, if they wished.
Tyler is a pastor in Olympia, WA and works in State government.
The logic is really very simple…
- Mask is inexpensive, easy to wear, a minor inconvenience
- The potential benefit: someone’s life could be spared
Another, relatively minor benefit is that folks who need to be out and about who have good reason to be concerned for their wellbeing (John is one of them) can do so with greater ease of mind even if the masks don’t really help. … though I think they do—some. Maybe a lot. It’s not clear to me yet.
One counterargument that seems sensible to me: there are pathogens in the population all the time that are a special danger to those with certain preexisting health conditions. So are we going to wear masks all the time forever for their sake?
The counter-counter is that SARS-CoV-2 is, as the article emphasizes, new, and so much less is known about it. Closely related: the resulting disease is new and so much less is known about it.
I don’t wear a mask all the time. Per the CDC recommendations (and the reasons they’ve given in various places), I do wear one if I’m going to be in places where contact closer than 6 ft is likely. So, generally at Walmart—though when I can, I go there during very off-peak hours and then it’s really not a problem.
My mask experience: in our area, a few people look at you like you’re some sort of weirdo. We’ve had 48 confirmed cases in our county and zero deaths, so a lot of the locals are still in something akin to “it’s all a hoax” mode. … and some have been told by the zealots they listen to that wearing a mask is “just liberal virtue signaling.” So I get an odd look now and then. For the most part, not, though.
In my area, just going by Walmart patterns, mask-wearing went from about 1/3 to about 3/4, then, after some politics happened here in WI, it went back close to 1/3 again (As though the politics have any relevance at all to the disease risk). Maybe, depending on the time of day, it’s closer to 1/2. All the employees are masked, which I appreciate, so I’m trying to guesstimate the masked shoppers ratio. I think I see more young people masked than older people, but could be my imagination, just because I expected the opposite. Seems like more women masked than men, but that could be skewed as well… maybe there are more women in general at Walmart during the periods I generally go there (or maybe I just notice women more, all the time!).
Other downsides: mask is a bit too warm, now that the weather’s warming. Since I wear glasses and the model I wear doesn’t have a nose wire, I tape a wire strip (from coffee bag; they’re perfect for that, cut in half) inside: this helps quite a bit with the glasses-fogging-up problem. Other than that, it’s pretty comfortable.
So, total cost to me: a few odd looks, a bit of discomfort and inconvenience, and maybe $5 a month (mine are washable and reusable, but I don’t know how long they’ll last).
Potential benefit? Well, it could save a life. If my example encourages a few more people, it could indireclty save more. If the disease finally reaches our rural county in earnest (I think this is probable, but yet future) it’ll be one more thing I know I did to try to help. (Along with the more obvious basics.)
Bottom line: the tradeoffs are pretty obvious to me in situations where I’m close to people. If everyone did it, we might never see a serious COVID-19 surge in our area. So there’s another benefit. Golden rule.
Edit: another downside - I like faces. I like occasional eye contact and smiling at people when I’m out doing stuff, though 90% of the time I’m in a problem-solving mental zone and people are kind of irrelevant. But the other 10%, I lilke faces. So I miss that sometimes.
Views expressed are always my own and not my employer's, my church's, my family's, my neighbors', or my pets'. The house plants have authorized me to speak for them, however, and they always agree with me.
I’m as guilty as anyone, probably, but our current political climate tends to nationalize everything… and we forget to check local regulations.
My county actually recommends wearing masks in public. It’s not a “law,” and there is no enforcement. It’s a “health advisory.” But I thought it was interesting that in the context of a very relaxed approach to COVID-19 they specifically advocate for masks “in public.” https://www.sccwi.gov/DocumentCenter/View/5861/St-Croix-County-Issues-H…
Josh, about “cake maker’s right to refuse a customer,” I think I agree with your overall point, but I don’t accept the “refuse a customer” narrative on that case. He didn’t refuse a “customer,” he refused to make a specific product. I don’t want to derail the topic in this thread, but the difference there is very important to me.
Views expressed are always my own and not my employer's, my church's, my family's, my neighbors', or my pets'. The house plants have authorized me to speak for them, however, and they always agree with me.
1. Some people don’t buy that masks do anything. They were told at the outset that wearing mask would not help. A few weeks later they were told to wear them. They believe that the change had nothing to do with keeping people safe but with making people feel safe. I had to wear a mask to see an eye doctor, he wore one too. He told me that the surgical masks we were wearing would not filter out the virus. How much less the bandanas people are wearing as masks?
2. Most of what has happened is out of people’s control: restaurants closed, salons closed, playgrounds closed, gatherings limited. While there hasn’t been much they could do about that, when states strongly encouraged wearing masks, it gave people who wanted to rebel something to rebel over. Plus, some consider it American to stand up to government.
[Aaron Blumer]I’m as guilty as anyone, probably, but our current political climate tends to nationalize everything… and we forget to check local regulations.
My county actually recommends wearing masks in public. It’s not a “law,” and there is no enforcement. It’s a “health advisory.” But I thought it was interesting that in the context of a very relaxed approach to COVID-19 they specifically advocate for masks “in public.” https://www.sccwi.gov/DocumentCenter/View/5861/St-Croix-County-Issues-He…
Josh, about “cake maker’s right to refuse a customer,” I think I agree with your overall point, but I don’t accept the “refuse a customer” narrative on that case. He didn’t refuse a “customer,” he refused to make a specific product. I don’t want to derail the topic in this thread, but the difference there is very important to me.
Yes you’re right. I worded it poorly.
@josh Thanks for clarifying.
Did a bit more local mask-wearing field research today, because I needed to pick up an item at an area big box hardware store. I was surprised to find that they require masks for all shoppers. Probably a good thing, since the place was very busy and pretty crowded. So, the mask ratio there was 100%.
Nobody was making a fuss. A lot of people wore their masks pulled down over their chins until they were close to the entrance, then pulled them up. I didn’t want to slow down to do that, so got it all regulation in the car first. Also the chin thing looks pretty comical. (My glasses-fogging prevention measures less effective today for some reason.)
Views expressed are always my own and not my employer's, my church's, my family's, my neighbors', or my pets'. The house plants have authorized me to speak for them, however, and they always agree with me.
About Face Masks
First the experts told us they would not help at all. Then, they decided face masks were essential. Seems the experts have changed their minds often these last several months. As they have often over the years. And, experts often disagree.
It’s fine with me if people wear them or don’t wear them. But I don’t especially want to.
It’s debatable how much they help. Of course, they probably help if they keep someone from sneezing on you. But most are more careful with their sneezing. Also, do you keep the mask on or pull it down for a sneeze?
Many wearing masks soon pull them under their nose, then below their mouths, thereby rendering ineffective whatever help they may have been.
It seems reasonable that anything that restricts the air flow in and out of your mouth or nose may not be good for you. Breathing in your own carbon monoxide cannot be a good thing. This may not matter much on limited occasions, but it could adversely affect you the more often and longer you wear a mask. There could also be a problem with a mask being a breeding ground for bacteria.
I can understand not shaking hands for a while, washing your hands often, and keeping a little social distance. That is easy to understand.
Common acceptance of face masks, however, have been a big help to robbers.
David R. Brumbelow
[Aaron Blumer]@josh Thanks for clarifying.
Did a bit more local mask-wearing field research today, because I needed to pick up an item at an area big box hardware store. I was surprised to find that they require masks for all shoppers. Probably a good thing, since the place was very busy and pretty crowded. So, the mask ratio there was 100%.
Nobody was making a fuss. A lot of people wore their masks pulled down over their chins until they were close to the entrance, then pulled them up. I didn’t want to slow down to do that, so got it all regulation in the car first. Also the chin thing looks pretty comical. (My glasses-fogging prevention measures less effective today for some reason.)
I’ve been in two different big box hardware stores throughout the COVID crisis. One now requires masks (I believe they started this about 2 wks ago) and the other does not. Both stores have been wall to wall people since March, pretty much regardless of the day/time I visit. Doesn’t make a big difference to me either way, although I do find it somewhat humorous to see people with masks in all sort of positions which compromise whatever benefit the masks may possibly provide. It does make people feel better, though.
One thing to note regarding the debate over masks is that you’ve got two things convolved; the effectiveness of masks in reducing the spread of droplets containing the virus, and peoples’ response to having something that will protect them. If you’re infected—and keep in mind that most of the time you won’t know this if numbers are correct—most of your airflow goes off to the side and you’re less likely to infect others. If you’re not infected, you’re pulling in most of your air from the sides of the mask, and you increase the odds that a droplet will land harmlessly on your cheek or mask instead of proceeding to your mucous membranes where the virus can “take effect”.
On the flip side, if you approach your face mask as if it’s Kevlar body armor with ceramic plates, and take risks that you otherwise wouldn’t take because by golly, you’re wearing a face mask, then any benefits noted above are likely to disappear.
For my part, I am wearing one when required and when it seems like a good idea, but I’m also working hard to reduce the number of social interactions I get, and finally, remembering the hazards of social distancing (depression, etc..), I’m making a special effort to greet people who might be sorely feeling their isolation. One huge blessing of these masks, by the way, is that it brings out how we can communicate with our eyes. It’s a beautiful thing.
Aspiring to be a stick in the mud.
Or, maybe that’s carbon dioxide. :-)
David R. Brumbelow
My approach to this has been to wear one only when I must. I’m not making a stink if it’s required, but I’m never wearing one voluntarily. Although I’m sure some will see this as ungenerous, traditional approaches to diseases being particularly bad for some segment of the population have meant that those susceptible stay away, and the rest of us are kept away from them, rather than restricting the activities of everyone for the few. As Aaron said, there are always some sort of pathogens out there that can be bad for someone. Why don’t we wear masks all the time then?
My state doesn’t require masks most places. My county does now in stores, so I’ve been driving down the road to do all my shopping in the neighboring county that doesn’t require them. I’ve yet to visit a store that has required masks on its own. I’ve heard Costco requires it, but I haven’t been there in a few weeks. I’m now at work 1 week out of 4 (our company has divided into 4 groups, with 25% going to work each week). To enter/exit the building or go anywhere except my office/cubicle, I have to wear a mask, but not in my own cubicle, so there I don’t. I’ve visited neighboring states that have less strict regulations than mine, visited some of my family, and enjoyed going out to a restaurant. The staff wore masks, the clientele didn’t, even just between the entrance and the tables. I’ve been to the dentist in my home state, and I had to wear a mask from the front door until they worked on my teeth, and again in reverse on the way out, but I removed it as soon as I was out the door.
Our church has now met a couple times outside, with 6-foot distancing between family groups. So far I’ve seen no masks whatsoever, even from those who work in health-care and have to wear them all week (and who should know if we’re really doing something dumb by not wearing them). If there were someone in our congregation who would come if everyone else would wear masks, I’m fairly certain our congregation would do everything we could to accommodate them during this situation, but so far, those at risk just continue to stay home, and have expressed no desire to come out. I’ve been avoiding visiting my parents (in their 80’s) or my sister (who has lung cancer), and we’ve done all our visiting virtually. If someone in John’s situation wanted to visit with me personally, or have me over, and needed me to wear a mask, I would. However, I don’t feel that my wearing one in public in general is going to help those who really should stay home because they are at risk, as even everyone wearing one will not guarantee their safety.
Just over two years ago, I went to the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Obviously, most of the attendees were Asian, and many of them wore masks, long before this outbreak. If I saw any non-Asians wearing masks, I don’t remember them. However, I saw no one getting upset that others weren’t wearing them. If those who wore them were more comfortable doing so, then it was fine. It was one of the few times I’ve bothered to get a flu shot, since it was winter, and I was going to be around a lot of people, probably some of them with the flu, but neither my wife nor I deemed it necessary to wear masks to avoid whatever might go around in those large crowds (even though the previous SARS outbreak did make me think a bit). However, at that same time two years ago, I also had a friend who was recovering from a bone marrow transplant, and couldn’t do many things because of it. He didn’t expect *everyone* else to change their behavior to make it safe for him to go out.
I think most of us are just willing to take our own risks. I suspect that, like myself, most Christians I know would happily wear masks in particular situations where it would really protect those at risk — they just don’t want to do so when it’s not likely to make much, if any, difference. The rest of the time, just as in the rest of life, we expect each individual to make whatever decisions he or she deems right to protect themselves and their families. Getting upset at those of us who don’t make the same choice has been standard in Christianity since its beginning. However, we never should expect or require others to always make sacrifices for us because we may be at risk. It’s up to each one of us to do what we can for ourselves while being ready to make sacrifices for others when necessary. Others going out of their way to love us is a great thing, but demanding it will get nowhere.
Dave Barnhart
I wore a mask in Menards because it was required. While using the find your receipt printout kiosk, a lady was waiting for me to finish up (they had disabled the one next to it since it was not 6 feet away). I chatted with her and said that for all I knew, she was someone I knew but did not recognize because of the mask. Her eyes showed laughter, but I could not see the rest of her face. She then commented that people were not as friendly with the masks on. I had not thought about it before that, but so many of our social cues are based on facial expressions. One side effect of the masks is to social distance people emotionally in addition to physically. That is a sad side effect.
The simple solution would be to just tell people to follow the science. Sadly we do not know at this point what the best science is. The experts are split on the benefits/liabilities of the wearing the masks even if the media is not.
On a side note, some people have health problems where they should not wear a mask. With my wife’s asthma breathing becomes very difficult when she has the mask on. She has already survived COVID-19, so she is not going to just stay home, but she avoids places where masks are required. Costco has been great in this respect. They require masks but have an exemption for those with health reasons for not wearing them.
As Christians we need to show love for our neighbor, but we also have to be very careful about adding additional legalistic requirements. This is not always a simple task. This mask issue is one of them. John’s thoughts should not be ignored, but we also must consider the implications of emotional distancing in our considerations about love for those around us. I do not yet see this as a black and white issue, but one of those gray areas that has arguments on both sides.
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