A message of guidance for 4 Tigs

Posted on: September 5, 2021 at 22:25:57 CT

As a Lutheran pastor, I was saddened to read the story on the front page of Tuesday’s Star, “As public districts mandate masks, families flock to private schools.” The story outlines decisions parochial schools have made about mandating masks for students. All of the schools where restrictions are relaxed or nonexistent are Christian schools, with one administrator noting that their choice to allow children to opt out of mask-wearing has “been very popular.”

The thing is, popularity has never been a Christian value. In fact, Christians (along with other people of faith) are often called to make difficult decisions out of love for God and our neighbors. I can’t imagine a scenario in which Jesus would instruct his followers to put the well-being of their neighbors in jeopardy, especially when loving their neighbors is as simple as putting on a mask.

Kudos to Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy for listening to the epidemiologists at the Johnson County Health Department and requiring that students and staff wear masks. It is heartening to see a faith-based school community follow the command to choose love first. I pray that others will follow.

- Rev. Donna J. Simon, St. Mark Hope and Peace Lutheran Church, Kansas City