Face Masks From Prophylactic to Symbol of Political Identity and Masculinity

By Dr. Barrett Mosbacker

June 28, 2020

The face mask has transformed from a simple prophylactic into a symbol of political identity, reflecting and reinforcing our country’s polarization. It has also become, for some, a reflection of a man’s masculinity — or perceived lack thereof.

Writing in The Week, Bonnie Kristian observed that since masks became widely used, they acquired symbolic meaning for their skeptics. Among those skeptics is R. R. Reno, the editor of the conservative religious journal First Things, who argued that masking signals unmanly cowardice: “The mask culture is fear driven. Masks equal cowardice. It is a regime dominated by fear of infection and fear of causing infection. Both are species of cowardice.”¹

Face Masks Have Become a Battle Flag in the Culture War

As Ryan Lizza and Daniel Lippman observe, “for progressives, masks have become a sign that you take the pandemic seriously and are willing to make a personal sacrifice to save lives. Prominent people who do not wear them are shamed … On the right, the mask is often seen as the symbol of a purported overreaction to the coronavirus … a sign that in a deeply polarized America almost anything can be politicized and turned into a token of tribal affiliation.”² Dr. Theo Vos, professor at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, echoes the same concern: the mask “is considered linked to a particular political view whether you want to or not wear one.”³

Examples abound, but comments made during a Palm Beach County, Florida, board meeting reflect the politicization of a public health measure. One attendee warned board members that “every single one of you that are obeying the devil’s laws are going to be arrested,” then went on to accuse lawmakers and doctors of being part of the “Deep State.”⁴

Coming to a School Near You

This controversy is coming to a school near you — perhaps to your school.

It will enter the halls and offices of our schools to varying degrees in the fall. Are you ready? How will you respond to angry parents or employees who are upset because masks are required, or upset because they are not?

Biblical Principles to Guide Our Thinking, Decisions, and Conversations

Every Christian school I know has a mission statement that in one way or another proclaims that its raison d’être is to help students develop a biblical worldview so that they are equipped to impact the world for Christ. The problem is that our proclamations are often better than our practice. Too often our staff, students, and parents reflect a politicized, worldly worldview rather than a biblical and Christocentric one.

As we look toward the reopening of school in the fall, this issue will be with us — particularly as we seek to implement health and safety protocols to protect our school communities. No matter what we do, we are likely to face some level of resistance and conflict.

We can and should make all of the practical arguments available to us. But our thinking and our decisions regarding the wearing of masks and other health measures must ultimately be grounded in biblical principles and informed by science — not political ideology. As we plan for the new year and the issues we will face, the following biblical principles are offered to guide and inform our decisions, conversations, and communications.

1. Our Ultimate Allegiance Is to Christ and His Kingdom

Has our theology been co-opted by our politics, or is our politics informed by the Bible and our ultimate allegiance to Christ? Dr. Richard Land, President of Southern Evangelical Seminary, has written that our ultimate allegiance belongs to God:

As Jesus said, “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar’s, and unto God things which be God’s” (Luke 20:25). In other words, ultimate loyalty must belong to God. This ultimate allegiance is actually acknowledged in our Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag: “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” “Under God” means for Christians that America is under God, and our allegiance to Him and His Kingdom comes first. To do otherwise, to put country before God, is to make America an idol, a false god … True followers of Christ will never surrender ultimate allegiance and authority to anyone except their Heavenly Father — God first, then country.⁵

Christ first — not country, not party, not a politician, and not our distorted ideas of masculinity. Our first allegiance is to Christ, to his kingdom, and to his word. As Paul tells us:

…we are not waging war according to the flesh … we destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ (2 Corinthians 10:3–5).

That most assuredly includes our political thoughts.

2. Loving Our Neighbors and the Golden Rule

I am sure that all of my readers are familiar with what Jesus declared is the second greatest commandment:

You shall love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:39).

He also commanded us to love our enemies:

You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven … For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? … You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect (Matthew 5:43–48).

Everyone knows the Golden Rule:

So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 7:12).

Our problem is in doing it. The Golden Rule is the practical application of the Second Greatest Commandment. Biblical love is not primarily a feeling — it is behavior, a determination to do what is right and good for others.

Regarding the wearing of a mask, a different illustration may be helpful. No one would argue that it is acceptable to blow secondhand, cancer-causing cigarette smoke into the face of another person. Doing so could put their health at risk, and we surely would not want them to do the same to us.

The same principle applies to the spread of the Covid-19 virus — and to a far greater extent, because a single exposure can lead to severe health consequences or even death, whereas a single exposure to cigarette smoke will not.

If I do not want someone exposing me to the virus, what justification do I have for taking the risk that I might be asymptomatic and, by not wearing a mask, expose someone else to a potentially deadly pathogen? Refusing to wear a mask and risking exposure to others is a violation of the Second Commandment and the Golden Rule.

3. Obedience to Authority

No matter what we think of a law or those who passed it, we are obligated to obey it unless it forces us to disobey God’s word. We are to honor authority.

Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor (1 Peter 2:13–17).

4. We Are to Surrender Our Christian Liberty for the Sake of the Gospel

Life is not all about us.

As those united in Christ, our objective is to honor God in all that we do and to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. This supersedes our “rights.” The gospel and Christ’s kingdom are to be our highest priorities — even when, as is often the case, that means surrendering our rights, liberties, and preferences for the sake of the gospel.

“All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor … So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved (1 Corinthians 10:23–33).

Why would we risk not only our neighbors’ health but also the testimony of the gospel by insisting on our “right” not to wear a mask?

5. Seek the Welfare of Others

We are to promote the welfare and good of our community. The hyper-individualism of American culture is not entirely biblical. We are not only to seek our own welfare — we are to promote the welfare of others: family, friends, neighbors, community, and even our enemies. Jeremiah told the Babylonian captives to “seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare” (Jeremiah 29:7). Paul tells us:

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others (Philippians 2:3–4).

6. “Yes, But …”

I am often dumbfounded when I hear Christians retort, after being confronted by God’s word, “Yes, I know, but…”

There is no “but” when it comes to obeying Christ. Knowing and doing are two different things, as James warns:

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves (James 1:22).

We will not give an account for what we know; we will give an account for our obedience:

So then each of us will give an account of himself to God (Romans 14:12).

7. Should You Wear a Mask?

Yes, I believe so. I can find no biblical basis for arguing that being asked or required by civil authorities to wear a mask to protect public health is a violation of God’s word. I find many biblical reasons for wearing one. Ultimately, you must be the judge of what is right before the Lord and a watching world — but ground your judgment in the law of Christ, not in political affiliation, ideology, or a false notion of masculinity.

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect (Romans 12:1–2).

If you love me, you will keep my commandments (John 14:15).

Do we — and will we?