After threatening to kick out church members who dared to wear a mask, Pastor Greg Locke has now placed this sign outside Global Vision Bible Church in Tennessee.
And here we are.
A church is mandating, in the middle of a deadly global pandemic, that people remove an item that will keep them safe … in order to prove allegiance to God.
There's only 1 step between this and the Kool Aid and Jim Jones. pic.twitter.com/Mh97akPAai
— Michael J. Stern (@MichaelJStern1) August 5, 2021
Tell me you’re in a cult without telling me you’re in a cult…
Remember that this is the same pastor whose denial of COVID’s seriousness has arguably led at least one member, Coburn Kennedy, to an early death. Back in December, Locke was also asked by CNN to define what a “pandemic” was, which should’ve been an easy question since he so adamantly denied we were in one. He couldn’t do it. Last month, he said he was going to sue CNN (and Newsweek and the conservative Christian website Pulpit & Pen) for defamation, but he still hasn’t gotten around to that.
While we’re at it, remember that this is the same pastor who went to the Capitol on January 6 (but said he didn’t enter the building). He also invited convicted felon Roger Stone to deliver a sermon to his always-gullible congregation.
Locke’s ignorance of COVID, and his newer ignorance of the deadlier Delta variant, is going to lead some of his (likely unvaccinated) church members to their graves. And their ignorance will inevitably affect other members of their community.
This isn’t a display of courage. This isn’t facing fear. This is a direct threat to public health and a modern version of Kool-Aid.