Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Pastor Gives Christians Who Claim 'Religious Exemption' From Masks And Vaccines An Epic Bible Lesson

Pastor Gives Christians Who Claim 'Religious Exemption' From Masks And Vaccines An Epic Bible Lesson
Keith Marshall/Facebook

Pastor Keith Marshall, a pastor at Hope Lutheran Church in Enumclaw, Washington wrote a column for the Enumclaw Courier Herald, a small local paper.

The pastor then shared a screenshot of his Courier Herald column on his Facebook page where it went viral.


Keith Marshall/Facebook

A Christian man who has dedicated his life to his faith, Reverend Marshall wanted to address Christians who seek religious exemptions for public health protocols during a global pandemic.

Turning to his Bible and his years of education and experience, Marshall looked for Biblical justification for anti-vaxxers and anti-maskers who demand religious exemptions.

Marshall, who lives in Enumclaw, Washington with his wife Elisha and their children, found his interpretation of what the Bible grants him agency to do was different than those who said they refused pandemic because of their faith.

Marshall wrote:

"What does your faith exempt you from?"
"Religious Exemption is a term I have heard more in the past three months than the rest of my life combined! Recently I was asked if Christians should be able to claim Religious Exemption when public health is in jeopardy."
"Their question made me ask myself, 'What does faith in Jesus Christ exempt me from?'"
"Below is a partial list of what came to mind. My faith in Jesus Christ exempts me from:"
"- Putting my wants above the needs of others"
"'Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.' - Philippians 2:3, 4"
"- Claiming my freedom in Christ as liberty to act without responsibility."
"'You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge in the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: Love your neighbor as yourself.' - Galatians 3, 13, 14"
"- Refusing to protect the most vulnerable in our midst."
"'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.' - Matthew 25:40"
"Therefore, my 'Religious Exemption' requires that I receive the COVID vaccine to safeguard life and wear a mask to care for my neighbor."
"Claiming the Christian faith is no jurisdiction to refuse these measures. By invoking the name of Jesus to claim exemption, you are using the Lord's name in vain and therefore sinning."
"Now, you may have your own political or personal reasons not to do so, but please, stop claiming your faith in Jesus Christ as justification."

His words of wisdom quickly spread across social media.










Pastor Marshall originally shared his column as a public post on Facebook, but was forced to take it private.

Keith Marshall/Facebook

The pastor wrote:

"Well...it has been quite the day. A post I thought we go around my small Facebook world has literally gone around the world."
"While I still stand by what I wrote, I have made it private."
"I know that it is out in the world, which I can handle. However, I am beginning to receive attacks and slander on my family."
"My heart is broken with nasty things written."
"I want to thank so many for the outpouring of love and support today. You mean the world to me."
"For those who disagree with me and really want to talk, I can always find time for civil discourse with you."

Messaging on the vaccine has been mixed from the Lutheran church. Most pastors in the clergy advocate vaccination and masking.

Hopefully Pastor Marshall's wise words will inspire others.

More from Trending

Screenshots from Dove's ad featuring transgender women
Dove

'One Million Moms' Calls For Dove Boycott Over Hair Care Ad Featuring Trans Woman

The vehemently transphobic conservative group One Million Moms (OMM)—an arm of the Christian fundamentalist nonprofit American Family Association (AFA)—called for a boycott of Dove products after the company featured a transgender woman in an advertisement for their Damage Therapy Intensive Repair Conditioner.

The ad garnered attention after it was shared by the social media account Libs of TikTok—run by the anti-LGBTQ+ conservative Chaya Raichik—which described the ad as an example of "another woke company trying to erase women."

Keep ReadingShow less
Alyssa Milano; Julian McMahon
Michael Kovac/Elton John AIDS Foundation/Getty Images; Marcus Ingram/The Surfer/Getty Images

Alyssa Milano Shares Poignant Tribute To 'TV Husband' Julian McMahon After His Death At 56

Actor Julian McMahon lost his battle with cancer at the age of 56 earlier this week, and to say that the Charmed, Nip/Tuck, and Fantastic Four actor touched many lives would be an understatement.

When the news of McMahon's passing went public, his Charmed costar and "TV wife" Alyssa Milano came forward and expressed her sadness and condolences on Instagram. The pair were a favorite couple on Charmed, and it was clear from her post that their care for each other extended beyond the screen.

Keep ReadingShow less

People Who Slept With Their Best Friend Describe The Aftermath

When two people have a deep and meaningful friendship, the question might eventually come up of whether or not they could be more. Agreeing that their friendship might deserve more, they might try to date or at least explore physical intimacy.

But crossing that line carries with it consequences, and it's only once the pair crosses that line that they'll find out if crossing it was good or bad.

Keep ReadingShow less
child writing on chalkboard
Leonardo Toshiro Okubo on Unsplash

Bilingual People Explain Which Words They're Surprised Don't Exist In English

According to one report, approximately 3.3 billion people worldwide—43 % of the population—are multilingual, meaning they speak at least two languages. According to the last Census, 21.6% of people in the United States speak more than one language, while in the United Kingdom, the number is 36%.

More multilingual people speak English as a second language than English speakers who have learned another language besides English. Worldwide, people who learned English as a first language rate among the lowest in multilingual rates.

Keep ReadingShow less
Andrew Garfield at the 2025 Glastonbury Festival
Harry Durrant/Getty Images

Andrew Garfield meets fan with wild tweet!

American actor Andrew Garfield had a funny yet awkward reunion with a fan from a viral “Thirst Tweet” featured on Buzzfeed Celeb.

The Thirst Tweet compilation shows celebrities reading a collection of scandalous tweets from fans commenting on their looks, attractiveness, and sex appeal. Blushing stars include James McAvoy, Renee Rapp, Keanu Reeves, Anthony Mackie, and more recently, Brad Pitt and Javier Bardem, as they promote F1 the Movie that was released in theaters last week.

Keep ReadingShow less