Christian journal denounces healing the sick as "satanic" and "false god of saving lives".

[DetlefK]

https://www.rawstory.com/2020/03/christian-journal-claims-government-has-forced-the-church-to-worship-the-false-god-of-saving-lives/

“At the press conference on Friday announcing the New York shutdown, Governor Andrew Cuomo said, ‘I want to be able to say to the people of New York — I did everything we could do. And if everything we do saves just one life, I’ll be happy,'” wrote Reno. “This statement reflects a disastrous sentimentalism. Everything for the sake of physical life? What about justice, beauty, and honor? There are many things more precious than life. And yet we have been whipped into such a frenzy in New York that most family members will forgo visiting sick parents. Clergy won’t visit the sick or console those who mourn. The Eucharist itself is now subordinated to the false god of ‘saving lives.'”

“A number of my friends disagree with me,” wrote Reno. “They support the current measures, insisting that Christians must defend life. But the pro-life cause concerns the battle against killing, not an ill-conceived crusade against human finitude and the dolorous reality of death.”

Indeed, Reno even suggested that fearing the pandemic is a victory for Satan.

“There is a demonic side to the sentimentalism of saving lives at any cost,” wrote Reno. “Satan rules a kingdom in which the ultimate power of death is announced morning, noon, and night. But Satan cannot rule directly. God alone has the power of life and death, and thus Satan can only rule indirectly. He must rely on our fear of death.”

Meanwhile Jesus healed the sick and even brought Lazarus back from the dead.

Do these "Christians" ever hear themselves talking?

[captain queeg]

1. It's hard to believe this is 21st century America

Don’t know what else to say.

[Canoe52]

2. It's amazing what you can do with logic!

Had a relative argue that man made global warming was just stupid.
He said the real reason the coral reefs were dying because of run off pollution from the local residents.

[SergeStorms]

4. My local xtian whacko.....

says, "why should I worry about global warming, I'll be dead and in heaven".

How can anyone get through to a mentally catatonic fool like that? Apparently he has no concern for his grandchildren's world, or anyone else's. People like this make me want to grab and shake the hell out of them, beseeching them to WAKE THE FUCK UP!

[NRaleighLiberal]

3. madness!

[reACTIONary]

5. What about justice, beauty, and honor?

"What about justice, beauty, and honor? There are many things more precious than life."

No. These virtues have value because of life.

[Locrian]

6. that mindset is responsible for a lot of their behaviour

Health care, education, social services etc - ANYTHING is the "work of the devil" if they don't like it.

[Sanity Claws]

7. They do not follow Jesus. They are false Christians

[uriel1972]

8. No true Scotsperson perhaps?

[Kaiserguy]

9. They are so busy

listening to Satan that they can't hear God.

[Cartoonist]

10. I can't top that

I couldn't compose a more perfect example of religious evil than that.

[muriel_volestrangler]

11. At least National Catholic Reporter calls this ignorant, stupid and downright dangerous

Their editorial:

We're learning how dangerous it is when clueless leaders alienate and demean expertise and dedicated service. That President Donald Trump insists on labeling the pandemic the "Chinese virus" merely wraps ignorance in racism.

The curtain's been pulled back and what's revealed is not a wizard but a doddering old man who has run through his supply of bombast and disguises. Trump's mishandling of the coronavirus crisis to this point is more than bumbling. From his earlier dismantling of the White House global health team to the dismissal of early warnings from experts, to the persistent — and completely false — assurances that the virus would miraculously disappear, the mindlessness of this administration is astounding. It constitutes an arrogant and callous disregard for the welfare of others and a deep breach of public trust.
...
Ignorance and stupidity are not solely the province of civil leaders. They exist in abundance in religious circles, for instance, among evangelical extremists ignoring expertly detailed evidence to the contrary and inviting congregations to gather. The two characteristics were also exhibited to breathtaking degree in the Catholic community by First Things editor R.R. Reno and by the irrepressible Cardinal Raymond Burke.

Who can guess Reno's motivation for taking the holier-than-thou contrarian route and urging that churches remain open and conduct services? On the other hand, we're accustomed to the good cardinal's eccentricities, most of which, given his current removal from any perch of power, can be ignored. But his encouragement to his determined base of admirers and others who find some solace in his traditionalist formulations is downright dangerous in the current moment.

https://www.ncronline.org/news/opinion/editorial-may-lesson-be-indelibly-inscribed-we-need-one-another