Pastor Steven Andrew told his followers they would be protected from the coronavirus if they just obey God (Screenshot: YouTube/Pastor Steven Andrew)
It was only a matter of time before someone blamed the coronavirus outbreak on the gays, and it seems the urge was just too strong for one US preacher.
In the past LGBT+ people have somehow been blamed for floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, bushfires, Rachel Dolezal, even the fall of Rome. Now thanks to pastor Steven Andrew, we can add the Wuhan coronavirus to the bizarre list.
Andrew, who is pastor of the California-based USA Christian Church, has declared March to be “Repent of LGBT Sin Month” – a move he genuinely believes will “save lives and the nation, and protect from coronavirus”.
So far at least 3,600 people have died from the global coronavirus. Instead of advising his followers on the actual ways to control the virus, Andrews tells them they’ll be fine if they just obey God.
“God’s love shows it is urgent to repent, because the Bible teaches homosexuals lose their souls and God destroys LGBT societies,” Andrew said in a press release this week.
“Obeying God protects the USA from diseases, such as the coronavirus.” Yes, really.
“Our safety is at stake,” he claimed, “since national disobedience of God’s laws brings danger and diseases, such as coronavirus, but obeying God brings covenant protection.
“God protects the USA from danger as the country repents of LGBT, false gods, abortion and other sins.”
Andrew calls himself leader of the American Christian Denomination, which “is made up of Christians of all denominations who believe like our founding fathers,” according to his website.
He claims to be establishing 25 ministries around the nation, and he holds monthly revival events.
Several other Christian extremists have also found a way to link the spread of the coronavirus with LGBT+ people.
They include the evangelical radio host Rick Wiles, who jumped on the tragedy in the early days of the outbreak to claim that it was all part of God’s plan to “purge” the world of trans children and the “vile, disgusting people” who support them.