As the pastor of the Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church in Chicago during this coronavirus pandemic, I have been grieving the loss of our in-person worship services, book studies, concerts and events for the community, beach cleanup days, showing up for protests, doing pastoral visits and our potlucks. As a smaller congregation now livestreaming our services, we really miss seeing one another in the flesh.

Not only is the grief real, but so is the anticipatory grief for the months to come during which it is likely we cannot gather in person without risk. Faith leaders, the pain and grief are felt by all of us

Having said that, I will not be holding in-person worship services or gatherings of any kind until we hear from Mayor Lori Lightfoot that it is safe to do so (for both us and all those we will then come into contact with as we move about the city).

Why would we listen to the mayor when we have the “right” to do what we want under the First Amendment? Of all people, those of us who lead faith communities should know that there is a big difference between having the right to do something and that thing being the right thing to do.

Elim Romanian Pentecostal Church in Chicago and Logos Baptist Ministries in suburban Niles are suing Gov. J.B. Pritzker and holding in-person worship services in violation of the stay-at-home order. A federal judge threw out the lawsuit, but a pastor of Logos Baptist Ministries said Thursday the church would continue to hold in-person services.

Those pastors and churches, along with some others, are putting their individual rights over doing what is right. Like every other faith leader in Chicago and throughout the state of Illinois, I understand their frustration, impatience and grief. What I don’t understand is their reckless behavior as they put not only their own congregations at risk, but also 1,000 more people (initially) for each service of 100 they hold. Are their congregants expendable? Are their family members expendable?

Despite all of their careful measures, they cannot ensure that no one will become ill, that they won’t spread the virus to others and that people won’t end up dying because of their decision to defy what is best for the common good.

That begs the question of why. Why are they so insistent, despite all of the scientific evidence to the contrary? Why are they willing to sacrifice lives for an in-person worship service that even they admitted would not be advisable for their at-risk members?

If Christian churches were under threat, I would be at the barricades. But this is not about the government trying to ban religious services. This is about how to save human lives.

Ironically, these pastors have complained that the very government they are suing and defying as they claim their First Amendment rights is the same government they insist should have consulted them before making decisions about reopening. Do they understand the incongruity?

Their stand to hold in-person services is about putting their individual congregations above all other people and at the risk of their lives and everyone else’s lives. How is that loving God, loving self or loving neighbor — or doing to others what you want them to do to you?

We see you, we hear you, we know you are essential, we feel your pain and now we need you to do the right thing and cease your in-person services for the good of all.

The Rev. Dr. Beth Brown is pastor

at Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church.