Christians Reaction, Covid 19
Covid 19, although it is a new virus, it is not the first virus we have seen.
Just to put some perspective on this.
In the 15th century, the Black Death killed 50 million plus people worldwide.
One hundred years ago, the Spanish Flu killed between 25 – 100 million people worldwide.
Influenza in Britain alone, looking at 2014 to 2018/19 there was an average of 17000 deaths per year.
In the last week of November 2019 in England and Wales, there were 10,958 deaths.
Putting this in perspective with Covid 19, the government has stated that if we keep deaths down to 20000 we would do well.
So whilst Covid 19 is bad, it does not really compare with these past epidemics.
Does this mean that we can take this virus lightly. Of course not, even one death is one to many.
How then, should we as Christians think, as we consider this problem.
What we must never lose sight of when we think of this deadly virus Covid 19 is that God is in complete control.
2 Chronicles 20:5,6,9 “Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of the Lord in the front of the new courtyard and said: “Lord, the God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you…‘If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.’
Lam 3:37 Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?
Nothing occurs without God allowing it to happen.
Amo 3:6 Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?
Amo 3:7 Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
Is this not telling us that God is in control?
The interesting thing in these verses is where are the so called prophets of God, those self styled, self proclaimed prophets of the the New Apostolic Reformation and the Word Faith Movement.
Which of these people did God tell of this plague, Covid 19.
None of them. Why? For they are false prophets.
One question that comes up in conversation.
Is this a judgement of God?
There are those that say it is God’s judgement on the nations for sin, they point to the worst affected nations, China, Iran and South Korea and say this is God’s judgement on those nations that persecute the Christian church.
Others include Italy, Spain and France as nations saturated with Roman Catholicism and false teaching.
However, which nation is not abandoning Gods precepts? There are not many that have not cast God to one side. Even professing Christians are abandoning God’s precepts.
There are those that believe it is a man made virus as a way of culling the population. We also we hear of all kinds of conspiracies.
It is the elite or the Illuminate, trying to bring about a New World Order.
We do know that since the fall of Adam and Eve into sin, there has been consequences. Before sin entered the world, there was no sickness or death, no natural disasters, tornados, floods etc.
However after the fall, all these things began to occur.
So, yes it is a judgement on sin.
However, Not our personal sin.
God does allow us to suffer the consequences of our personal sins but these natural disasters are a result of sin in general.
Neither is this a judgement against believers.
There is no condemnation to those who are in Christ.
Roman 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
A Christians sins have been forgiven.
Is this a sign of the end times?
Well! the Bible speaks of the last days showing signs of plagues and pestilences.
Luk 21:7 And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?
Luk 21:8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.
Luk 21:9 But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.
Luk 21:10 Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:
Luk 21:11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
“Jesus said this pestilence would arrive like ‘birth pains,’” he continued. “This means that it will increase in frequency and intensity in the time leading up to His return. This means that as the end approaches, we should expect infectious disease outbreaks to occur more frequently, impact more people, and be more deadly. This is what the corona virus threatens to do.”
Whether this is one of the signs spoken of by Jesus, the Corona virus teaches us the vulnerability of everyone; the credibility of the Bible; the uncertainty of life; the scarcity of hope; and finally, the sufficiency of Jesus.
God can use things such as disaster and calamity to draw people to Himself.
During times like these, men and women look for answers, they question their own mortality and some turn to God for comfort.
This is where Christians can step up to the mark. We can point them in the right direction, to Christ and the Gospel. By word and by deed and the way we handle ourselves in a disaster situation.
There is one thing sure and that is the governments are not in control of the situation, neither are the financial systems or the religious leaders.
Whether one is a king or commoner, rich or poor, high or low, male or female, no matter what religion, believer or unbeliever, everyone is in danger of catching this virus.
We have seen Prince Charles contract the virus. Boris Johnson the PM and Matt Hancock.
We have seen believers and non believers become sick with Covid 19.
We hear many times, people saying “the sun shines on the righteous”.
However the words of Jesus says:
Mat 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Mat 5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
However for the Christian there are many verses that tell us that God is in control and He goes through these things with us.
“Jesus doesn't just overcome the event. He overcomes the environment where the event happens. In these challenging days, we cannot forget what Jesus told us in 2 Corinthians 12:9, that His grace is sufficient for us.
We will find that out during these days, if we haven't found it out already. The sufficiency of Jesus Christ for those who have put their trust in Him will be on display everywhere.
There are many verses and promises in scripture for us as Christians at times like these.
Isaiah 41:10“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Psalm 46:1“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”
Psalm 27:1“The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?”
We as Christians can take comfort in such verses as these.
Should we do everything we can to keep ourselves safe and our loved ones, absolutely.
How then should Christians react in light of seriousness of the Corona Virus?
This week on Bryn’s Whatsapp Page, there were many comments and questions concerning the pandemic.
As Christian’s we should be examples to the world by our actions.
Our government requested that we all act in a responsible manner throughout this pandemic, to slow the spread of the virus.
We are told in scripture to obey those in authority over us, this does not just refer to our church leaders but also those that God has allowed to be in authority.
In 1 Peter 2: 13 it speaks about Submission to Authority
1Pe 2:13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
1Pe 2:14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the
punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
1Pe 2:15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
1Pe 2:16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
1Pe 2:17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
1Pe 2:18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.
The government requested that that if anyone showed signs of having the virus, Fever, Headaches, or a cough, they should self isolate themselves for seven days.
If other members of the household show signs of the virus, then the household should isolate for fourteen days.
There are in our society certain people that are more vunerable to the virus than others.
Older people and anyone who has underlying medical conditions.
Because of this, the government requested “Social distancing”.
What this means is that do not make unnecessary journeys and keep a safe distance from other people. We are told to wear gloves, a mask and wash hands regularly.
This will not stop the virus but it will slow the virus down and take pressure off the NHS
The government also recommends that older people and those with underlying medical problems, isolate themselves for up to 12 weeks and all social gatherings be cancelled until further notice.
Apparently, up to this point, Friday 20th March, only one in four people have been adhering to these recommendations.
Because of this, it seems likely that the authorities will make these requests, mandatory.
It is imperative that we, as Christians act in a way that we do not think only of ourselves but unto the good of others.
Php 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
Php 2:4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
When Martin Luther was asked about what Christians should do in the event of plagues.
He said:
“Christians should not expose themselves recklessly to danger. His letter straddles two competing goods: honouring the sanctity of one’s own life, and honouring the sanctity of those in need.”
Luther makes it clear that God gives humans towards self protection and trusts that they will care for their bodies (Eph. 5:19, 1 Cor12: 21-26).
Luther says:
“All of us have a responsibility of warding off this poison to the best of our ability because God has commanded us to care for the body.
He defends public health measures such as quarantines and seeking medical attention when available.”
In fact, Luther proposes that not to do so is to act recklessly.
“Just as God has gifted humans with their bodies, so too he has gifted the medicines of the earth.”
As long as the authorities allow free movement, we should think of how our actions may affect others and take every precaution to avoid spreading this deadly disease.
We may be in a category of those that are not affected in a serious way but there are those that are at greater risk.
Pray for each other, try to be of assistance to others most vulnerable, keep in contact by phone and social media.
We are still the body of Christ whether we are in physical contact or not.
