COVID-19: How Should We Respond as Christians?

"Some days are better, some days are worse. Look for the blessing instead of the curse. Be positive, stay strong, and get enough rest. You can't do it all, but you can do your best". -Doe Zantamata

COVID-19: How should we respond as Christians?

The coronavirus outbreak has disrupted the lives of people all across the world. This pandemic has created a troublesome time for everyone, causing many to lose their jobs. Many are currently experiencing difficulty in finding new employment due to the temporary shut-down of several businesses in order to prevent the spread of the virus. Many schools and colleges have also decided to remain closed for the remainder of the school year. This has no doubt caused some strain for parents with small children, especially if they are a single-parent or if they work in an environment such as the healthcare field which does not close. Social-distancing has also been strongly encouraged at this time as a precaution to further prevent the spread of the virus. As we have seen, many churches have decided to close temporarily, but have continued to share the word of God online by posting videos and links to sermons.

Though fellowship with other Christians at this time may be difficult, and social isolation is the last thing we want, we can still make good use of this time. I believe that it is so easy for us to get caught up with our daily routine, between our jobs, the things we own, and making time for our family and friends.. But what about the aspect of our lives that should be the most important: making time for God. Many of us have become so comfortable, that now it is as though we don’t know how to react or how to spend our time wisely now that our routine is disrupted. Now I understand that this is not what anyone had expected or wanted for the year of 2020. I do not believe that God causes bad things to happen, but I do believe that He allows everything to happen for a reason. So, what message is God trying to send us at this troublesome time?

I want to be clear that I don’t claim to know God’s reasoning behind why He allows certain things to happen, but what I do want to share is my perspective and what I believe God may be trying to teach us at this time. It could be that God is removing certain distractions in our life temporarily in order to create more time for us to spend with Him. Look at it this way, some of us may be stuck at home or experiencing social isolation due to the closing of schools, closing of businesses, and the emphasis placed on social-distancing right now. The things that took up the most of our time before seem to be on a temporary hold. How many times have we been “too busy” to open our Bible, or to communicate with God through prayer? How often have we been “too busy” to get to know God on a deep and personal level by spending time with Him through His word? How often do we acknowledge our dependency on God, and how often do we recognize the fact that He is always in control? Suddenly, we are gifted with more free time. But it is a matter of our response, and how we choose to use that extra time we’ve been given that matters. 

I believe that this current social-isolation we are experiencing presents a wonderful opportunity to take the time to get to know God better by reading His word and meditating on His word. Now is the time for our world to turn to God, now is this time to pray. Dr. Charles Stanley said it perfectly in his message “Faith Over Feelings” regarding COVID-19. “This is a time not for pleasure, but for prayer”. (I will reference the video below for anyone who would like to listen).

2 Chronicles 7:13-14 states, ‘When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land'.

During times of trouble, grief, and hardship, many people will turn to God for relief. But when the hardship passes and things become good again, we are so quick to turn away from God, forgetting what all He has brought us through. According to Dr. Stanley in his video sermon, Wisdom in the Midst of Trials, “more important than God removing the difficulty, hardship, pain, and suffering, more important to Him than that, is that you and I learn something- that we benefit”. I think we can all learn something from this pandemic, and what we learn may vary per individual. We may learn the importance of appreciating and being grateful for what we have, rather than being resentful for the things we don’t have. We may learn the importance of holding our loved one’s close, cherishing every moment, because tomorrow is never promised. But most importantly, I hope we all learn that we are never “too busy” for God. The most important area in our life is our relationship with God. Even when this pandemic comes to pass, which it will, my prayer is that we never forget what God has brought us through. When we continue to put Him first, our lives change for the better.

I know that we live in a time of certainty, but the one thing to always remember, is that God never changes, His word never changes, and He is always in control. 2 Timothy 1:7 states, ‘For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, of love, and of a sound mind’.

References

Faith Over Feelings: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUqXlglay2k 

Wisdom in the Midst of Trials: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsO4850nW10&t=445s

Reviews

[Bare trees]

I once watched Dr. Stanley every sunday. "listen." I think he's a good man but what I've learned about life can be quoted by a group called Rush. "Fate is just the weight of circumstances." We are here by ourselves.

Two hundred people jumped to their deaths from the towers on 911. I'm sure many followed god. People are dying alone in hospitals. 6 million jews died horrible deaths in Hitler's death camps, and that's only just a tiny portion of the horrendous deaths that have occurred throughout history. Look up ancient history and read about the atrocities that have taken place. Read about the many women that have been killed by serial killers.

God may watch over us but unfortunately for too many, God does nothing. We are on our own.

Write Dr. Stanley's lessons in a notebook. By the end of the year you will have so many things written you must remember you'll never be able to do accomplish them.

I also used to watch Joel Osteen, who has gotten incredibly rich from his sermons. I stopped.

I commend you for your belief, and for your faith. For me, I see things differently now.

I wish you luck, and everyone else in this uncertain time.

[Mrs Mania]

Hi Palewriter,
Thank you for you taking the time to read my post and review. I do respectfully disagree however, and here's why: Nothing ever happens by circumstance. As I mentioned in my post, while I do not believe that God causes bad things to happen, He does allow everything to happen for a reason. Sometimes we may never know what that reason is, and that’s okay. Sometimes disasters and hardships can come along, devastating even the best of people. But just because bad things happen and we experience suffering, that does not mean that God doesn’t care. Psalm 22:24 states, ‘For he has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help’.

Yes, there have been many ruthless rulers in history- those who would even go as far as persecuting Christians for their faith in God. But Matthew 10:28-31 states, ‘Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.’

No matter what we are going through, it is never necessary for us to have to fight the battle alone, as that is not what God intended. But He does give humanity the gift of choice. We are ultimately given the choice of whether or not to remain faithful and turn to Him when times are difficult, or to turn away. “Faith isn’t just about religion, it’s about realizing that we are all in this together. It’s easy to forget how connected we all are. It’s easy to feel scared, or lost, or angry, but that’s not the same thing as losing faith” - Anna Combs (from S2 E15 of the TV show God Friended Me).

[Julie McCarthy (juliesp..]

I agree that yes it’s giving people more time to reach out to their God whoever they believe in but I do question why my God does let bad things happen rape incest murder flood fire disease famine

[Mrs Mania]

Hi Julie,
Thank you for your response. If you don’t mind my asking, when you say “my God”, who are you referring to? I do recognize the fact that people have different beliefs and that many people pray to a God, but many people do not believe and pray to the one true God. When I say “the one true God”, I am referring to the one mentioned in the Bible all the way from Genesis to Revelation. The one who sent His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross so that our sin debt would be paid in full so that we could be forgiven, and so that for anyone who believes in Him will one day go to Heaven and be with Him for all eternity. This is the God who has the power and authority to change anything, anywhere, at any time. This is the God who is Holy, just, faithful, and loves unconditionally. Is this the God you believe in?

If you are a child of God, nothing ever happens by accident. God always has a reason for why He allows certain things to happen. Sometimes we may never know what that reason is, and that’s okay. Sometimes disasters and hardships can come along, devastating even the best of people. But just because bad things happen and we experience suffering, that does not mean that God doesn’t care. Psalm 22:24 states, ‘For he has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help’.

I welcome you to listen to Dr. Stanley’s video sermon which talks about why bad things happen to good people sometimes.
When We Don’t Understand Why: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_1fCUlet50&t=1231s

I also welcome you to read my two new writings, “Does God Understand What We Go Through?” and “A Spider’s Web”.

-Taylor

[Julie McCarthy (juliespenhere)]

Yes my God is Jesus
I don’t attend church
I used to but do have a faith
I was. A born again Christian age 16 led by my sister but before that I attended a Presbyterian church
After my dear Christian sister suicided in 1982 due to mental health issues at age 26 I lost my faith for years
A few years ago I asked god to come bk into my heart he forgave me for every thing all my sins of past but now feel blank again
I still pray

[Julie McCarthy (juliespenhere)]

I think blank the wrong word
I mean when I was a born again Christian from ages 16 till I was say 25 I really truly lived in the spirit
He led me in everything
Then I lost faith after she passed I believe she’s with Jesus now
So I had my marriage family separation divorce etc all in last years but a few years ago was up at the coast standing on a cliff looking at scenery and a Christian couple they were like angels came up and talked to us both I was with my now partner so the man talked to him she talked to me this was three years ago
The same night I cried in the bath over all my sins of past and how I rejected God for so long
I took Jesus back being forgiven again but now I feel three years later stale yes stale in my faith I can’t explain it
But those people we chatted to we never saw again we think they were definitely angels we looked as we drove off they had gone disappeared
I wrote a poem of it actually

[Julie McCarthy (juliespenhere)]

It’s called my hippy angel

[Spamalott]

Here's the deal: If "good Christians" don't get the disease in fewer numbers, per capita, than "Bad Christians;" If Christians, in general, don't get the disease in fewer numbers than non-Christians; If no religion does better than others, then prayer and belief have nothing to do with anything, and prayer, demonstrably, is wasted time.

You can't say "God loves you," and call him "father" when people all over the world are dying, and doing so irrespective of their being good or bad, devout or unbeliever.

Doctors save lives. Good sense and careful action saves lives. Walk among those who have the virus quoting scriptures, or being silent. Your chance of being infected is the same either way.