Christians Facing a Culture in Crisis
As coronavirus, COVID-19, wreaks havoc on our world, Christians are facing a culture in crisis. We have a unique responsibility and opportunity to respond in love with hope. Thankfully, Christ has supplied Christians with all we need in order to face today’s turmoils.
Culture in Crisis
Unless you live under a rock or in the middle of the wilderness (you wouldn’t be reading this), you are now very familiar with COVID-19 (novel Coronavirus) and the major crisis that this microscopic organism is creating in our world. Whether you believe or perceive the virus to be dangerous to you and yours or not, the impacts are tangible. The Dow Jones stock market index has shed approximately 34%, at the writing of this article, since the beginning of the year. And that’s a drop in the bucket compared to the global economy. Store shelves are bare of essential personal products and shelf-stable food items. Schools and businesses are closed all around us, changing our daily lives and routines. We are living in a different world than we were just a few months ago.
All of this leads us to the question: As Christians, how should we respond to a culture facing catastrophe?
With Love & Without Self-Interest
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Philippians 2:3-4:
Governments and authorities around the globe have begun to ask, even demand, their citizens to stay home and practice social distancing. Schools and businesses are closing, travel is banned, and large gatherings are being canceled. All of this is in an effort to slow the spread of infection. Giving up our gatherings, entertainment, activities, and personal freedom is not easy. It’s inconvenient or burdensome to our schedules, relationships, and routines. And it’s costly to our families and businesses. Plus, it’s isolating and lonely for all my fellow extraverts out there! (Dare we say, “So too,” for the introverts?!)
Loving Our Neighbors
It seems that many Christians over the past few weeks have reacted in opposition to measures like these. Their arguments usually end up with something about “trusting in God” and “not having a spirit of fear.” We’ll deal with these points in a minute, but let me clearly articulate that obeying social distancing guidelines does not have to be rooted in fear and doubt. Social distancing policies are being recommended to help slow the rate of infection, to flatten the curve.
While COVID-19 may not be as deadly to certain populations, it is virtually unchecked, in terms of infection, because it is working through an entire human population with zero immunity or protection. Without social distancing, those at risk of serious illness, or even death, have a much higher risk of contracting the virus from those who may not even know they are infected! In short, social distancing restrictions are most likely not for you, they are for your ‘neighbors.’ We are to love our neighbors as ourselves. If we were at risk of serious illness or death from this virus, would we want others potentially infected to put us at risk? No! We would stay home and alter our lives to protect ourselves.
I challenge you to obey and promote social distancing policies, not because we fear COVID-19 and do not trust the Lord, but because we love our neighbors and are looking out for them first.
With Trust and without Fear
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9
There are so many verses throughout Scripture about not living in fear. Joshua 1:9 may be one of my favorites, but I could easily list a page of them. God desires our faith and trust not our fear. He is good and good for us, but when we doubt His goodness, we, in turn, embrace fear. We may not always see the good in how God allows history to unfold, especially through major crises; our finite minds cannot fully comprehend His infinite wisdom. I once had a godly professor say, “A God that you can fully understand, is a God that is too small for me.” We have to stand back, trust that He is in control, and live boldly for His glory.
Bring Peace
As we’ve already discussed, living without fear does not mean living in selfish disregard for our neighbor; instead, it means finding ways to honor and glorify God by loving and caring for our neighbors who may be fully immersed in fear and panic. We are called to be the calm sea in the midst of the raging storm.
> Resist the urge to buy every last package of toilet paper and bag of rice off the store shelves. Instead, get only what you reasonably need, and trust that the Lord will provide for all your needs.
> Offer your neighbors who may be running short on supplies, items from your shelves and pantry.
> Take the extra time to listen to and talk with others who may be struggling with fear. Be alert to the signs of panic and fear, and seek out those conversations. If you are struggling with fear, reach out to friends or church leaders.
> God designed us to live in community, so lean upon and support one another. This support doesn’t have to be face-to-face. Phone calls, video chats, text messages, emails: all work well in sharing God’s love.
Don’t let fear keep you frozen, but instead, step out in faith, and trust the Lord. These changes in our lives, may provide blessings and opportunities to love one another in ways we never imagined.
With Perspective & without Exclusion
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away”
Matthew 24:35
When faced with a catastrophe like coronavirus, it’s easy to focus only on the urgent, and neglect the important. This is a concept discussed by Kevin DeYoung in his book Crazy Busy. While we struggle to balance our new work situations with our children’s remote learning needs, all while planning our new routines, and keeping up with the latest COVID-19 news, people around us are still facing the brokenness of the world that existed before the virus.
Families all around us are feeling the impacts of COVID-19 while dealing with cancer treatments for their child, the sudden loss of a loved one, the brokenness of relationships, abuse, or addiction. The world is hurting, and while we need to pay attention to our authorities, we need to keep perspective and not lose sight of the struggles outside of this virus. Equally important in keeping perspective is to not lose our own focus on Christ during these difficult times. Be in prayer and in the Word as often as you can. Like Peter, if we take our eyes off Christ to worry about the storm around us, we too will sink into fear and panic.
Christian Hope
I look forward to the day when the struggles, pain, and death of this world will fade away. Until then, I cling to God’s eternal Word and His promises of the hope of that glorious eternity to come.
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