Jesus is King—Not the Coronavirus
Editor’s Note: In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic facing our nation and world, the BCC will be addressing the issue from a Christian perspective this week on the Grace and Truth Blog. Today, Curtis Solomon offers counsel for biblically responding to this season of trial. In other contributions, Bob Kellemen provides biblical resources for facing anxiety, fear, panic, and worry, and Kevin Carson shares a compilation of the most helpful articles addressing COVID-19.
On our drive home from school last week, my ten-year-old son asked, “Dad, do you know why Coronavirus is called Coronavirus? It’s because the virus has lots of spikes all over it, and they thought it looked like a crown. Corona is Latin for crown, so there you go.” This conversation brightened my day for several reasons. It was encouraging to know our children’s school was discussing the issue and that they were taking advantage of every opportunity to reinforce their Latin training. More importantly, it reminded me that there is only one King of kings, Lord of lords, and God of gods (Deut. 10:17; Ps. 136:3; Dan. 2:47; 1 Tim. 6:15; Rev. 19:16). While the Coronavirus may dominate the headlines, be named for a crown, and rule the world’s media coverage, no one and nothing supplants the almighty reign of our sovereign King Jesus. Keeping this foundational truth in mind, I want to offer some counsel as we walk through this season of trial as brothers and sisters in Christ.
Pray Constantly
Christians are praying people because we serve a God who hears, cares, draws near, and desires communion with His children. He instructs us to pray and listens to our prayers. We should constantly be in prayer and bring all our concerns before His throne. Here are a few specific ways to pray during the Coronavirus pandemic:
- Pray that God would stop the spread of the Coronavirus. The Bible tells of times when God stopped the spread of disease and death in its tracks (Num. 16:41-50). Let’s ask Him to do the same today.
- Pray that God would fulfill His purposes for and through the Coronavirus. We cannot presume to know all the detailed plans and purposes God has for this illness, but we know nothing occurs in this universe by accident. God uses everything to bring Himself glory and to transform His children to be like His “only begotten Son” (John 3:16; Rom. 8:28-30). The intricacies of how He brings that about in each situation is a mystery He can either reveal or keep concealed. Our responsibility is to trust and pursue Him.
- Pray that the light of the love of Christ and the gospel would shine brightly through the Church.
Love One Another
Trials bring opportunities to demonstrate love. The larger the trial, the more ways love can manifest itself through the body of Christ. We are currently faced with a global pandemic, so the specific ways we can show love are innumerable. Jesus identifies the singular characteristic that signifies His followers to the world as love for one another (John 13:35). Christians, above all, should be known for their love, especially the love they demonstrate toward other believers.
1 Corinthians 13 offers a lengthy description of love. Verse seven of that chapter states that love “bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” One of the implications of this verse is that love believes the best about the ones we love. We view their actions and words through a lens of grace—not suspicion. We presume the best of their motives—not the worst. Of course, this is not always how Christians act toward one another. In the book of Romans, Paul offers correction to Christians who are judging their brothers and sisters for making decisions different than their own.
The COVID-19 pandemic is forcing many church and ministry leaders to make very difficult decisions. Some churches are choosing to cancel in-person services while others are choosing to stay open. Some Christians are choosing to stay home while others in their congregation will gather for corporate worship. When we see others making decisions that are different than the ones we have come to, it is tempting to judge them and presume wrong or sinful motivations. Church leaders who choose not to meet may be accused of lacking faith in God. Churches who gather may be attacked for lacking compassion for the local community and disregard for the trial we are facing globally.
In the spirit of 1 Corinthians 13:7, let’s assume the best about our brothers and sisters in Christ. Let’s look at the actions of others and assume the best out of love for fellow man and a desire to honor God. Certainly, human beings act with sinful motives. Some will avoid gatherings out of sinful fear, but we should not assume that is the case. If you are in a close relationship with someone you suspect may be struggling with fear and anxiety over the current pandemic, don’t stand back in harsh judgment. Instead, reach out with concern and love. Don’t berate or tear them down, but build them up with hopeful truths from God’s Word.
As we make decisions about how to respond individually and as local churches, let’s keep God’s teaching from Romans 14 in mind as well. While the circumstance Paul addresses is different, the instruction he offers is applicable. Paul is addressing groups of people who have come down on opposite sides of various divisive debates. Verses 1-4 warn against judging those who disagree with your position. The temptation to falsely judge is not limited to one side. Both groups could be guilty. The current Coronavirus context provides an opportunity for divisive debates. Whatever we decide, we must not attack or accuse those who decide differently.
Seek Wisdom
Paul’s next point, in verse five, is that each person “must be fully convinced in his own mind.” Each of us needs to do the hard work entailed in good biblical decision making. We should survey God’s Word for instruction and guiding principles, pray for wisdom, seek wise counsel (both from spiritual advisors and experts with knowledge of the issue), consider the needs of others in our care, consider the needs of those around us, remember our personal responsibilities, imagine the possible outcomes of our decisions, and come to a wise, informed decision. If we fail to do these things, then it is hard to be “fully convinced” in our thinking, and we act irresponsibly. Recognizing that each church has a unique context and set of considerations can help limit our judgment as well. The pastor of a mega-church in Seattle is not likely to respond the same way as a pastor of a small church in rural West Virginia with no cases of Coronavirus. Each must consider the needs and context of his own flock and make a wise decision for them.
Honor Christ
In the next two verses (6-8), the Word of God reminds us that whatever we do, we need to do it in order to please the Lord. We are not to make decisions to appease our attackers nor merely to please ourselves. We should not allow our own fears or the judgment of others to guide our decisions in these divisive debates. Instead, think of what would be most honoring to the Lord, seek His wisdom, and decide.
When we keep God at the center of these discussions and decisions, we are more inclined to make the right decision for ourselves and our communities. We will be less doubtful in our minds about the decisions we make. We will be less inclined to fear the judgment of others. And we will also be less inclined to judge others.
Our pastor shared this helpful perspective from a godly man who faced similar decisions to the ones we are faced with today, but he did so more than 500 years ago. When the Black Plague came to Germany and his hometown, Martin Luther was asked how Christians should respond. In his letter to Reverend Doctor John Hess, “Whether one may flee from a Deadly Plague,” Luther wrote the following helpful counsel:
I shall ask God mercifully to protect us. Then I shall fumigate, help purify the air, administer medicine and take it. I shall avoid places and persons where my presence is not needed in order not to become contaminated and thus perchance inflict and pollute others and so cause their death as a result of my negligence.
If God should wish to take me, he will surely find me and I have done what he has expected of me and so I am not responsible for either my own death or the death of others. If my neighbor needs me however I shall not avoid place or person but will go freely as stated above. See this is such a God-fearing faith because it is neither brash nor foolhardy and does not tempt God.❲1❳
Let us pray that God would stop the spread of the Coronavirus. Let us take wise precautions to stop the impact and spread ourselves. Let us trust in our almighty and all-knowing God. Let us live boldly for His Kingdom loving our fellow man, serving those in need, and proclaiming the good news of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.
Questions for Reflection
- What are some ways you have been tempted to criticize or judge others during this time? How could you respond differently?
- Have you taken time to study the Scriptures and pray for wisdom from God to guide you in your response to the Coronavirus?
- How can you love and serve those around you during this time?
❲1❳ Martin Luther, Luther’s Works, Vol. 43: Devotional Writings II, ed. Jaroslav Jan Pelikan, Hilton C. Oswald, and Helmut T. Lehmann, vol. 43 (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1999), 119–38.