THE CHRISTIAN RESPONSE
Written by Donna Montague on 15/03/2020
As the world seems to have come to a standstill globally in the wake of Covid-19, many are left looking for answers to what is taking place. It seems this virus suddenly appeared from out of the blues, throwing all nations both great and small into despair. The world’s greatest minds and mighty leaders are faced with a pandemic spreading more quickly than they are able to control. The borderless world where free movement of people and trading were widely opened, have now become restricted or almost non-existent at this time. Fear and panic continue to gripped mankind, as many people are isolated in their homes, worrying about how are they going to face tomorrow. The stress and anxiety for meeting and maintaining the basic necessities of life (food, clothing and shelter) is unsure.
But what should be the Christian response to this pandemic? Firstly, as believers in Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, we must or should disengage from vain conversations amongst ourselves and the unsaved about conspiracy theories on Covid-19. It is useless and unfruitful, as many people are fighting for their lives to live to see another day, as they battle this virus. It is also dis-heartening or alarming when speaking to some unsaved persons that they seemed to have a better understanding than some Christians, that we are living in the end times, and certain things must come to past.
Secondly, we must seek to obey the government of our land as part of their duty is to protect the citizens of the nation. Rom 13: 1-2 declares “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.” Governments all over the world have called on their citizens to practice social distancing, and asked many not to congregate in less than 5 or 10 persons, or no congregating at all. Yet, many church leaders had blatantly disregarded this call in the earlies, and out of this, Covid-19 was spread in some of these gatherings. Jesus answered the devil in Luke 4:12 “You shall not tempt the Lord your God”, in response to the devil’s request for Him to throw Himself down from the pinnacle of the temple. We must be careful as believer’s to not ever let anyone deceive us into thinking that we lack faith because we are using wisdom, or taking precaution. We are called to be our brother’s keeper, looking out for each other, and most importantly loving one another, not seeking to bring harm in any way.
Thirdly, our lights as Christians should always be shining, and even so much more in the coming days ahead. We are the light of the world as Jesus said in Matt 5: 14-16, “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
This is the time for the Body of Christ to arise and call upon the Name of Jesus for deliverance. For the gates of hell shall not prevailed against the Church, for its foundation is Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God. Jesus has given us the keys of the Kingdom of heaven to bind and loose (Mat 16:13-20). My dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, don’t entertain or let fear consume you at this time, nor be anxious for anything. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind (2 Tim 1:7). We must continue to preach and spread the Gospel boldly in the Power and the Anointing of the Holy Spirit. The people of the world have no peace, and when they see us being calm and unruffled, they are perplexed and want to know why are we so at ease, when the earth is such in an upheaval. This is the time to let them know that God Word states in Phil 4:6-8 “ Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” This is the assurance we have in Him.
In this time, where the Church can’t assemble, Jesus said in Matt 18:20 “where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Most of us are in households where 2 or more family members are saved, and our often do we come together and pray as a unit. For the single saved person in a household, don’t despair, for if you develop a daily prayer life, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16). There is no social distancing when it comes to prayer, and technology at this time has proven to be more useful than ever, whereby we can stay connected.
Brethren, we may not be sure what each day holds, but we know who holds our tomorrow. Jesus Christ is the same today, yesterday and forever. Let us continue to encourage each other to good works. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? (Rom 8:35).
