Reflections on Pandemics
I feel like we have turned the corner on the global pandemic. Yet, I also feel the world will no longer be the same.
The quarantine and global pandemic has revealed the hearts and struggles of the world. Our norms and lifestyle has been uprooted by every person. Some cope with potential loss, others with boredom and stillness and each has found the situation to be unwanted. Furthermore, the world currently exhibits the symptoms of stress and depression. People are tired and don’t know why. Cravings for the unhealthy are rising with exercise decreasing. Emotional fuses are short as the light at the end of the tunnel seems dim.
I have seen churches over produce content almost as if one more bible study or virtual meeting will conquer this pandemic. Some have continued to meet citing that God has not given us a spirit of fear (What has that verse done to us that we would do such exegetical violence to it?) and calling other Christians cowardly for continuing to remain at home. Others have over simplistically declared the virus defeated. Yet, the virus persists, unfazed by human efforts to strong arm it into submission. Our response to the virus, at least in the western church context, has revealed the struggle of the church to have faith in a sovereign God and to trust in Him through anything, even the difficult.
We are not in control and this is a good thing. During times such as these, the Christian must be willing to hold tightly to these two foundational truths: 1) God is sovereign over all creation regardless of circumstances and 2) Our hope is in the resurrection of Jesus Christ who leads us to our future glory with Him, forever. Nothing holds the power to override or contradict these two truths. Nothing. As we walk through this global event, there are four things I hope we learn in the process.
Five Things I Hope We Learn
- God Reigns Over All Circumstances “But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Matthew 5:44-45) God makes its rain on the just and the unjust. We do not have to understand everything going on or why it happens. Ours is simply to trust that God is working things out for His glory. We praise God in the storm and in the sunshine because we know that God reigns over every circumstances.
- Our Efforts Do Not Produce Salvation While I firmly believe this time has been a time of quieting for the Christian and a time to study scripture to build a relationship with our Savior, these efforts do not require God to grant us salvation. Our works cannot produce salvation or eternal life. One day, we will all die on this earth and nothing we do will exempt us from that. Yet, for those trusting in the Lord, we will receive salvation because of the works of Jesus Christ and Christ alone. We cannot continually lift up our own efforts as idols and demand that God grant us what we wish. Rather, we lay our works before the cross of Christ as bow before our Lord and Savior who alone grants life.
- Social Media Is Killing Us. Social media, time and time again, has shown to increase the effects of anxiety, misinformation, and endless echo chambers of perspectives. It shapes and rewires how our brains process and express information. We, as a culture, have a social media addiction that is fueling anxieties and depression by exalting our own unfiltered ideas. This problem only exacerbated when we quarantined inside our homes. It may be time to honestly evaluate the amount of time we spend endlessly scrolling the newsfeed and cramming the fear of a 24 hour news cycle into our minds next to the polish highlight reel of others families. We could all use with a time of quiet and silence to be with ourselves and in silence with God.
- Putting The Needs of Others Before Our Own So many people have run to hoard things they don’t need at the expense of people who do. Then, we saw the world look to profit off of any means possible, whether or price gouging stockpiled supplies or using the event for political side shows and gain. “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” (Philippians 2:3, ESV) As Christians, we must be willing to care for the vulnerable, the sick, and the needy ahead of our own ambition. This is Christ-like in that Christ came to care for us at His own expense. If we are to share the light of Christ to the world, we must be willing to reflect the nature of Jesus Christ in our actions as we put others ahead of ourselves.
The virus has revealed our struggles to trust God and revealed the idols in our life by seeing where we turn to in times of crisis. When we come out of this, we will be a changed people. Throughout history, the church has endured times of trouble, isolation, persecution, and decline. Yet, these times have served as the refining fire for those who are and are not submitted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. When we leave this moment in history, the world will need the grace of God and the light of Christ to care for it. Now, we can prepare by submitting to the Lord and trusting in His sovereign rule over all creation.
