Resurrection Life In An Age Of Pandemics

by Travis Lowe on March 17, 2020

This Sunday, I stood in the back of our sanctuary while our services reached a crowd of nearly 1,300, all of whom had tuned in online. The building itself was empty, and the only people in the chairs were staff who had gathered to minister virtually from a computer. Like most of you, I had not expected life to change so quickly during the span of a week, but the rapid spread of COVID-19 across the globe has lead to unprecedented precautions from world governments and leaders. In the face of such a challenge, how should we as Christians respond? As I've talked with other friends in ministry, and spent time thinking through the scriptures myself, there have been certain themes that keep coming up. Here are a few ways that we can bear witness in the midst of our troubled cultural moment.

Love Your Neighbor

The ancient words of Jesus ring especially true in the midst of a crisis, in which many are only concerned with their own self interest. God has created us as social beings, and each of us is a part of a network of relationships. The way that we behave in the face of a crisis will have ramifications for others around us, many of whom we will never meet. When we stockpile, panic buy, and hoard more resources than we need we are doing so at the expense of others. When we are flippant with our social practices, and unwilling to take basic steps of washing our hands and limiting our interactions, we do so to the detriment of our neighbors, especially those among the older and more vulnerable population. 

 As Christians, we must look not only into our own interest but the interest of others. That will require us to always consider the least of these, and how our choices will affect them. 

Obey Our leaders

St. Paul tells the Roman Church, “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities.” Bear in mind that these were the very leaders that had persecuted Paul for faithfully preaching the gospel. We are fortunate enough to live in a much different society than the one in which Paul wrote these words. In a moment like this, it is of profound importance that we pay attention to the instructions of officials who have expertise in epidemiology, medicine, and matters of public health. Christians ought to be lovers of truth and wisdom, and we should cherish it wherever it is found. If there are those among us that God has gifted with insight and understanding in how to best address this situation, then we would do well to listen to them and follow their instruction. 

It is important to acknowledge, however, that Paul goes beyond simply instructing Christians to be subject to authority. He tells Timothy also to offer prayers for kings, rulers, and those in positions of power. In this moment we ought to do the same. If you haven't already, set aside time to daily ask God to grant discernment and insight to those who he has placed over us in leadership. 

Do Not Be Afraid

This is one of the most frequently issued commands in all of scripture, and it is of profound importance right now. More than any other time in recent memory, our world has been forced to confront the specter of death, which has haunted humanity from the gates of Eden. Christians are facing the same challenges, but Paul tells us that we do not meet these matters in the same way. We do not mourn as those without hope, and we do not face pandemics as the world does. 

 In the midst of deep anxiety, we as the church have a unique opportunity to show the difference that resurrection makes. In this particular moment, we will be tempted to respond in all sorts of negative ways: we can be gripped by fear and anxiety, or we can be flippant and cavalier. But none of these approaches are distinctively Christian. There is a better way forward. At the end of his article, “Love In The Time of The Corona Virus” Andy Crouch asks a series of important question, which I hope we will revisit often:

“When this plague has passed, what will our neighbors remember of us? Will they remember that the Christians took immediate, decisive action to protect the vulnerable, even at great personal and organizational cost? Will they remember that, being prepared and free from panic, the households of their Christian neighbors were able to visit the needy (while protecting them by keeping appropriate social distance!), provide for their needs, and bring hope?”

To this I’d like to add my own question, “As this situation progresses, will our neighbors see a people who are gripped by fear, as though Christ is still in the tomb, or will they see a people who have been transformed by the risen Lord? 

In this unprecedented moment, may we love our neighbors well, take appropriate precautions, and obey the rulers and authorities above us as we pray for them. Above all of this, may we face the days ahead as a people of resurrection.

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