Coronavirus and the church

The days we are currently living in will probably go down in history and never be forgotten. What is our response to be as evangelical Christians?

We must of course, constantly remind ourselves that our Father in heaven, the living God of all creation is sovereign, meaning of course that He is still on His throne and in full control of everything.

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This has not caught God by surprise.

Remember that our God is a ‘refuge and strength, a very present help in time of trouble’. (Psalm 46:1)

We should not panic. God is bigger than the coronavirus!

Every crisis in the world is an opportunity to share God’s love and message of hope with desperate people.

That’s why, as a church family, we want to respond to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) crisis, not by panicking or just hiding out of fear, but by serving the people who are most vulnerable.

No matter how frustrating, confusing, or scary this crisis gets, fear doesn’t have the final word.

In 1 John 4:18 it says: “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.”

Our hope is built on the perfect love of Jesus Christ, so we’ve been called to share that love with the world.

And that’s exactly what we want to do as the future unfolds before us and as more and more people in our community become infected and are in need.

It is certainly a matter of faith and wisdom.

Faith in praying for all those who have been infected, those who will be, and for their families.

We need to pray for God to deliver the world from this menace to human health and well-being.

We need to pray for wisdom, guidance, and protection for our national and local leaders as they seek to fulfill their responsibilities in protecting the people.

We need to pray as Jesus did in the Garden of Gethsemane as he faced Calvary, “Abba, Father, everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will” (Mark 14:36).

Then, we need wisdom to take necessary precautions.

Listen to the medical experts and take appropriate measures (wash your hands, social distancing etc.).

Be informed, sensitive, and wise in the way we approach this pandemic.

Don’t do anything knowingly that would put anyone else at risk.

Seek to help those who need help coping with the aftermath of having the virus or having been exposed to it.

And during this whole process, as Christ-followers, we must always remember and have in our consciousness the Lord Jesus’ command “to do unto others as you would have them do unto you” (Luke 6:31).

Let’s all pray that when we look back on this crisis, our fellow South Africans will see this episode of our history as one that reflects credit on the Lord we serve as they see His work in us as we serve them.

But we need to replace our fear with faith and pray for our nation, that God would protect us.

Philippians chapter 4 reminds us, “Don’t worry about anything and pray about everything!”

(Supplied by Norwegian Settlers Church)

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