What do we make of the virus?

David Cook shares a Biblical perspective through the lens of the Book of Proverbs:

“We embrace humanity with love, we seek to relieve, be surprisingly creative in our acts of kindness, but our greatest purpose is to call on people to listen, repent and believe and so through Jesus have hope of a new creation to come.”

Read below:

Today I returned from overseas and I am self isolating for 14 days.

What do we make of this coronavirus?

I have been preparing a series on Proverbs and Solomon has much to say about what is going on.

The Bible’s wisdom writers are concerned to show us how we are to harmonise with reality.

Dick Lucas says that the aim of Proverbs is to help the young to keep from making fools of themselves in life, another preacher says that Proverbs is a directory of godly conduct.

In Chapter 1, King Solomon introduces the book by telling us in v.1-7, what the book will do for us; who it is for; and how to enter it, by ‘fearing the Lord’.

Then in v.8-19, he tells us there are always two voices in life, the voice of reality and the voice of deceit. In this case the realist is the parent urging the son not to join his peer group, ‘my son do not walk in the way with them’, v.15, and the voice of deceit, is that of the criminal gang, ‘come with us, let us lie in wait for blood’, v.11.

At v. 20-33, Solomon tells us history’s biggest lesson. There are always two voices in life, the voice of God and the voice of the serpent, the voice of reality and the voice of deceit.

The great lesson of history is that whenever God speaks, and is ignored, catastrophe results! It’s a lesson as old as Adam.

Proverbs 1:31 records this passive judgement of God on our deafness, ‘they shall eat the fruit of their way and have their fill of their own schemes’. This judgement is now being revealed, according to Paul, in Romans 1, God gives them over to the fruit of their schemes in Romans 1:24,26,28.

The world we live in is the world into which Adam and Eve were expelled, the world of pain, frustration and death, and is the fruit of their failure to listen to God.

This virus is part of that world and is God’s judgement on us all, and my isolation is a part of that judgement and a reminder of human stubbornness.

In Proverbs 1, Wisdom cries out, raises her voice and speaks and she does so in the main streets and malls. She is freely available, yet humanity refuses to listen, ignores and does not heed.

God personally teaches us this lesson, see His use of the third person pronoun, ‘they hated knowledge… they shall eat the fruit’, v.29-31.

God’s wisdom is our greatest treasure and yet we have become too cool, too self assured, too sophisticated to hear it. Many will be addressed but only some will listen and they will ‘dwell secure and be at ease without dread of disaster’, v.33.

This period of isolation, this pandemic, is a further clarion call to us to harmonise with the reality of our greatest treasure, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus and his word of wisdom.

We embrace humanity with love, we seek to relieve, be surprisingly creative in our acts of kindness, but our greatest purpose is to call on people to listen, repent and believe and so through Jesus have hope of a new creation to come.

‘For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them; but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster’. Proverbs 1:32-33.

(David Cook has served as Principal of SMBC and also as Moderator-General of the Presbyterian Church of Australia as well as in parish ministry. Photo courtesy St. Helen’s Bishopsgate.)

One concrete thing all churches should be doing right now

“At this moment, we are – understandably – being flooded with information and reflections about the coronavirus. There is much helpful stuff for Christians to read, but I fear that one of the most obvious and critical things has not yet gotten much attention. …

If coronavirus is particularly dangerous to older people …”

– Tim Patrick, Principal of the Bible College of South Australia, makes a very important point which should not be overlooked.

Sydney Diocese COVID-19 Update Tuesday 17 March

“Archbishop Glenn Davies has warned of the seriousness of the situation facing Sydney Diocese in coming months, saying further advice will be forthcoming from the Diocese’s COVID-19 Task Force. …

Bishop Gary Koo, the Bishop of Western Sydney who formerly practised as a doctor, is chairing the COVID-19 Task Force for the diocese.”

– from SydneyAnglicans.net.

A New Normal that isn’t Normal at all: The COVID-19 Pandemic and the Humbling of a Civilization

In his daily Briefing, Albert Mohler speaks about what is happening in the USA and around the world with the COVID-19 Pandemic.

He also references this:

“Therefore, CDC, in accordance with its guidance for large events and mass gatherings, recommends that for the next 8 weeks, organizers (whether groups or individuals) cancel or postpone in-person events that consist of 50 people or more throughout the United States.” – Center of Disease Control and Prevention, USA.

This essay by Dr Mohler has now been published:

The Humbling of Civilization: Praying for the Mercy of God.

Related:

Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Australia – current data.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) health alert – Australian Department of Health.

Thinking about live-streaming church services on the cheap?

Here’s one simple resource.

Here’s another page with further ideas.

And another.

(Of course, ministers may prefer to pre-record sermons, rather than livestream a sermon in an almost-empty building.)

See also:

Christian: speak the gospel… online – Lionel Windsor.

Finding security in an insecure world

“A year ago today, the brutal terror attacks on a Christchurch Mosque gave rise to shock, fear, and deep insecurity in our world.

One year later, as efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic ramp up, we are yet again faced with the reality of how fragile and uncertain our lives and communities are. And we are, yet again, faced with the question of security.

I wrote the following reflection on security following the Christchurch shootings, but it is equally relevant to our current situation. …”

– Dr Lionel Windsor at Moore College calls Christians to know the rock-solid security they have in Christ.

Prayer for the Coronavirus response

The Dean of Sydney, Kanishka Raffel, has written a prayer you may find helpful:

Sovereign Lord, you are the hope and healer of your people and have promised a world where there is no more sickness or crying or death.

By your death and resurrection you have set your people free from the penalty of sin and death.

We pray your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Please prosper the work of those who are seeking a vaccine for the coronavirus, please strengthen those who are treating the sick, please comfort those who are mourning the loss of loved ones or living in fear of this disease.

Please give to governing authorities wisdom in their management of this crisis, and give to your people your peace beyond understanding, generous and wise hearts and a renewed trust in your sovereign goodness and glory.

Turn the hearts of many now experiencing fear and anxiety that they they may find that peace which is the fruit of the death and resurrection of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, in whose name we pray, Amen.

Thanks to SydneyAnglicans.net for publishing this in a post about advice to churches.

Joy

Joy may seem to be a strange idea when so many are feeling uncertainty and fear.

Incoming Principal of Mary Andrews College, Rev Dr Katy Smith, writes one of Church Society’s Lent devotions:

“Walking onto the veranda of our church building, I see Kay standing by the entrance door smiling with genuine interest as she talks to another beside her. I smile to both ladies as I head towards the door, but Kay stops me to ask for a brief update about a particular ministry matter. I see a brightness and keenness as she listens and then responds, ‘I’ll continue praying.’

There is nothing extraordinary about this meeting, except that as I walk into the hall, I find myself thankful for her, with tears in my eyes. …”

– Read it here.

There are other contributions from Australian friends (some already published, some still to come – including Claire Smith and Kanishka Raffel) listed on the Church Society’s ‘The Blessed Life’ page.

Love in the Time of Coronavirus — A guide for Christian leaders

“At this extraordinary moment, local leaders — people who lead groups of 10 to 1,000 people — have perhaps the greatest opportunity to shape culture in the United States that they have ever had. This is a guide for those of us who are Christian leaders at this moment. …

The recommendations that follow are the result of about a month’s worth of intensive study of the medical and public health information about COVID-19 that has been available to the public. I have no specialist-level insight, nor any non-public sources. But my calling as a journalist, which was my profession for 15 years, is to make complicated things clear, quickly. (The length of this essay shows just how complicated the current moment is.) …

This essay has four parts. Feel free to skip to the one that is most relevant for you:

  1. What is happening? An overview of the most important things for Christian leaders, anywhere in the United States, to know about SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19.
  2. What should we communicate? A list of the most helpful messages others can hear from us — and the most harmful messages as well.
  3. What decisions should we make? Recommendations for decisions about large gatherings, medium-size gatherings for Christian worship, and small groups meeting in households.
  4. What can we hope for? A few reflections on the genuine possibility that our decisions in the next few weeks could reshape the practice of Christian faith in our nation and, God being merciful, lead to a revival of the church of Jesus Christ in America.”

– While written for an American context, there is much that is helpful here.

Freedom from Fear

Here’s a word on the novel coronavirus outbreak from the American Anglican Council:

The Dutch Christian writer and Holocaust survivor, Corrie Ten Boom, said, “Worrying is carrying tomorrow’s load with today’s strength – carrying two days at once…Worrying doesn’t empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength.”

Dear friends, this speaks to the season we are now in, and it’s not just worry about Coronavirus. It’s political battles and elections, cultural shifts and revolutions, environmental fears, and economic downturns. This new disease was planted right in the middle of it all, and no matter how mild or severe it really is, the anxiety may prove more endemic than the virus itself. Fear can spread as fast as this new virus.

The leaders of the ACNA, along with medical professionals and government officials, have already advised wise caution. In addition to other practical advice, spiritual leaders tell us to pray, and medical leaders tell us to wash our hands. Together, they help stem the tide of both fear and sickness in very real ways. And while there are many sources of good advice, both for worshippers and non-worshippers, we want to contribute a word on dealing with this equally malevolent and fast-spreading disease of the soul – fear. As phone calls come in announcing school closures, emails flood our inboxes from church leaders and businesses offering advice, and the news reveals economic troubles, how do we push back on a growing sense of anxiety. Or, if you’re a bit more skeptical of it all, the gnawing doubt that perhaps, you need to be more worried, if you aren’t already?

First, it’s important to reiterate that prudence and fear are not the same thing. Wash your hands. Stay away from crowded public events. Do not unnecessarily interact with those who are sick. Submit to those in authority over you, both those in charge of your souls and those who govern your physical bodies. Pray for protection from this disease. And then, strive to put worry aside and keep on living your life, doing what you are able in order to answer the call of God: love Him with all your heart, and all your soul, and all your mind, and all your strength; and love your neighbor as yourself.

No doubt, fear will still creep in to try and move you from prudence to panic. A voice may whisper, “Did God really say, ‘Do not be afraid’?” What then?

We must do as the leaders of our churches have told us to do – pray. Not only for protection from the virus, but also for protection from fear, worry, and anxiety. Protection from the virus is momentary. Protection from fear, which implies strengthening our trust in God, has eternal value. Fear is the greater enemy and robs us of eternal benefits – peace, joy, contentment, and trust. Coronavirus, and any disease like it, robs us of what is temporary, whether school, jobs, or even our very lives. Conversely, the God who bids us to ‘Fear not’ lives beyond these things which, though good, should not distract us from the freedom He provides – freedom from the fear of losing what is temporary in order to gain the joy that comes from embracing that which is eternal.

So, this Lenten and Coronavirus season, let us pray not just for protection from physical disease but from the disease of worry about the future which robs us of our strength today. Let us take each day as it comes and do what we need to do to get through each day while still striving to love God and those around us. After all, school and public events may get canceled, but His commandments never do, and His promises endure forever. Let us avoid useless talk that leads to unnecessary worry and speculation based on information that comes from second-hand worriers and social media warriors. Instead, let us focus on trusting in the One who exists beyond these ever-changing and ever-perilous times that affect our dark age. Let us pray for what matters more deeply than our health – a trust in God which alone vanquishes fear.

Be present, O merciful God, and protect us through the hours
of this day, so that we, who are wearied by the changes and
chances of this life, may rest in your eternal changelessness;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Fruit of the Spirit: Peace

Church Society has been posting Lent reflections on the theme of the Fruit of the Spirit.

The latest reflection – on Peace – is by Paul Harrington from Trinity Church Adelaide.

Other posts here.

Dear Christian, when the Pandemic hits, This is our Time

“Dear Christian,

I’m guessing you’re starting to feel a little nervous.

The Coronavirus situation seems to be escalating day by day.

Yes, people are still in good spirits – and even making light of the situation (as seen by trending hashtags such as #ToiletPaperApocalypse). But the increasing numbers of empty rows at the supermarket is getting a little unnerving. …”

– At The Gospel Coalition Australia, Akos Balogh reminds Christians of the privilege we have of holding out the Word of Life to those around us – and how we can give hope to those who are afraid, and are wondering what’s going to happen.

Urgent Prayer needed for Kenya’s Targeted Christians

“Today we start looking at some specific situations of brothers and sisters in Christ who are being persecuted and threatened with even more persecution. We start with Kenya because of very disturbing news that has come out of northeastern Kenya. I would ask you to pray as you read, and throughout the weekend. Please share this news about what Christians in northern and eastern Kenya are facing with the rest of your church family, and hold this persecuted part of our global church family up for prayer in your Sunday services. …”

– An urgent prayer request from GAFCON.

Coronavirus precautions for churches updated

“Archbishop Glenn Davies has issued new recommendations for the Diocese of Sydney on procedures for ministry in the light of the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19).

The advice updates the initial circular to churches in late January. It covers Holy Communion, Children’s ministry and food service, as well as general advice for personal interactions at church. …”

– The latest from SydneyAnglicans.net.

Does the Bible produce bigots?

“Mardi Gras is upon us in Sydney. When thinking about the tension in society around the issue of same-sex attraction, it’s easy to wonder if you might actually be a bigot – because you’re a Christian. …”

– At The Australian Church Record, Ben George argues that the Bible produces not bigots, but forgiven rebels.

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