How to respond to a pandemic
We are certainly in the midst of unprecedented times. There are unknowns, there is fear, there is apathy, and there is uncertainty. In the midst of all of those thing we try to make sense of what is taking place…but we can’t. I did not write this to tell you that you shouldn’t follow the government guidelines…because you should. I wrote this to emphasize some things Jesus has to say in the book of Mark. “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength…You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Every night when we put our son to bed we take time to ask him a question or two out of The New City Catechism. One of the questions we have been working through lately is, “what does the law of God require?” The answer greatly parallels what a healthy response to the current COVID-19 pandemic should look like.
Loving the Lord God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength is the first great branch of Christian righteousness. You shall delight yourself in the Lord your God; seeking and finding all happiness in Him. You shall hear and fulfill His word, “My son, give me your heart.” And having given Him your inmost soul to reign there without a rival, you may well cry out in the fulness of your heart, “I will love You, O my Lord, my strength. The Lord is my strong rock; my Savior, my God, in whom l trust.” The second commandment, the second great branch of Christian righteousness, is closely and inseparably connected with the first: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love—embrace with the most tender goodwill, the most earnest and cordial affection, the most inflamed desires of preventing or removing all evil and bringing every possible good. Your neighbor—not only your friends, kinfolk, or acquaintances; not only the virtuous ones who regard you, who extend or return your kindness, but every person, not excluding those you have never seen or know by name; not excluding those you know to be evil and unthankful, those who despitefully use you. Even those you shall love as yourself with the same invariable thirst after their happiness. Use the same unwearied care to screen them from whatever might grieve or hurt either their soul or body. This is love.
— John Wesley
Two things we can take away from John Wesleys insight on the book of Mark that inform how we are to handle ourselves during this time of uncertainty:
1. Love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.
In the midst of COVID-19 there is one thing that is certain, God is on His throne. When facing uncertainty this should provide us with both confidence and hope. Hebrews 13:8 says “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Through every disaster, through every trial, through every circumstance, and through every pandemic, Jesus Christ remains the same.
The tendency in a time like this when routines are interrupted and life gets crazy is to force our faith to take a back seat. We begin to skip out of the spiritual disciplines we so desperately need. To be frank, it has been difficult to maintain a rhythm of being in God’s word and prayer during this season. Not because I am intentionally stepping away from those things but because my routine was blown up. I say that not to guilt you. We know that God’s grace is sufficient. BUT for our own spiritual health we have to battle the temptation to overlook our own spiritual care because of the craziness of life. We must love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. We must not allow anything other that Him to reign over our life. He should have no rival.
2. Love your neighbor as yourself.
When you look at what is happening all around the world it can be overwhelming. Things that were so normal a few weeks ago have vanished. Coffee shop visits, eating in restaurants, physically gathering for worship, all put on hold. In the midst of uncertainty there is great opportunity for the gospel. If you are a believer you have the responsibility to love your neighbor as yourself. One of the best ways to love your neighbor during this season is to simply care for them. Maybe they need food? Maybe they need prayer? Don’t miss the opportunity to love them in a very practical way. Pick up the phone and call those you know who may be hurting. Seek out ways too appropriately and safely meet their physical needs.
When things change by the minute, what better time to introduce them to something that will never change? Yes, meeting the physical needs of people is important and it is biblical. But do not miss the opportunity to share Jesus with them. Our health will run out, our food will run out…Jesus is eternal. In 1 Peter 1:24-25 we see “the grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.” If you or someone you know is looking for hope during this season…look no further than the hope of Jesus Christ. Point people to Christ and make much of Christ. Now is as good a time as any.
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ — by grace you have been saved . . .
— Ephesians 2:4-5
May we all be vessels in which God uses during this season to make much of Himself. Our methods may have changed with the COVID-19 pandemic, but our purpose remains the same.
If you are reading this and you want to know more about what it means to follow Jesus, hit me up. I would love to talk with you.