The Saints’ Attitude During Widespread Sickness

Christians should not be conformed even to the world’s anxiety and fears (Romans 12:2). We believe that God loves us (1 John 4:9). We believe He sent His Son to be our brother according to the flesh (John 1:14) and propitiation for our sins (1 John 4:10). We believe that having made sacrifice for our sins through his death, our Lord Jesus rose and ascended to sit at the Father’s right hand (Romans 8:34).

This changes everything. The eyes of faith see the world for what it is. No virus, stock market crash, or panicked media reactions can rob Christians of their hope that Jesus will give his victory and dominion over sin and death to all who believe in him (Romans 8:37).

When Christians get sick and are dying, they haven’t lost God’s blessing. Rather their confidence is strengthened (Romans 5:3). Sufferings teach that nothing in this world lasts. God’s love for us in Christ, Christians discover, will endure forever. For those who have been baptized into God’s name, he has promised resurrection and eternal life. This Word of promise will not fail. God is faithful.

When sickness and death test the foundation of Christian trust in God’s mercy, the Scriptures teach a four-fold attitude of faith, prayer, compassion, and mercy.

1. Faith – Trust in God’s Salvation, Kindness, and Fatherly Care – Psalm 28:7, Psalm 27:1, Psalm 37:40
2. Prayer – Seeking God’s Favor According to His Promises – Psalm 40:17-17, Psalm 38:21-22, Psalm 70:1, James 5:14-16
3. Compassion – Having A Heart Open to Your Neighbor – Matthew 14:14, Luke 10:33, 1 John 3:17, Colossians 3:12
4. Mercy – Loving Your Neighbor As You Love Yourself but for Christians we are to love our brethren as Christ loves us. It is a sacrificial love – 1 John 2:7-10, John 13:35, Psalm 41:1-3, Luke 6:36

As the reality of the COVID-19 virus continues to spread, the anxiety gripping the hearts of our neighbors can threaten to overcome our own. Rather than submitting ourselves to extreme measures for the sake of emergency, we should examine our hearts, be instructed by God’s Word, and fulfill our obligations to one another in love.

Everything that robs this world of comfort and ease reminds us to repent. This world will pass away. God’s kingdom will not.

Continue to seek God’s mercy in his promises. For close to two thousand years both the church and Christians have survived countless plagues, famines, persecutions, and the fall of civilizations. The Gospel needed not to be curtailed and sacrificed to survive past disasters.

Once our hearts have been set at peace, we can consider how to best serve our neighbors. There is a two-fold danger of recklessness on the one hand and debilitating fear on the other. The Christian avoids both by faith. Reckless behavior – not washing hands, intentionally exposing yourself unnecessarily to infection, etc. – tests God and makes light of the means by which the Lord intends us to protect ourselves and others. On the other hand, running to the store and clearing out the shelves with more than you would normally need robs your neighbor of the necessities he and his family need to get by.

No doubt, the severity of the epidemic may require the good works of the church toward the community in ways in which we haven’t predicted. As opportunities arise, we should welcome the chance to serve our neighbors bodies as well as their souls.

The Lord is testing our faith and love with the reality of pandemic. Thanks be to God! The Lord grant us his Holy Spirit so that our faith may not fail and we are drawn closer to our Lord by the Spirit through His Word.

SOLI DEO GLORIA!

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* Cover photo by Stevepb from Pixabay.com.

*This blog is based on an article that my wife shared to me. The original author of the article is Lutheran so the author has changed some of the wordings that reflects Lutheran beliefs. Nonetheless, this blog is worth sharing.

*Source: “A Christian Attitude in Times of Widespread Sickness and Rumor of Death.” Immanuel Lutheran, http://www.immanuelroswell.org/bible-studies-and-articles/2020/3/10/a-christian-attitude-in-times-of-widespread-sickness-and-rumor-of-death#:~:text=A%20Christian%20Attitude%20in%20Times%20of%20Widespread%20Sickness. Accessed 3 Sept. 2021.

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