What Does the Coronavirus Outbreak Mean to Christians?

For all of us, the current pandemic is a time of great uncertainty. It is an unprec-edented change in our lifetime. We are concerned for those we love, for our own health, and for our wider society and economy. We will almost certainly all experience inconvenience and financial loss, at the very least. For some, this un-certainty is causing great anxiety. Having faith in God does not guarantee a trouble-free life. In fact, James in the bible warned us Christians sometime before AD 69 (or AD 62) that ‘consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds’ (James 1:2) James knew that we would encounter trials of many kinds. It is just a matter of time, not chance. We are no different from anyone else in the challenges that we face at the moment. However, there are some particular questions that many of us are asking at the moment. 

One of the questions that many Christians are wrestling with in these days is what it means truly to love our neighbour, as the Bible teaches us, in these new situations. We will need to practice the virtues of generosity, open-heartedness, and caring for the weak and vulnerable. We will need to be restrained in our grocery shopping, and thoughtful about those who do not have the wherewithal to stock their larders for the days ahead. If we truly know God we would love others more than ourselves because God is love (1 John 4:7-8, 11) and we would think of others. Consider other people’s needs and help them by dropping a bag of foods for those who are not able to shop themselves. Encourage those who are scared and at risk of losing their jobs by giving them a call instead of criticize. Pray for those who are sick and anxious over the phone. Be patient while waiting in the queue for shopping. If you hear gossip, distance yourself from it or change the subject. Above all,

“Treat others the same way you want them to treat you” (Luke 6:31). 

If we think of others first, we would also obey the government (commanded in Romans 13:1), and we would take seriously the measures that our leaders are urging us to adopt. We will need to remember that scrupulously observing these measures is not simply a matter of our own protection, but of helping to protect the most vulnerable in our society. 

We may lose sight of His calling amid Covid-19 outbreak but do not lose heart in Him. Remain in Him, and He will remain in you (John 15:4). A lamp does not attract to it-self; it is the light that attracts. There can be no shining without burning, and burning means sacrifice. It is when we are willing to let self go that Christ becomes all and in all (Matthew 16:24-25).