Christ, Christians & COVID-19: Where Do We Go from here?
Unlike Pearl Harbor, President Kennedy’s assassination, the Challenger explosion, or 9-11, the COVID-19 pandemic did not have a defining “Where were you when” moment. In December of 2019 we started hearing reports of a new virus in China, but like other news stories, it was emotionally discarded and soon believed to be long forgotten in the news cycle. But it wasn’t. More stories and reporting was highlighting the disease.
Three weeks into January 2020, the city of Wuhan went into lockdown. This was no rural town, but a metropolitan epi center boasting of modern technology and eleven million in population. I remember seeing workers in protective suits spraying the city streets down with disinfectant chemicals while citizens were in isolation/quarantine. By February the government, with amazing speed, built two new hospitals in Wuhan to treat the overflowing number of people suffering from this disease. By all accounts they were taking the virus seriously.
This was the defining moment for me. I began contemplating, “What if the virus comes to America?” “Will we go into lockdown” and “What will be the plan if we do?” Even more so, “How will the church adapt and respond?”
On March 15 Taylor and Lilly were riding home with me from worship services. Rumors were swirling that American cities were going into their own lockdown. Basketball tournaments had already been shelved with baseball’s season on the brink. I didn’t know what kind of travel bands might be activated. With Taylor’s husband deployed, I suggested she decide on one spot to live with us or her in-laws. She chose to live with us and did so for the next four months. And as it turned out March 15th was the last in-person worship service Sunshine experienced till June.
I wish the story ended in June, but it didn’t. As we came into fall, the number of COVID cases surged. Hospitals were overrun and the medical personnel on the front lines were physically and emotionally depleted if not traumatized by the death toll reaching a half a million people – and just in America alone. The constant isolation and general fear was wearing society out. On my own Homefront Cile was recovering from her own COVID infection; we canceled our yearly trip to Tennessee for Thanksgiving and Christmas. But with the New Year, the vaccine now in play and places of worship meeting for in-person services, hope is on the rise.
While God is the only one who holds tomorrow in his hands, we move forward with every step taken. Yes, we take him by the hand, but sometimes we’re stumbling around to find our way. Where we go from here is cautious, but filled with renewed faith.
First, we begin recognizing how vulnerable and fragile we really are, as Rich Mullins sings, “We are not as strong as we think we are.” COVID didn’t create dilemmas as much as it exasperated and exposed problems already present. For instance mental health issues were present before 2020, but the isolation and shutting down of needed social relationships created more room for anxiety to take hold. Marriages that ended this past year didn’t just happen to go bad. They were well on the divorce road before COVID hit. The anxiety and stress of a pandemic was the final straw. Peter looked really brave and strong as he stepped out of the boat, but all that was stripped from him when the waves took his focus off Jesus (Mt. 14:29-30).
Secondly, we have a deep desire to break the social distancing by re-engaging with each other. We miss the interaction of the in-person community. Still, getting together continues to feel like porcupines snuggling. Renewing relationships look good on paper, but acting it out still feels like a pipe dream. The political and ideological divide is widening as distrust on both sides of the isle escalates. Finger pointing and name calling is eroding the very foundation for which relationships are established and maintained. Paul warned the Galatians of “biting and devouring each other” and predicted destruction unless they began allowing the Spirit to control their lives (Gal.5:13-15, 22-26).
Finally, we’re called to display a sacrificial love for each other even though we’re very selfish at heart (1 Jn. 3:16-17). Jesus demonstrated his love for us by sacrificing himself for mankind. He gave up his rights, his positon and his power to die for us, calling on us to do the same (see 1 Pet. 2:21-23). Like preschooler children lining up for a drink at the drinking fountain, we demand to be first. We have to have it our way. Following 9-11 an elder commented to me that America was not in a position to sacrifice again like it did for the War Effort. He may have been right. We’re so consumed with our own personal rights, we fail to consider how our personal decisions are damaging and destroying those around us.
Where do we go from here? We take hold of Jesus and keep our eyes fastened on him, even with the waves crashing around us. As we’re nurturing our relationships, we allow Jesus to be the unifying factor, not our personal ideology. Then we follow him, emptying ourselves for each other. Such steps are far from easy, but when we arrive at our destination, it will be worth it.
Soli Deo Gloria!
(i.e., only God is glorified!)
Abscence of Fear
Begin with the End in Mind
Trees Walking Around: Refocusing Our Blurred Vision of Jesus
“I see people . . . walking around like trees (Mk. 8:24). The blind man’s commentary on his healing was revealing. Nowhere else in the gospel did Jesus come close to a failed moment when someone wanted healing than this blind man of Bethsaida. The act took two takes with the first attempt leaving his eyesight barely improved. Barely.
Much ink has been spilt on this miraculous story trying to explain Jesus’ apparent power failure. But Mark may be using this story (Mk. 8:22-26) as the front end of Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem with a second back end healing of a blind man as Jesus reaches Jericho (Mk. 10:46-52). In other words the two healing stories of blind men hold the journey to Jerusalem in place so that the first blind man can see but still lacks 20/20 vision. The second blind man is able to focus his sights clearly on Jesus. The blind man may very well be representative of the disciples as they grapple with their blurred vision of Jesus. If that is the case, our vision is often just as crippling.
As Mark records the journey to Jerusalem, three teachable moments surface where Jesus clarifies his mission, ministry and mandate. Each of these moments include a prediction of what will unfold when Jesus reaches Jerusalem, followed by the disciple failure to grasp his teaching, concluding with further instructions on discipleship.
The first teachable moment (Mk. 8:31-38) occurs immediately following Peter’s confession in Caesarea Philippi. For the first time in Mark’s gospel Jesus lays out what they will find in Jerusalem. Of course, Peter, refusing to believe that Jesus will suffer at the hands of the Jews, pulls him aside for a rebuke. Yes, Peter rebuked Jesus!? But Jesus will have none of his (so-called) wisdom. Instead, he presents a vision of discipleship that includes cross carrying and sacrificing one’s life.
The second teachable moment (Mk. 9:30-37) appears as they were passing through Galilee. Once again, Jesus wants the Twelve to enter Jerusalem eyes wide opened as he’ll be executed but will be raised three days later. Mark tells us they didn’t understand (v. 32). And in case we needed evidence of their misunderstanding, they began arguing over which disciple was the greatest one. While Jesus is sacrificing his life, the disciples are debating which of them is number one. Jesus refocuses their attention by exhorting them to seek the number two spot. Instead of pursuing their own self-interests, approach life as if you are the least of these. No power. No authority. No sway (Mk. 9:30-37).
The final teachable moment (Mk. 10:21-45) surfaces as they were nearing Jerusalem itself with Jesus leading the way. Here, he outlines the most detailed description of the events about to unfold. Betrayed. Condemned. Mocked. Flogged. Killed. Resurrected. But James and John pull Jesus aside for a personal request of sitting in the place of power and position at his coming kingdom. Not only did he rebuff their request, but he redirected their attention that leadership does not mean lordship. Leadership means servanthood. Jesus came not to be served, but to serve. Thus, we follow his leadership model.
When we latch onto following Jesus but fail to see what discipleship really is, then we’re like the blind man Jesus is trying to heal. We see, but it’s all a blur almost like trees walking around. We operate from a power position. We control people’s movements and actions. We use relationships for personal gain then cast them aside when they no longer aid our agenda. We fight for rights as long as we get something of value from it, and fight as long as it cost us nothing. We mock people we disagree with and demean others who won’t let us have our way. We claim to see Jesus clearer than anyone else, but if the truth be known, we’re no better than the blind man standing by the side of the road needing to be silenced by those hearing our voices.
In order to see Jesus with clarity in vision, discipleship must be defined on his terms not ours. Following him means we’re willing to bear the burden while carrying our cross. We stop seeking to be first as we desire to embrace humility in owning the joy of being number two. Finally, we begin using our position and power to serve the people around us. Once our eyes are checked under these criteria, we’ll begin to see Jesus with clarity. We’ll begin seeing each other with clarity.
Soli Deo Gloria!
(i.e., only God is glorified!)
A Clearer Vision
Focus on G O D !
FINAL Verdict
The final judgment theme is a strong motif in Scripture. The Hebrews writer says that everyone dies once, then faces the judgment (Heb. 9:27). Paul, while addressing the philosophers at the Areopagus, seems to echo the same sentiment (Act. 17:31). Jesus says that we’ll all stand at the judgment to defend the words we’ve spoken (Mt. 12:36). Once again, Paul appears to agree in that we’ll receive what is due us depending on what we’ve done in the body (2 Cor. 5:10). What appears to be true is that at the end of time a reckoning will take place and all humanity will be held in account for their words and actions. What that final judgment scene actually looks like is less defined. Even still, it doesn’t mean it’s an empty threat.
Two passages, both found in Matthew’s gospel, offer a concrete look at the final judgment scene. Mind you, both scenes are scripted in allegory or parabolic language. How they look is not as important as to what unfolds.
The first scene appears at the end of the Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Mt. 7:21-23). Jesus had just warned about coming false prophets and that they’ll appear as wolves in sheep’s clothing (v. 15-20). How you know if they are false or true prophets is by noting the kind of fruit they bear (v. 16a). Jesus does not define what he means by fruit for he allows us to understand it as we grapple with his sermon (Mt. 5-7). Following the judgment scene, he concludes his sermon with the wise and foolish builders (v. 24-27). The wise person listens to the words of Jesus, specifically in the Sermon on the Mount, and puts them into practice, where the foolish person ignores Jesus’ words.
Between these two sections is the judgment scene. Jesus uses this final verdict moment to bridge the thought between the false prophets of verses 21-23 with the foolish builders in verses 24-27. So, just because one says, “Lord, Lord,” does not mean Jesus will embrace or acknowledge them or their confession. Only those doing God’s will, as laid out in the Sermon, will recieve Jesus’ blessing. It’s safe to conjecture that Jesus intends for us to understand God’s will to be implementing the message of his sermon from Matthew 5-7 so that our righteousness is greater than the Pharisees and the teachers of the law (5:20). In a twist of irony, those under judgment claimed to prophesy in Jesus’s name, drive out demons and perform miracles (v. 22). Assuming they were telling the truth, the Spirit was alive and working through their ministries, powerfully. Yet, because they ignored the very teachings they were promoting, Jesus ignored them, calling them “evil doers” (v. 23).
The second judgment scene appears at the end of Jesus’ fifth and final sermon (Mt. 23-25) and just prior to the Passion Week. Here he’s clearly speaking in parabolic terms as he has told two end times-like stories (10 Virgins in 25:1-13 and the Talents in 25:14-30). The third end time-like story describes judgment day as dividing the people into two groups, like a shepherd divides the sheep from the goats (25:31-46). The sheep, those on his right and designated as “righteous” (v. 34, 37) were willing to feed Jesus when he was hungry, provide water when he was thirsty, opened their homes to him when he was homeless, clothed him when he was naked, nursed Jesus back to health when he was sick and visited Jesus when he was in prison (v. 35-36). The goats, those on his left and designated as “cursed” (v. 41) refused to act when they saw Jesus in need. In a sense of irony, neither group “recognized” Jesus as someone in need. But Jesus identifies with those in need so much that he says, “. . . whatever you did (or did not do) for the least of these . . . you did (or did not) do for me” (vs. 40, 45).
While Scripture is clear that a final verdict is a reality, certain aspect of the judgment day is still left unclear. Watching our words and defending our actions certainly play a role, and all of us need to be a little more considerate with our words and actions. However, the two scenes Jesus describes are telling. First, we’re called to live a faith greater than the games religious people play. Constantly stepping back into the Sermon on the Mount reorients our lives to the core gospel. Secondly, generously helping anyone in need is the same as if we’re helping Jesus. Our job is not to question the “worthiness” of the one in need, but our job is to treat them as if Jesus was in need. When we do, we’ll find ourselves in safe territory for the final verdict.
Soli Deo Gloria!
(i.e., only God is glorified!)