“Between 250 and 270 A.D. a terrible plague, believed to be measles or smallpox, devastated the Roman Empire. Christians died from the plague like everybody else and, unlike everybody else, they cared for the victims of the plague, including their pagan neighbors. This wasn't new—Christians had done the same thing during the Antonine Plague a century earlier. As Rodney Stark wrote in ‘The Rise of Christianity,’ Christians stayed in the afflicted cities when pagan leaders, including physicians, fled.” 

This excerpt is from a 2014 article titled “Running Toward the Plague: Christians and Ebola” written by Eric Metaxas. The article focused on Stephen Rowden, a volunteer with Doctors Without Borders, who worked in helping bury ebola victims and risked exposing himself to the disease. “Rowden's experience prompted Siegel to ask him if he was a religious man, to which Rowden replied, ‘I am. Yes, I'm a practicing Christian.’ When Siegel then asked whether what he saw tested his faith, Rowden said that ‘No, I got great strength from my faith and the support of my family.’ Nearly eighteen centuries after the Plague of Cyprian, Christianity still prompts people to run towards the plague when virtually everyone else is running away.” 

So how are we running toward the coronavirus? Through new restrictions throughout our country, it’s getting harder and harder to, as Paul said, “not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near” (Hebrews 10:25). Many churches were closed throughout the country this past weekend, and instead of meeting in person, thousands gathered around computer screens to do church. Throughout history we have faced worse threats than this virus and, every time, the message of Christianity continued to be spread. Even in a time of rules, laws, and regulations, the message of Christianity can be spread through online church services. This viral outbreak stopped the physical meeting of the church, but it didn’t stop our worship of Christ and the message of the gospel spreading throughout the country. One story I heard just last night was that a man whose wife had refused to go to church with him, watched his online church service yesterday. This time of viral outbreak is an opportunity for Christians to show the world where our hope is, and it may give new opportunities to people who have refused to step into a church. We can look different in this tragedy, and like Christians have for centuries, we can respond to this outbreak with Biblical obedience, not fear.

“Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day. Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday. Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you.” (Psalm 91:1-7, emphasis added)

“Jesus called his twelve disciples together and gave them authority to cast out evil spirits and to heal every kind of disease and illness.” (Matthew 10:1)

“The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.” (Romans 8:11)

When push comes to shove, when the chips are down, when the virus is spreading through your city, do you believe God’s promises? Do you have the kind of faith our brothers and sisters did before us, those who cared for the sick regardless of whether or not they would catch the disease too? They loved their neighbors as they loved themselves, thinking of others first, and that love reflected Christ and pointed non-believers to Him. We’ve talked a lot recently about our actions speaking louder than our words; this viral outbreak gives us a chance to act and, in doing so, point others to Christ.

What if this coronavirus is a storm on the lake and Jesus is sleeping down below? Are we panicking as the disciples did, shouting out at the waves in fear of drowning? I wonder if Jesus is looking at our reaction to this virus and saying as He did to the disciples in Matthew 8:26, ”’Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!’ Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm.” According to the World Health Organization, 80% of those who are infected with the new coronavirus (COVID-19) will have cases involving mild symptoms. The most vulnerable to this disease are the elderly. Please love your neighbor and check on those around you who could be among the most affected. Jesus will stand up and rebuke this storm and a great calm will come. We need only be faithful, not fearful. 

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

—Redeemed