To the Editor of the Sword and the Shield:

Thank you so much for the article about Pestilence which appeared in the second issue of your publication. It was both relevant and timely to much of what is going on in the church today. There is, however, a bit more to be said on this subject. It is time to re-evaluate not only the preaching of the Word, but also how the church is managing her normal, day-to-day activities with respect to the coronavirus. Although there is no question that we have to deal with the problem of this new virus, it is also true that we are no stranger to viruses and viral infection or transmission in general…there have always been viruses, and they have always been deadly to some. Reality is that people die of viruses every day. So, the question that has to be asked with respect to SARS CoV-2 or to the disease which comes from it, COVID 19, is: DO WE BELIEVE OUR CONFESSIONS OR NOT? It certainly seems to be the case that we have just let the world and the media literally control us and make us live constantly in a state of fear. This is true of individual persons, but of much greater concern, it is true of the church body.

Here is a challenge for every confessing believer: search through the sacred Scriptures and find how many times the Christian is instructed…yea, commanded… not to fear. How many times do the phrases “fear not” or “do not be afraid” appear in the Bible? If you are really going to count, you will need to carve out some time for this task because the number is high. In fact, 2 Timothy 1:7 tells us that God has not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Really let those words sink into your soul. Meditate on them. The Bible contrasts Fear with Sanity. So why are we adopting this worldly idea that we should change the way we worship and fellowship with one another simply because the government or the media tell us that there is something of which we should be afraid? Even the world should know this virus is not to be feared. The CDC tells us that the death rate for COVID 19 is .26%…not of the population…but of the infected. We have never behaved this way about a virus…EVER.

Still, the danger of COVID 19 is not a fabrication. Admittedly, there is a reason for concern. Some are more susceptible to infection than others and caring for those vulnerable brother and sisters is of the utmost importance. But does conceding this fact somehow supersede or undermine the principle that God does actually control our lives? These words are not some vague abstract notion that we speak with our lips. Our days are literally numbered. The date of every one of God’s precious children is already set…irrevocably. Until our specific day arrives we are bulletproof and nothing can take our physical lives. And when that day does come, no power on this earth can save our physical lives.

This is not to suggest that we throw caution and common sense to the wind as though the virus does not exist. Rather, it is a plea that we return to the normal functioning of our church life while taking reasonable precautions to respect the neighbor. Wash our hands, remain home if we are sick, be more cautious if you are in a vulnerable category. But is it possible that we are currently handling this situation backwards? Isn’t it completely upside down to quarantine the healthy to protect the sick? It is one thing to be respectful of the vulnerable and those who are more concerned. But somehow, because the world has instructed us to be afraid, we are suddenly changing everything to accommodate those people to the detriment of everything and everyone else in the church?

It is well past time to return to the normal life of the church. Take common sense measures to be respectful of the most vulnerable, and get back to the business of living our lives in the body of Christ fully to the glory of God. Continue our worship services, our Bible studies, our summer discussion groups, nurseries for the children, church picnics and so on and let those who cannot or should not attend stay away. Find ways to minister to those dear ones. Don’t cancel conventions, just let those who are concerned stay home. Don’t do away with church functions and the communion of the saints, just let those who are concerned stay away. Fellowship, discuss, commune with one another in the body of Christ. I implore my fellow Christians and especially the church leaders to think carefully about what God calls us to do. And for the sake of all that is holy, PLEASE stop framing those who are not afraid as people who are selfish and do not love their neighbor. Nothing could be further from the truth. We just want to walk before God and stand firmly on our confessions rather than hiding in our homes and thinking that we somehow have more control than our sovereign saviour. Honestly, at what point do we stop letting the world tell us to be afraid when no less of a person than God, Himself, has commanded us not to be?

For God’s Glory,