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Monday, July 6, 2020 7:02 AM

A Response to the Coronavirus from Pastor Steve Smothermon

Monday, July 6, 2020 7:02 AM
Monday, July 6, 2020 7:02 AM

A Response to the Coronavirus

How is a believer to respond to the coronavirus? Every day we hear more and more information about the newest coronavirus, COVID-19. One talking head floats a new theory; another pundit introduces his newest (and flawed) statistical analysis, completely disengaged from reality. And we—the apparently helpless public—are fed misinformation, incomplete data models, and political conspiracy theories fraught with holes.

The Government:

The information the government and the CDC dole out is uncertain and speculative at best. The most certain thing they deserve credit for is having created fear in the hearts and minds of individuals across the nation. Because officials cannot control this virus, they locked down America, depressed the economy, threw fuel on the fires of unemployment, and planted fear into millions. What is worse, they selectively introduce facts and target churches: in California, for example, it is now illegal to sing praise to God in church. Not only is it enough to scatter believers—by requiring them not to meet in the name of public health—we have lost our free speech and even our right to assemble peacefully. All of this is an affront to our privately-held, law-abiding, and God-fearing congregations who love America. It seems that to some, only you and I going to church. Borrowing the famous words of the apostle James, “my brothers and sisters this should not be!” (James 3:10 NIV)

The Ungodly:

In the very first Psalm of the Bible, the Psalmist reminds us of the dangers of following ungodly counsel:

   “Blessed is the one
    who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
    or sit in the company of mockers,
but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
    and who meditates on his law day and night.”

Social distancing is causing increased mental illness, many experts agree with me: depression, anxiety, and even suicide are demonstrably on the rise while the core of how we can fight those things off—even our very way of life—is crumbling. How can we help those in need without being there for them? Isolation is a punishment for the prisons, a remedy for the sick, and now the miracle “cure” for the healthy? This supposed “cure” for the virus has not worked. All the while we sheepishly give up our freedoms and civil liberties without any kind of a fight. It seems that there is one group of “Illuminati” deciding for millions who wins and who loses. And I assert that people’s lives are being destroyed in the name of public safety. In all of this, what is a Christian to do?

The Godly:

Ultimately our safety is not in the hands of the government. God is our source of help in time of need. God Himself tells us why we are secure:

“Never will I leave you;
    never will I forsake you.”

There it is, a promise directly from the mouth of God for believers. If you are concerned in these difficult times, let’s take hope from His Word and protest ungodly counsel and misinformation.

Romans 1:22 KJV — Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools. Psalm 46:1 KJV — God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Let’s rise up to be the light and hope of the world in as we believe and trust God.

Just a thought,

PSS

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