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| The Coronavirus |
Introduction
God's peace to all who read this.
In the past several days the pastors of Immanuel have talked with pastors from all over the United States. We've had video conferences with pastors from the Fairmont Ministerial Alliance. We've communicated via email and Facebook with all of the LCMS pastors in our circuit. We've read and watched messages from our district president and our synodical president. We've read article after article. And, most importantly, we have prayed.
The Coronavirus pandemic is very serious and it's affecting everyone. There are many difficult and complicated questions that have arisen. The could boil down to one basic and over-arching one: as Christians how are we to navigate through all of this?
In what follows, I hope to outline a brief theological position on how Christians are to act during this pandemic and other crises in general. I'll look to Scripture, the Fathers, and Martin Luther for guidance. After meditating on all of this, we'll see that Christians during any pandemic are called to act out of love for God and neighbor, and that compassion and generosity must be practiced openly and courageously.
Scripture
There are several passages that come to mind during this crisis. I'll first cite ones that seem to urge believers to gather no matter the circumstances - even if governments tell urge them to stop proclaiming the Word.
First of all, there are the New Testament exhortations to gather as the Body of Christ, in person, in order to pray and celebrate the Eucharist.
Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching. - Hebrews 10:25 (BSB)
Some are asking the question, "Perhaps by our quarantines and our neglect of public meetings we are acting in an ungodly way?" The governor of Minnesota and the president of our nation urge all churches to close and all gatherings of more than 10 people to cease. Yet, we must ask if this is God-pleasing. Many argue that Christians should disobey. Even the Apostles disobeyed officials.
"But Peter and the apostles answered, 'We must obey God rather than men.' - Acts 5:29 (ESV)
There is a real struggle here: how can the Body of Christ continue to live and act as the Body, when her members are scattered at their homes in isolation and not celebrating the Lord's Supper together? Is it possible to remain the Church in such a situation? Finally, is the Church called to resist the government's commands to cease all meetings?
There are many other worries I could add. Churches' ministries might not be sustained over the course of weeks or months without regular offerings. Funerals might have to be postponed because of the danger of infection at wakes and funerals. Neighbors and family members may be sick and quarantined without safe ways for their friends and loved ones to visit them and help them. Parishioners, accustomed to no church gatherings for a long period of time, might conclude that church in the future is no longer necessary. In addition, we must be concerned with our members' incomes. We also have to consider how small businesses will be badly hurt.
All of these questions are necessary to ask, but there is a primary reality we must first accept. Right now the Church now has an opportunity to be the voice of hope, comfort, and reason during a complicated and shocking crisis. All the other questions will be answered in time, but firstly we must believe and behave as those who have hope.
Because of the threat of infection, especially among the "least of these," in-person gatherings of Christians must cease. The Coronavirus is most dangerous for the elderly and those we pre-existing medical conditions. It is also more easily transmitted than other viruses, and it can lie almost dormant in an infected person who will not display obvious symptoms until later. It's a sneaky, dangerous, devilish thing. Heeding our government's directives right now is the correct course of action because we have been given the commandment to love our neighbors.
The Church must be thinking about others right now and strive to limit the transmission of the virus. This most certainly does involve cancelling events and gatherings. This also involves listening to the experts' advice on the danger of this thing. We've got to think of the interests of others. The Apostle Paul writes,
The interests of others, in the Spring of 2020, involves national health and wellness. It involves at-risk people in our neighborhoods. It involves quarantines and many other precautions that may seem unnecessary or silly. Our love of God is demonstrated through our love of neighbor, and a significant part of that love right now is doing all we can, especially the simple things, to protect the elderly and the weak.
John also has much to say about Christian love and care of brothers and neighbors. This verse from his first letter brings me to my next point, as well, about generosity and hospitality during this crisis:
"But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth." - 1 John 3:17-18
The Coronavirus outbreak must now be an opportunity for us to deepen our love and care of one another. It is, in effect, an occasion to put others first before ourselves. Months ago most of us would not think of calling up an elderly parishioner simply to chat. Months ago none of us would consider that our next-door neighbor might need some bottled water. Months ago almost nobody was concerned that our churches might "run out of money" and not be able to support church workers and clergy.
But now?
Now generosity must be one of our chief focuses during the pandemic. Generous in love, in attention, in gifts, in help. Our Lord teaches,
The Apostle Peter writes,
We can continue to "meet" over the phone and internet while still loving our neighbor and protecting her or him. We can be available during this emergency to provide relief and assistance. We must strive to practice generosity and hospitality right now. We also must give more to our churches than we normally do during non-crises! This virus is displaying the very real danger of death, but Christ has overcome death. This is the Church's message and it must be louder, not quieter, right now.
In addition, this must also be a time for a renewed reading of the saints, a re-commitment to devotional time with family, and a restful time for scriptural meditation. Above all else, Christians must be praying continually.
I haven't gone into concrete specifics about how congregations can help their neighborhoods, but that will be different for each town or community. The exact ways that congregations can help in their respective communities has got to come from the people and their flexibility and creativity in the face of need and circumstance. Simple measures that come to mind include the distribution of food and water, or even of books now that libraries are closed. This and much more could be a part of Christian help during the viral winter that has come to America with COVID-19.
The Church Fathers
As the Church grew and spread over the ancient Roman world, many different writers and thinkers supported the Christian view of neighborly love, care, and generosity. We also must remember that these writers were operating in a very dangerous world. Plague, war, and persecution were commonplace.
Clement of Rome (? - 99 A.D.) was an early Christian leader who wrote one (or possibly two) letters that survived history. His first is an important one to the Church gathered in Corinth. He was a disciples of the Apostles and is only one generation removed from the New Testament eyewitnesses. He may be the "Clement" of Philippians 4:3.
In his letter, Clement outlines how Christians must act in the world: "So let our whole body be preserved in Christ Jesus, and let each put himself at the service of his neighbor as his particular spiritual gift dictates. Let the strong care for the weak, and let the weak respect the strong. Let the rich provide for the poor, and let the poor give thanks to God because he has given him one through whom his needs are met. Let the wise man show his wisdom not in words but in good deeds. Let the humble not draw attention to himself, but leave it to others to speak well of him."
Basil (330 - 379 A.D.) wrote a very interesting work called Ethics in which he states succinct, ethical commands to the Christian reader, and then cites the Scriptures in support. In this work there is much that is helpful, especially if we remember that, when Basil wrote in the 4th century, there were countless wars and epidemics. At 48.6 he writes, "[It] is necessary to set one's mind upon and be anxious about the needs of the brethren, according to the will of God." At 70.16 he writes, "[It] is necessary to care not only for those present but also for those absent and to do everything required by the need for edification."
Elsewhere he writes about the need for Christians to provide food and clothing as well as edification and forgiveness to all the brethren (i.e. other Christians) and to all neighbors.
John Chrysostom (c. 347 - 407 A.D.) was an archbishop of Constantinople and a mellifluous preacher and prose writer. He points out that Christians' good works are evidence of their salvation, and that they have the opportunity to show unbelievers how great and praiseworthy the Christian life is. He writes, "Let us show forth then a new kind of life. Let us make earth, heaven; let us hereby show the pagans of how great blessings they are deprived. For when they behold in us good conversation, they will look up on the very face of the kingdom of Heaven. Yea, when they see us as gentle, pure from wrath, from evil desire, from envy, from covetousness, rightly fulfilling all our other duties, they will say, 'If the Christians are become angels here, what will they be after their departure hence?"
There are many other Church Fathers and Mothers I could cite, but the above three will sufficiently demonstrate that Christians have always valued the service of neighbor above themselves especially during tough times. This love and attention, then, is a way to demonstrate to others how Christ truly transforms us.
A good recent podcast covering the Fathers' position on caring for the weak and poor can be found here: https://www.ancientfaith.com/podcasts/
Martin Luther
By now the reader has possibly seen the references to Martin Luther's letter "Whether One May Flee from a Deadly Plague" (1527). It's included in volume 43 of the 'American Edition' of Luther's works. Many LCMS blogs and websites have shared it this past week. It's a rather long piece, but I'll try to share some of the good Doctor's main points.
Luther commends the fearless person who remains in his city during a plague and accepts it as God's judgment. This of course is written before germ theory existed; Luther's point is not that it is good to spread plague to other people, including children and the elderly. Rather, it is that a fearlessness in the face of death is always praiseworthy. Likewise, public leaders should remain in their areas because God has entrusted certain people and places to them, and it would be sinful to abandon them during times of trouble. Yet, Luther also allows that it may be godly to flee a city during plague, provided that this is done in good faith and with a view to one's neighbor.
One focus throughout this letter is vocation. Certain people are called to serve, protect, and care for others, and to flee because of the plague would be to reject one's vocation. God calls all people into relationships, and it is a duty given by God to bless and love others. A recurring phrase in the letter is "our love and duty toward our neighbor." This determines how Christians must act during challenging times.
Luther's position is well summarized in his words, "If someone is sufficiently bold and strong in his faith, let him stay in God's name; that is certainly no sin. If someone is weak and fearful, let him flee in God's name as long as he does not neglect his duty toward his neighbor but has made adequate provision for others to provide nursing care."
He reiterates his point after citing numerous biblical examples of people remaining to assist the sick and helpless and others fleeing to save their lives. Either is acceptable if - and only if - that course of action is done in service to one's neighbor.
Lest anyone thinks that it is acceptable to ignore medical experts and governmental directives on public health, Luther writes, "If one makes no use of intelligence or medicine when he could do so without detriment to his neighbor, such a person injures his body and must beware lest he become a suicide in God's eyes." We should look at the willful rejection of quarantines or other CDC guidelines as a rejection of intelligence and medicine. A rejection that Luther obviously condemns. Again, this is a matter of vocation; our course of action must be in direct service to our neighbor and our society's good.
Throughout the letter Luther asks his reader to use human reason as well as trust in God's Word. I'll conclude this section with another good quote: "Moreover, he who has contracted the disease and recovered should keep away from others and not admit them into his presence unless it be necessary. Though one should aid him in his time of need, as previously pointed out, he in turn should, after his recovery, so act toward others that no one becomes unnecessarily endangered on his account and so cause another's death."
Dr Luther offers well-reasoned advice here that is centered on vocation and thus, the two great commandments (Mark 12:28-31). A link to the letter is included on this page: https://blogs.lcms.org/2020
Conclusion
I certainly haven't covered all the questions Christians will be asking during this Coronavirus pandemic. There are many more difficulties that need to be addressed. However, I have demonstrated that quarantines and other necessary measures can be seen as God-pleasing because they are defending our neighbors and slowing the spread of COVID-19.
We can look to Scripture, to the Fathers, and to Dr Luther to see the wisdom in helping others, in being generous, and in being safe. We can see how vocation is central to all of this. Christians are called to be faithful neighbors, friends, and citizens. We may have to put off certain things right now - even sacraments like the Lord's Supper - but this is not because we malign their importance or distrust their power. It is because we have our neighbors to care for.
We've got to be generous right now, and carry on the Ministry of the Word in creative ways.
- Rev. Adam Carnehl
All of these questions are necessary to ask, but there is a primary reality we must first accept. Right now the Church now has an opportunity to be the voice of hope, comfort, and reason during a complicated and shocking crisis. All the other questions will be answered in time, but firstly we must believe and behave as those who have hope.
Because of the threat of infection, especially among the "least of these," in-person gatherings of Christians must cease. The Coronavirus is most dangerous for the elderly and those we pre-existing medical conditions. It is also more easily transmitted than other viruses, and it can lie almost dormant in an infected person who will not display obvious symptoms until later. It's a sneaky, dangerous, devilish thing. Heeding our government's directives right now is the correct course of action because we have been given the commandment to love our neighbors.
The Church must be thinking about others right now and strive to limit the transmission of the virus. This most certainly does involve cancelling events and gatherings. This also involves listening to the experts' advice on the danger of this thing. We've got to think of the interests of others. The Apostle Paul writes,
"Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." - Philippians 2:4
John also has much to say about Christian love and care of brothers and neighbors. This verse from his first letter brings me to my next point, as well, about generosity and hospitality during this crisis:
"But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth." - 1 John 3:17-18
The Coronavirus outbreak must now be an opportunity for us to deepen our love and care of one another. It is, in effect, an occasion to put others first before ourselves. Months ago most of us would not think of calling up an elderly parishioner simply to chat. Months ago none of us would consider that our next-door neighbor might need some bottled water. Months ago almost nobody was concerned that our churches might "run out of money" and not be able to support church workers and clergy.
But now?
Now generosity must be one of our chief focuses during the pandemic. Generous in love, in attention, in gifts, in help. Our Lord teaches,
"Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” - Luke 6:38
The Apostle Peter writes,
"Show hospitality to one another without grumbling." - 1 Peter 4:9
We can continue to "meet" over the phone and internet while still loving our neighbor and protecting her or him. We can be available during this emergency to provide relief and assistance. We must strive to practice generosity and hospitality right now. We also must give more to our churches than we normally do during non-crises! This virus is displaying the very real danger of death, but Christ has overcome death. This is the Church's message and it must be louder, not quieter, right now.
In addition, this must also be a time for a renewed reading of the saints, a re-commitment to devotional time with family, and a restful time for scriptural meditation. Above all else, Christians must be praying continually.
I haven't gone into concrete specifics about how congregations can help their neighborhoods, but that will be different for each town or community. The exact ways that congregations can help in their respective communities has got to come from the people and their flexibility and creativity in the face of need and circumstance. Simple measures that come to mind include the distribution of food and water, or even of books now that libraries are closed. This and much more could be a part of Christian help during the viral winter that has come to America with COVID-19.
The Church Fathers
As the Church grew and spread over the ancient Roman world, many different writers and thinkers supported the Christian view of neighborly love, care, and generosity. We also must remember that these writers were operating in a very dangerous world. Plague, war, and persecution were commonplace.
Clement of Rome (? - 99 A.D.) was an early Christian leader who wrote one (or possibly two) letters that survived history. His first is an important one to the Church gathered in Corinth. He was a disciples of the Apostles and is only one generation removed from the New Testament eyewitnesses. He may be the "Clement" of Philippians 4:3.
In his letter, Clement outlines how Christians must act in the world: "So let our whole body be preserved in Christ Jesus, and let each put himself at the service of his neighbor as his particular spiritual gift dictates. Let the strong care for the weak, and let the weak respect the strong. Let the rich provide for the poor, and let the poor give thanks to God because he has given him one through whom his needs are met. Let the wise man show his wisdom not in words but in good deeds. Let the humble not draw attention to himself, but leave it to others to speak well of him."
Basil (330 - 379 A.D.) wrote a very interesting work called Ethics in which he states succinct, ethical commands to the Christian reader, and then cites the Scriptures in support. In this work there is much that is helpful, especially if we remember that, when Basil wrote in the 4th century, there were countless wars and epidemics. At 48.6 he writes, "[It] is necessary to set one's mind upon and be anxious about the needs of the brethren, according to the will of God." At 70.16 he writes, "[It] is necessary to care not only for those present but also for those absent and to do everything required by the need for edification."
Elsewhere he writes about the need for Christians to provide food and clothing as well as edification and forgiveness to all the brethren (i.e. other Christians) and to all neighbors.
John Chrysostom (c. 347 - 407 A.D.) was an archbishop of Constantinople and a mellifluous preacher and prose writer. He points out that Christians' good works are evidence of their salvation, and that they have the opportunity to show unbelievers how great and praiseworthy the Christian life is. He writes, "Let us show forth then a new kind of life. Let us make earth, heaven; let us hereby show the pagans of how great blessings they are deprived. For when they behold in us good conversation, they will look up on the very face of the kingdom of Heaven. Yea, when they see us as gentle, pure from wrath, from evil desire, from envy, from covetousness, rightly fulfilling all our other duties, they will say, 'If the Christians are become angels here, what will they be after their departure hence?"
There are many other Church Fathers and Mothers I could cite, but the above three will sufficiently demonstrate that Christians have always valued the service of neighbor above themselves especially during tough times. This love and attention, then, is a way to demonstrate to others how Christ truly transforms us.
A good recent podcast covering the Fathers' position on caring for the weak and poor can be found here: https://www.ancientfaith.com/podcasts/
Martin Luther
By now the reader has possibly seen the references to Martin Luther's letter "Whether One May Flee from a Deadly Plague" (1527). It's included in volume 43 of the 'American Edition' of Luther's works. Many LCMS blogs and websites have shared it this past week. It's a rather long piece, but I'll try to share some of the good Doctor's main points.
Luther commends the fearless person who remains in his city during a plague and accepts it as God's judgment. This of course is written before germ theory existed; Luther's point is not that it is good to spread plague to other people, including children and the elderly. Rather, it is that a fearlessness in the face of death is always praiseworthy. Likewise, public leaders should remain in their areas because God has entrusted certain people and places to them, and it would be sinful to abandon them during times of trouble. Yet, Luther also allows that it may be godly to flee a city during plague, provided that this is done in good faith and with a view to one's neighbor.
One focus throughout this letter is vocation. Certain people are called to serve, protect, and care for others, and to flee because of the plague would be to reject one's vocation. God calls all people into relationships, and it is a duty given by God to bless and love others. A recurring phrase in the letter is "our love and duty toward our neighbor." This determines how Christians must act during challenging times.
Luther's position is well summarized in his words, "If someone is sufficiently bold and strong in his faith, let him stay in God's name; that is certainly no sin. If someone is weak and fearful, let him flee in God's name as long as he does not neglect his duty toward his neighbor but has made adequate provision for others to provide nursing care."
He reiterates his point after citing numerous biblical examples of people remaining to assist the sick and helpless and others fleeing to save their lives. Either is acceptable if - and only if - that course of action is done in service to one's neighbor.
Lest anyone thinks that it is acceptable to ignore medical experts and governmental directives on public health, Luther writes, "If one makes no use of intelligence or medicine when he could do so without detriment to his neighbor, such a person injures his body and must beware lest he become a suicide in God's eyes." We should look at the willful rejection of quarantines or other CDC guidelines as a rejection of intelligence and medicine. A rejection that Luther obviously condemns. Again, this is a matter of vocation; our course of action must be in direct service to our neighbor and our society's good.
Throughout the letter Luther asks his reader to use human reason as well as trust in God's Word. I'll conclude this section with another good quote: "Moreover, he who has contracted the disease and recovered should keep away from others and not admit them into his presence unless it be necessary. Though one should aid him in his time of need, as previously pointed out, he in turn should, after his recovery, so act toward others that no one becomes unnecessarily endangered on his account and so cause another's death."
Dr Luther offers well-reasoned advice here that is centered on vocation and thus, the two great commandments (Mark 12:28-31). A link to the letter is included on this page: https://blogs.lcms.org/2020
Conclusion
I certainly haven't covered all the questions Christians will be asking during this Coronavirus pandemic. There are many more difficulties that need to be addressed. However, I have demonstrated that quarantines and other necessary measures can be seen as God-pleasing because they are defending our neighbors and slowing the spread of COVID-19.
We can look to Scripture, to the Fathers, and to Dr Luther to see the wisdom in helping others, in being generous, and in being safe. We can see how vocation is central to all of this. Christians are called to be faithful neighbors, friends, and citizens. We may have to put off certain things right now - even sacraments like the Lord's Supper - but this is not because we malign their importance or distrust their power. It is because we have our neighbors to care for.
We've got to be generous right now, and carry on the Ministry of the Word in creative ways.
- Rev. Adam Carnehl
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| A picture of Luther caring for Wittenberg citizens during the plague |
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