Covid may never go away, but . . .

 

READ Romans 13–16

Statistics say that since childhood diseases had almost disappeared, many parents did not have their children inoculated — and some of those diseases are showing up again, like scarlet fever, measles, mumps, and even polio. As for Covid, many agree that it will never go away, like the common cold.

Covid has been a confusing and divisive issue. Some still insist it is a hoax. Others are so afraid of it that they stay at home, have their groceries delivered, and wear masks on their own front step. Churches have divided over these extremes. Some point to this passage and say we should do whatever the government tells us:

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed. (Romans 13:1–7)

Others argue that the issue is not about bowing to the government but about caring for people by keeping the laws and mandates to prevent this virus from spreading:

Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments . . .  are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. (Romans 13:8–10)

Christians might claim that they put on masks and get vaccinated rather than be selfish about their own opinions. They might think they don’t need to do either but still “put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.” (Romans 13:14)

Many of the polarized views seem to be based more on personal opinion or rumors, yet the ‘facts’ have been polarized too. It is impossible to sort out the news.

I know one person who tells the fearful that he will not wear a mask, but if that is bothersome to them, he will leave rather than upset them. This is a bit like this instruction on eating:

Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding . . . The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin. (Romans 14:19–23)

These passages have a bottom line, an appeal to Christians to “watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught” which includes all of the above. Division is not from God. It is caused when we stop serving our Lord Christ and put focus on our own ‘I wants’ — not always visible to others; motives can be hidden. Yet I know that instead of pretending, my obedience should be obvious and I should be “wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil” waiting on the Lord to “crush Satan under my feet” for he is the liar and destroyer and uses events like Covid to divide people and pull us away from loving Jesus and each other. Covid may hang around for years, but the grace of God is forever and will instruct us to be One in the Spirit, filled with wisdom and love for others —  even those who vehemently oppose what the Lord God tells us to do.