Amidst the chaos and craziness in the world today, it is worth examining ourselves and our reactions to the worldwide crisis that is the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the past weeks and upcoming days, we at Beautiful Gate are engaging in conversations about how best to practice smart, precautionary measures, while maintaining a balanced trust and reliance on God and His ways. Below is a personal reflection from our chaplain, Ntate Moruti Rehlohonolofalitsoe Mike, that he wrote last week. May it be a blessing to you at this time, and perhaps give you an alternate perspective in which to see the world’s current circumstances.
Today here in Lesotho, Africa, we face uncertain times just as much of the rest of the world around us does. We awoke to news that South Africa is closing 35 of its 53 border crossings, is revoking many visas, is closing their schools, is banning all gatherings over 100 people, and is imposing travel bans on a number of countries. As of right now Lesotho has not made it known what its stance is going to be on COVID-19, but being completely encompassed by South Africa, we naturally expect a similar response. Now many would be thrilled that their government is staying out of the decision-making process, that there has not been a run on toilet paper and that there are no travel restrictions currently in place. And yes, there is at the very least some part of me that finds satisfaction in the ‘freedom’ to make my own decisions. At the same time while we watch much of the rest of world suffer through a relatively unknown virus that has the real potential of death (especially for the elderly and those with reduced immune systems), reduced freedoms, restricted travel, no toilet paper, media induced fear and turmoil, as well as closures of churches, schools (forced homeschooling) and businesses…my heart breaks and my soul laments.
The bigger issue that I see from afar is actually how we as Christians are reacting/responding to this crisis. Are we facing it in a God honoring way? Are we reflecting His likeness, His image in a way that brings Him glory? Are we preaching the gospel to a lost and now dying generation/people group? Are we willingly giving up our rights to love our neighbors? Are we willing to lay down our lives to save those around us?
Church, we have been called to love our Lord and to love our neighbors. Unfortunately, much of what I see on social media and the news is anything other than what we are called to be doing. I saw an article today that stated that Italy has decided to not treat those over 80 years of age and that fall into certain health situations. Basically, stating that they need to spend their time and energy on those whom have the greatest chance of survival. At first, I was angered by the response, and truth be told I am still at the very least frustrated if not angry over the fact that this people group has been deemed less than worthy of life, but I also weep and mourn for them. At the same time I am unbelievably saddened that Christians are not standing up and giving up their ventilators, their medications, their hospital rooms, their doctors, their treatments to save another, that they aren’t loving their neighbors (Matthew 22:39), that they aren’t laying down their lives for another (John 15:13). One might try to respond by saying that they don’t believe that is what the Bible is saying or that that is not what God expects. My response would be: really? Because if we are Christ’s followers, we know where our inheritance is, we know where our home is, we know who our God is, we know where we are going when we die. So we have hope, we have the truth, we have Jesus as our Savior, and the most unloving thing that we can do is keep that to ourselves, take the care that others need (especially if they don’t know Jesus) and thereby sentence them to hell for eternity. Isn’t that the opposite of loving our neighbors? Isn’t that the opposite of laying down our lives for another? In fact, Jesus says in John 13:34-35, “A new commandment I give you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” The point that Jesus is making is that the gospel will go forth through our actions. Yes, this verse is primarily directed at Christ’s disciples loving one another but it is by no means exclusively directed at them only and we do well to be called/emulate His disciples. Another passage that conveys the same message is Romans 13: 8-11, “Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,’ and any other commandment, 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.” As well as, Luke 10:25-28, “And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, ‘Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?’ He said to him, ‘What is written in the Law? How do you read it?’ And he answered, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all of your heart and with all of your soul and with all of your strength and with all of your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.’ And he said to him, ‘You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.’”
So, church, let me ask you, can the world see that you are His disciple in how you are loving people during this threat of COVID-19? Can they see and feel your love/His love, your desire for their best and their well-being? Can they see His grace and mercy through what you post and your responses to people in the public forum? Can they see love through your willingness to give up your rights to gather, to go out to eat, to go shopping, to go to church or stay home to protect others? Can they? Can they really?
I am certain that if we are to emulate Christ, we will be seen in such a way that people will hear the gospel preached without us even having to say a word. By way of example, if/when I become infected with COVID-19 and you need the ventilator that I am on, the hospital bed that I am in, the doctor who is treating me, the medications that I am on…you can have them, because I know where I am going, and it is perfect. As Paul said, “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain (Philippians 1:21). This body is my temporary home, and I will gladly give up my rights for you, even to the breath in my lungs…especially if you are not a Christian and have not put your hope, your trust, your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. He lived the life that I could not and did not live, He died the death that I deserved, in order that I would have eternal life. These are measured reactions…this is what loving one another is about…not my life but yours!
