We live in unusual times. Our world has come to a screeching halt because of a small virus that has travelled around the world and is causing all kinds of chaos. Economies that should be humming have suddenly turned into a recession and possible depression. Gasoline prices are down, but who cares? We aren’t supposed to go anywhere, so our gas tanks don’t need to be filled as much. Churches which normally see an increase in attendance when a crisis happens instead are closing our doors and telling people to stay home. (Many of our churches are reminding their members that they can give money online, so it’s not all that bad.)
Things are crazy. In America, we should be enjoying (?) all the excitement that goes with a presidential election. Instead, there are no primaries scheduled and candidates are sitting at home talking to people over the internet. Not the same.
And, because we do these types of things, we are talking about coronavirus all over the internet and via spam email. So, allow me to add my two cents.
I’ve seen people posting things along the lines that God is greater than any tiny virus, that God has us in His care and protection, that God gives us victory. All this is true. It’s also true that the Bible tells us we need to use common sense and our heads to see us through things.
When Jesus was sending His disciples out to share the gospel to Judah, He gave them instructions. Some of the instructions where how to act and how to share the good news. But He also gave them practical advice, including this piece of instruction: “I am sending you out like sheep among the wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16). The next verse begins with, “Be on your guard against men.”
In the context, Jesus is telling the disciples (and us) that they are going into places and doing things that will resist them by any means necessary. Jesus wants His disciples to be above reproach—“innocent as doves”—but to also be aware of their surroundings and of those around them. In other words, use your heads in challenging circumstances.
How does this apply to our current situation? Well, I believe a pandemic of a potentially deadly disease qualifies as a challenging circumstance. Therefore, it seems prudent to use our heads and be shrewd as snakes in dealing with COVID-19.
If you are a person who insists your faith will see you through this and therefore don’t need to take any precautions, allow me to ask a series of questions.
When you prepare to cross the street, do you blithely walk out into oncoming traffic claiming God will protect you, or do you look both ways to make sure it’s safe to cross? If you’re in the latter, category, then take precautions regarding coronavirus.
Are you the kind of person who claims God will let you trample on snakes and scorpions (cf. Luke 10:19), so you ignore rattlesnakes’ warnings and step on scorpions with bare feet, or are you the kind of person who looks around when you hear the rattle or avoid scorpions as best as possible? If you’re the latter, then please take the time to properly wash your hands and practice social distancing.
My guess most of my brothers and sisters in Christ use reasonable precautions throughout our normal daily lives. It only stands to reason that we should take extra precautions during these extraordinary times.
As we have to adjust, let us walk with the grace God gives us, be strong in our faith that God is with us always and is watching over us, and be shrewd as snakes and innocent as doves. (Which means we shouldn’t hoard, either, but that’s another post.)
© 2020 Glynn Beaty