A Christian's Response to Covid-19
Notes
Transcript
I Want to Start Off by Saying:
I Hope this Lesson Falls on Your Ears in a Gracious Way
This Lesson is Not Aimed at Any Specific Person but to All of Us
I’m Presenting this Lesson because I Believe There are Several Things Concerning Covid-19 and the Church that Need to be Addressed
2020 has Been a Tough Year
Covid-19 has Spread Across the Entire World, Infecting 64 Million People
Overton County has had Over 1,500 Cases and 35 Deaths
This has Caused a Great Amount of Fear and Negativity for People Around the World
People have Responded to this Virus in a Number of Different Ways
Some Positive & Some Negative
Some Take Extreme Caution & Some Take No Caution at All
Some Argue for Masks and Regulations & Some Argue Against Masks and Regulations
Some Believe this is a Sign of the End Times
“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.
“For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.
There are No Signs of the End Times in the Bible
Regardless of How the World is Responding to Covid-19, I Want to Ask the Question...
How Should a Christian Respond to Covid-19?
1. Speak With Grace
1. Speak With Grace
Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.
A Christians Goal Should Always be to Speak with Grace and Love
We All have Opinions on Masks, Regulations, Levels of Caution One Should Take, etc.
And it’s Okay to Discuss These Things if that’s Your Prerogative
But Arguing Our Opinions isn’t Worth Losing Our Christian Influence
It is Our Mission to Show Jesus Christ to Everyone We are Around
Getting into Heated Discussions Doesn’t Do that
Do all things without grumbling or disputing;
so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world,
There’s Enough Darkness in the World
Christians are to be Light
2. Be Submissive
2. Be Submissive
Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.
Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.
We are to Live Under and Obey Our Governing Authorities
To Not Do so is to Disobey God
Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed,
Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority,
or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right.
For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men.
Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God.
Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.
We are to Submit to Every Human Institution for Our Lord’s Sake
It Glorifies Him When We Do Such
We are to Use Our Freedom to Choose the Life of a Servant
That’s Exactly What Jesus Did, and it’s What He Expects of Us
Throughout the Bible We See the Principles and Outright Commands from God to be Submissive to Our Governing Authorities
It’s Our Duty to be Obedient Peacemakers
The Only Time We are Called to be Rebels is When Our Governing Authorities are Seeking to Prevent Us from Obeying God
This is a Major Theme in the First 6 Chapters of Daniel
People Who Always Do What They’re Told are Oftentimes Called “Sheep”
"Sheep” has Become the By-Word for People Who Don’t Think for Themselves
It’s Meant to be an Insult, but Sheep is Exactly What Jesus Calls His Followers
And as His Sheep, We are to be Obedient to Him and Those Who have Authority Over Us
3. Don’t Use Covid as an Excuse
3. Don’t Use Covid as an Excuse
I Understand the Concern that Many People have
This Virus can be Very Serious
Some Make it Through just Fine and Others Lose Their Lives
I Understand Why People in the “High Risk” Category Want to Take Extra Precautions
But We Can’t Allow this Virus to Keep Us from Doing Our Christian Duties
The Early Church Faced Dangerous Threats
Whenever Persecution Against the Church was on the Rise, the Christians Took Precautions
Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death.
And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.
Some devout men buried Stephen, and made loud lamentation over him.
But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison.
Therefore, those who had been scattered went about preaching the word.
The Early Church Fled for Their Lives, but They Never Stopped Teaching the Good News
Maybe We Can’t Do Some of the Things that We Used to Do, but There’s Still Plenty of Work to be Done
We Can’t Allow Ourselves to Use Covid as an Excuse to Stop Serving
We Started Live-Streaming Our Services
This Allows Us to Reach Many More People Through the Internet
It Also Allows Those Who Can’t Attend Worship (Work, Sickness, Traveling, etc.) to be Able to be a Part of Our Worship in a Small, Still Disconnected Way
This is a Great Service for Many People
But if We Aren’t Careful, it can Become an Excuse to Stay Home During Assembly Times
This Service is Meant to Aid Those Who Can’t be Here, Not to Help Those Who Choose to Not be Here
Also, I Suspect There are Some Who Frequently Go to Ballgames, Non-Essential Shopping, Vacations, Restaurants, Public Places
But Haven’t Attended Worship with Their Christian Family in Months
They May be Using Covid as an Excuse
I Believe There is a Difference between “Missing” Church and “Forsaking” Church
I Know There are Several Brothers and Sisters Who are Desperately Missing Being Here
But There May be Others Who could be Here but have Chosen Not to be
Not Out of Caution Against the Virus, but Because Covid Makes for a Good Excuse
I Hope that’s Not the Case
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;
and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,
not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
We are Supposed to Worship Together, Encourage One Another, and Help One Another
If We Don’t Assemble Together, that Can’t Happen
I’ve Heard Several People Tell Me, “There will be some people who will never come back to church after this.”
I Didn’t Want to Believe that
But to Some People, Assembling for Worship is More of a Habit than a Commitment
Once Old Habits are Broken and New Habits are Formed, It’s Hard to Go Back
Don’t Use Covid as an Excuse to Forsake Worship to God and Encouragement to Your Family
4. Don’t Live in Fear
4. Don’t Live in Fear
I’ve Heard Many People Tell Me They are Scared to Death of this Virus
I Understand Where They are Coming from
Knowing Something Invisible is Out There that could Possibly Kill You is Troublesome
But it is so Sad to Know so Many Christians are Living in Absolute Fear Every Day
Christians Aren’t Supposed to Live in Fear
Christians are Supposed to be People Who are Full of Faith, Hope, and Love
Faith = Trust in God
Hope = Expectation of Something Greater Coming
Love = The Very Thing that Caused God to Give His Son for Us so that We Don’t have to Live in Fear
Death is a Reality but a Temporary Reality for Christians
Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,
and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.
Jesus Defeated Death so We would No Longer have to Live in Fear of it
If We Truly have Faith that Jesus is Going to Resurrect Us Back to Life When He Returns, then We will Not Waste Our Lives Fearing Something that can Only Kill Our Bodies for a Temporary Moment
Fear is a Terrible Apologetic
Why Would Anyone Want to Join a Religion that Promises Everlasting Life After Death, if Those Who Belong to that Religion are Living in Constant Fear of Dying?
I’m Not Trying to Guilt-Trip Anyone into Putting Their Lives at Risk
I’m Not Trying to Drag People Out into the Public to be Coughed and Sneezed on
But if Jesus were to Return Today, Would We Rather Him Find Us Faithfully Serving Him or Hiding Fearfully in the Safety of Our Homes?
What Should Be a Christian’s Response to Covid-19?
What Should Be a Christian’s Response to Covid-19?
Speak with Grace
Be Submissive
Don’t Use Covid as an Excuse
Don’t Live in Fear
If the World Could See Christians Responding in this Way, I Believe God would be Glorified