From the Pulpit

The coronavirus and the christian

People are panicking. Everything is canceled. No one knows how long the coronavirus will last. Some have projected weeks, others several months, and a few have feared it will last over a year.
People are worried about their health and paychecks. The government has sought to give guidelines to stop the spread of the illness to protect America from experiencing the same staggering losses as Italy. How should a Christian respond to such turbulent times?
An examination of church history informs us this is not the first time God’s people have dealt with a worldwide plague. Eusebius, the father of Church history, writes around 325 A.D. about the history of the church from the days of Jesus until his own time.
Eusebius quotes from a letter written by Dionysius of Alexandria (c.190-265) who described how a plague broke out in Egypt and spread across the Roman Empire for the next 15 years, claiming thousands of lives. Dionysius notes how Christians and non-Christians (which he calls “heathens”) responded to the situation.
Most of our brethren showed love and loyalty in not sparing themselves while helping one another, tending to the sick with no thought of danger and gladly departing this life with them after becoming infected with their disease. Many who nursed others to health died themselves, thus transferring their death to themselves. The best of our own brothers lost their lives in this way - some presbyters, deacons and laymen - a form of death based on strong faith and piety that seems in every way equal to martyrdom.
They would also take up the bodies of the saints, close their eyes, shut their mouths and carry them on their shoulders. They would embrace them, wash and dress them in burial clothes and soon receive the same services themselves.
The “heathen” was the exact opposite. They pushed away those with the first signs of the disease and fled from their dearest. They even threw those who were half-dead into the roads and treated unburied corpses like refuse in hopes of avoiding the plague of death, which for all their efforts, was difficult to escape (Eusebius 7.22.7-10).
During difficult times, Christians have an opportunity to stand out as salt and light to others (Matt. 5:13-16). While it might be difficult to alter our meeting format, meet outdoors, or try to live-stream our services to comply with the CDC suggestions, let us not forget to be the good Samaritan (Lk. 10:25-37) amid this stressful situation.
God bless you all as we endure this virus.