As the nation reopens during the COVID-19 era, there are two things to keep in mind: responsibility and common sense. Having been on several calls with those planning how to return to work, open business and at the same time keep people safe, these two acts of character keep resonating. We need to be responsible and we need to use common sense. It’s like the commercials say: keep your distance, wash your hands, don’t touch your face, try to avoid large crowds. In all of this, our responsibility to one another is not to be a spy and turn in everyone we think isn’t complying, but rather to control what we can control—which is ourselves and our response as Christians.
One of the main observations that I have made during this time of lockdown is the Christian response. Some have done very well at being the salt and light to those who are fearful. Many have shown Christ through their prayers and actions. There have been many gallant and courageous men and women showing the love of Christ on the very front lines of this virus. They have taken seriously the exhortation of Christ in Matthew 25:35-40 of caring for the sick, providing food and water, and clothing the naked as, “Inasmuch you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me.” I have witnessed tremendous acts of kindness and courage, love, care and compassion during this time.
Another observation of the Christian response has not been as encouraging. So much time and energy has been spent on bad discernment. The fascination with conspiracy theories and fake news, even when proven wrong, Christians are passing them on as if they were truth, without checking the credibility. If they want to believe it, it must be true. During a crisis it is so easy to get wrapped around the axel of deception. Everyone is looking for answers. And in this day and age, people are looking for someone to blame. Christ said in Matthew 24 that there would be wars, rumors of wars, famines, and pestilences and earthquakes, “See that you be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.” When the world is looking for answers, Christians already have the answer in Christ.
Think of how much more pleasing to Christ it is to focus on bringing the light of the gospel to the world in word and deed during crisis, than passing along the darkness of undocumented conspiracy theories. As Christians, what is our responsibility and common sense of duty? Are we to have our toes dipping in the spring of living water and the rest of our feet in the burning coals of darkness? As we return from this virus episode, whether natural or planned, let us focus on the task at hand. For the time may be short, and the lost are many. Romans 13:14 says to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.” Our responsibility is to Christ, not the works of darkness. Let us be responsible and use common sense as prophetic people, both in our walk with Christ and how we walk here on earth.
