Introduction to Christianity and COVID-19

The world has become very aware of COVID-19, in ways that most of us could not have imagined in February. Some of us are panicking. Many of us are consumed by a focus on the disease. Most of us are dealing with fear of one kind or another on a daily basis.

I have several Christian friends, and I see varying responses. Some are ignoring their faith, as though Christianity was something for happy times, when we felt secure and that God was blessing us. Some are struggling, trying to reconcile seemingly random pain and death with their understanding of how God works in the world - or simply giving up on faith altogether. A few are ignoring COVID-19, secure in their belief that God will miraculously protect them and their loved ones.
And some find their Christian faith helpful, a reasonable guide in times like these. It shouldn't surprise us; Christianity was born among people who knew what it was like to live in scary, uncertain times. For the first Christians - many living in poverty - the reality of pain and death was well known and unsurprising. They were used to the idea that they might suddenly lose their ability to travel. They were used to not knowing what they might have for their next meal, not knowing when they might run out of food, not knowing whether they would have work tomorrow. They were certainly used to the idea of living without toilet paper!
As I understand Christianity, it tells me that horrible things have happened in the past, they are happening right now, and they will happen in the future. This world is not fully what God wishes for us, although the potential - the "realm of God" - is among us and available to us.
Christianity tells me that often there is very little I can do about the horrible things that take place - in fact, sometimes I'm part of the problem. Christianity tells me that, in the midst of horrible things, God is with us, God feels with us, and God cares for us. And Christianity tells me that, even in the darkest times, there is beauty and joy to be found, and the darkness can not overcome it.
I think those of us who are Christians have a very clear job right now. Our job is not to spend all of our time and energy protecting ourselves against COVID-19; we cannot guarantee that we won't be infected. Our job is not to spend all of our time and energy into ensuring we don't pass the virus on to others; we cannot guarantee that, either. Rather, our job is the same as it's always been: to love God with all that we have, and to love our neighbors as ourselves.
For me, loving God means continuing to live my life, rather than be consumed by fear of the pandemic. It means continuing to look for beauty and joy day by day, and thanking God for the bountiful gifts surrounding us in creation. And, of course, it means loving myself and my neighbor:

• taking the simple steps being given by public health authorities on protecting ourselves and others
• cooperating with our community on slowing the spread of the disease, even when that is costly
• looking for opportunities to care for people next door and around the world, using the gifts that God has given me

If you've been ignoring your faith, or found your faith troubled by the events of today, or are wondering if Christianity has anything reasonable to offer in uncertain times, then I encourage you to join me in this blog as we explore a view of Christianity that takes two thousand years of Christian testimony seriously; one that takes the testimony of scientific communities seriously; one that takes the reality of war, and hunger, and disease seriously; one that takes the reality of beauty and the opportunities for joy seriously; one that takes Jesus seriously.