Tuesday 24 March 2020

COVID-19 and the Church Throughout History

Bruce Hindmarsh, who is the James M. Houston Professor of Spiritual Theology and Professor of the History of Christianity at Regent College, has written a very helpful historical and theological reflection about the Church in the face of disease and pandemic-like crises.  Bruce highlights some of the church's responses to such human health crises throughout its history - both the good and the (tragically) bad. 
St. Elizabeth of Hungary washes a sick man, from the altar of St. Elisabeth Cathedral in Kassa, 15th C. Source: Wikipedia
The article notes,
"This Christian instinct to care for those who suffer from communicable disease and all its devastating physical, social, and economic consequences runs deep in the history of the church."
Although the article is primarily historical reflection, it is instructive and so very pertinent for our moment. 

I also note his repeated 'for now', in reference to the social distancing and self-isolation policies currently being advised by health professionals and government agencies and (rightfully) adhered to by churches as an act of loving our neighbours.  However, there may come a time when most flee from helping the suffering and it would then be the church's calling to take up more active roles in caring for the sick and dying. 

Let us pray for a swift resolution to the current crisis, but let us also pray for the eyes of faith and the heart of courageous trust required of Christians should things continue to get worse. 
  
Here is the whole article.

Monday 23 March 2020

Encouragement

This morning in his email newsletter, Alan Jacobs included this encouragement in our strange times of COVID-19 in the form of a quote from Matthew Henry, the famous Bible commentator, written 300 years ago:
No, whatever our condition is, we must bring our minds to it, be thankful for its comforts, submissive to its crosses, and make the best of that which is.
It could be understood as a merely stoic sentiment, but having read a fair bit of Matthew Henry, I know it comes from a firm faith that God is sovereign, that he is good, and that he is working everything out for his glory and the good of his people.

Peace be with you, and with your spirit.