Cruising through social media, I found a post by a local gentleman:
Can anyone find in the Bible (New Testament please) find anything that supports the “Herd Immunity” (survival of the fittest) thinking that tries to justify ignoring attempts to control the spread of this virus?
Prompted by his statement/question, my best answer. But first, do you believe the Bible is the source of truth? Are you asking this question because you truly want truth? Or are you asking because you want reinforcement of your own beliefs?
There has been Bible passage bouncing around in my mind for a few months now. I am going to take a roundabout way of getting to the passage. But first, let us analyze the question.
I interpret his high-level question (particularly with the request to only reference the New Testament): Where is Jesus in all of this?
Truth – If you do not see Jesus, you need to get with the right people. If your pastor and your core group is more concerned about non-Biblical identity and pleasing the world than shepherding you to where Jesus is in all this, you need to move on. Your soul is at stake.
I will throw some Bible verses your way:
Genesis 1:27 –“So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” – I would ask you if you believe this. Do you believe that God created us in His image? I believe this. We have been on this Earth for thousands of years. God also created our body with a means to fight this virus.
Deuteronomy 31:8 – ““It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” I believe this. While the world has been up in arms, I have seen, more and more, Christians focus on loving their neighbors (even their enemies) and trusting God. It has been beautiful and has Jesus all over it.
Philippians 4:6 – “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
2 Timothy 1:7 – “for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” The Holy Spirit is a very real entity, eliminating fear and providing love and self control.
These are not just words. Exercising your Faith produces this trust, this love, this lack of fear, and this self control. The Holy Spirit provides this.
I have <obviously> violated the request to keep it to New Testament. I simply do not agree that only the NT is relevant here. Jesus can truly be found in all of the Old Testament. One particular passage from the Old Testament provides fantastic insight.
~700 BC, Judah (Jerusalem) was under attack from Israel (the northern Jewish kingdom) and Syria. It was a very rough time. The prophet Isaiah wrote during this time (Isaiah 8:11-15):
11 For the Lord spoke thus to me with his strong hand upon me, and warned me not to walk in the way of this people, saying: 12 “Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. 13 But the Lord of hosts, him you shall honor as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. 14 And he will become a sanctuary and a stone of offense and a rock of stumbling to both houses of Israel, a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 15 And many shall stumble on it. They shall fall and be broken; they shall be snared and taken.”
I view COVID as the conspiracy.
- Do not walk in the way of the people
- All that this people calls conspiracy
- Do not fear what they fear, or be in dread
- But the Lord of hosts, him you shall honor as holy
- Let him (the Lord) be your fear (respect)
- And he will become a sanctuary and a stone of offense
- And a stumbling block (both houses of Israel -Judah and Israel – govt/leadership)
- And a snare
- And many shall stumble on it
- They shall fall and be broken, snared and taken
Mic Drop.
Let’s make an honest assessment here…. while COVID has been horrible, the fear of COVID has been exponentially worse; and all the measures (vaccines, masks, lockdowns) have not even put a dent in it. COVID is simply going to run it’s course. And COVID has been a stumbling block for our leadership… here in Whitewater, and at the state and federal (both Rs and Ds) level. The fear and the destruction has been out of control.
And meanwhile, those that have been most successful, lived with the most joy …. Have been those putting their trust in God.
In the spirit of Christmas …. Immanuel…. Christ …. God is with us. I believe this.
CS Lewis writes in The Abolition of Man of the futility of man’s attempts to play God.
(Now do climate change as the conspiracy …. MIC DROP).
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Merry Christmas!
Discerning Whitewater 