Tough COVID-19 Topic: The Death of a Loved One
This is most likely the single biggest fear that pervades this entire mess we’ve found ourselves in. This is the difficult subject so consequently this is the subject that must be dealt with. There is much emotion surrounding this simply because we’re talking about our loved ones. That’s natural and good, but the inherent issue is that emotions obscure reason and sound rational thinking. There will be a natural tendency to forgo objectivity and rationality. And soon sensational stories and headlines will direct our actions instead of the Word of God.
The fundamental question I suppose is that if we love someone, will removing them from harm’s way always be the answer?
When put it that way, obviously this is not always the case. Two things come to mind quickly:
- Parents love their children but sometimes have to allow them reap the consequences of their actions for their own good.
- God loves his people, but that does not mean that we will never have to suffer any losses. The very definition of biblical chastisement indicates that love requires loss at times.
We’ve heard the expression many times, Love hurts. Nobody wants to see loved ones suffer. Nobody particularly wants to see loved ones die. That’s because we love them. We don’t want to see them go.
So here comes the Coronavirus. And the great fear that struck the pastors and church members across this land was the possibility of spreading the disease to their vulnerable elderly members during church services. And out of love, concern, and prudence, most all churches cancelled public services and opted for livestream services instead. In doing so, we essentially removed the loved one from harm’s way. And I would agree that this, for the most part was a logical, good, sound, and effective solution.
Now please don’t think that I’m criticizing. Few people believe in local church autonomy and pastoral authority like I do. So don’t even go there. I am concerned, however, that the justification for these decisions throughout our land was more based on fear than on the Word of God. Some things are just not black and white. Fear can cause a logical, good, sound, effective solution just as well as faith can. So being instant in season, out of season, and flu season, I think it good to look at some biblical concepts and situations that speak on the matter.
And if you’ve been around my writing for any time, you know I will usually never give the masses the benefit of the doubt and just go along to get along. I like to search the scriptures. Believing and doing the Word of God will always throw you out-of-joint with the world. So if this makes you queasy, you might want to practice some social distancing and read something else.
Brother Bill, Brother Phil, and Ms. Mabel
Let me give you the dialogue that keeps going through my head:
“Aren’t you afraid of catching the Coronavirus?” asks Brother Bill.
“No. Chances are I’m not gonna get it, and even if I do, I’m 37 years old. The great majority of people that die are over 65 so I’ll most likely be okay.” answers Brother Phil.
“Well, what happens if you go to church and Ms. Mabel catches it from you and she dies? I love Ms. Mabel. I’d hate to see her die just because you want to go to church!” presses Brother Bill.
And that’s it. The whole country shuts down. Phil can’t respond in any way shape or form that is contrary to that without being branded as inconsiderate, unpatriotic, and a murderer. That is why this subject needs to be addressed because emotion is driving Brother Bill and now the fear of man is driving Brother Phil.
First of all, there’s no doubt that Brother Bill loves Ms. Mabel. Everybody loves Ms. Mabel. Nobody wants to see Ms. Mabel suffer and die at the hands of the Coronavirus. However, here are some rational things Brother Bill and Brother Phil might want to consider:
Ms. Mabel is not a baby.
She’s a seasoned Christian that has weathered many storms and trials that make this Coronavirus look like the sniffles. Ms. Mabel is an elder, an adult, and may be wiser and more faithful than you give her credit for. In fact, the Bible actually says, Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. (1 Peter 5:5)
She is perfectly capable of making an informed decision if she wants to go to church and put herself at risk. The way Americans help is to inform her with the truth and facts and let her make that decision for herself. The way communists help is to shut everything down and assume that Ms. Mabel is incapable of taking care of herself.
Ms. Mabel is not afraid of death.
Instead, she mocks death. She says O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? (1 Corinthians 15:55) In fact, she is actually looking forward to death. She sings every morning, I will meet you in the morning, by the bright river side, When all sorrow has drifted away; I’ll be standing at the portals, when the gates open wide, At the close of life’s long, dreary day. Ms. Mabel believes the Bible and is … confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:8)
Ms. Mabel is gonna die one day.
Just as certain as taxes, Ms. Mabel is going to die. That is not to belittle the death of Ms. Mabel, but to believe and trust the Word of God. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27) No matter what we do, we will not be able to change that. And most likely there will be some suffering for her to endure before she goes to glory.
Why don’t we ask Ms. Mabel what type of suffering she would prefer? One week of severe pneumonia or 7 years in a bed with the mind and digestive system like that of a child? Or how about 3 years of chemotherapy, bald, weak, sick, and in pain and then still dead from cancer? Who are we? God? Are we to determine how people die?
Peter was rebuked by Jesus when he tried to put his hand on the suffering and death of Christ. Peter, in love and concern, forbade Jesus from going to Jerusalem. (The place of worship!) But Jesus said, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. (Matthew 16:23)
Brother Phil knowing these things responds, “Now bill, I don’t think the situation is truly that simple.”
Brother Bill says angrily, “No. If we have church and Ms. Mabel catches the Coronavirus, she is gonna die. And it will all be our fault because we had church!”
Brother Phil scratches his head and wonders to himself, “Well, that may be true. I just don’t know if I can live with that responsibility, especially if most people think like Bill.”
So Brother Phil texts Ms. Mabel, “Ms. Mabel, you doing okay?”
Ms. Mabel texts back, “I’m doing fine sweetie. You doing good?”
“We’re all good here. I was wondering, if we had church would you come?”
Ms. Mabel texts, “Of course. For fifty years every time the church doors are opened, I have been there. I don’t intend on changing this late in the game!”
“Okay, if you catch the Coronavirus from us and die, are you going to hold us responsible?”
Ms. Mabel texts, “Brother Bill might. But the only accuser of the brethren I know of is old Lucifer. Why don’t you read John, Chapter 11?”
John, Chapter 11, is where Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. Now the Bible says plainly that Jesus loved Lazarus. Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. (John 11:5) And the sisters knew that Jesus loved their brother because the Bible says, Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. (John 11:3) So Jesus loved Lazarus. There is no question about that.
However, after Lazarus died and Jesus finally showed up, Martha questioned Jesus’ love and actions, and attempted to place a guilt trip on him. Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. (John 11:21) Yup. Then said Bill unto Phil, “If thou hadst cancelled service, our Ms. Mabel had not died.” The implication is, “You must not truly love Ms. Mabel because you didn’t try to prevent her death.”
So Brother Phil, under the weight of these implications texts, “Ms. Mabel, we just don’t want to see you die. If we do have church, will you please just stay home?”
Ms. Mabel responds, “Get thee behind me, Satan! Just kidding. 🤣 If I do get sick from going to church, I’m not worried about it. It will not be unto death, but for the glory of God!, That’s John 11:4, Philly. Did you read it?”
So Brother Phil goes back to Brother Bill and admits. “If we do have church, Ms. Mabel is certainly gonna show up.”
And Brother Bill says emphatically, “Then we’ll certainly forget it. We can’t risk hurting Ms. Mabel. That’s just tempting God.”
Matthew 4:7 is another verse that has been thrown around to justify our fearful reactions, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Let me simply ask this question: Since when has assembling ourselves and worshiping God been tempting God? I guess for that matter, since when has working, living, and eating been tempting God?
From the beginning of time, God has desired and commanded his people to come apart and worship him together; to assemble before him in love and adoration. It was the enemy of God’s people, Pharaoh, that said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go. (Exodus 5:2) Now don’t get mad at me. I’m not the one accusing anybody of jumping off a cliff and tempting God. I’m simply offering more Bible that sheds light on the matter. There’s nothing wrong with that.
So Brother Phil gets back to Ms. Mabel, “Okay Ms. Mabel. I see where you’re coming from. But in all likelihood, it looks like we’ll be cancelling services for the time being. You can watch the livestream! 😃”
“🙄 You boys are the biggest bunch of lily livered milquetoast cowards! You spook faster than my old nag, Kringer!”
“Ms. Mabel. We’re just trying to protect you. It won’t be for long.”
“Brother Phil, I know I’m kinda old-fashioned, but I just can’t imagine Jesus coming this Sunday morning and finding nobody at church. That just makes no sense to me. I guess Pastor was right about that Lay-out-of church age in Revelation. Jesus knocking on the door and nobody answering.”
“Ms. Mabel. It’s just too risky.”
“Goodness son. Did your mama not read you the story of David and Goliath when you were a boy? Is there not a cause?
Think about the risk that David was taking. If he lost to Goliath, all the children of Israel would have suffered the consequences. But that did not deter David. Goliath threatened all Israel saying, If I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us. (1 Samuel 17:9) This Coronavirus is just another Goliath trying to intimidate the people of God. And it’s working. When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid. (1 Samuel 17:11) David knew the stakes. David saw the enemy. And he said, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee. (1 Samuel 17:45-46) We all know how that ended for Goliath.
“Yes Ms. Mabel. I know. But what if you get the virus and you don’t defeat it. We just can live with that.”
“Son, don’t your remember what those boys said about the fiery furnace? I know we covered that in Sunday School. You must have missed that day. 🤨”
The brave young men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego truly practiced Philippians 4:6 and were careful for nothing to answer Nebuchadnezzar when he threatened them with their lives. They were fully willing to assemble in the fiery furnace even if deliverance was not guaranteed. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. (Daniel 3:17-18)
“Ms. Mabel, nobody is asking you to bow down to some idol, we just want you to stay home.”
“Brother Phil, which Bible do you use again?”
“Alright Ms. Mabel. I see where you stand. Good night. And it is King James, Ms. Mabel! LOL”
Of course Phil knows down in his heart of hearts there is nothing wrong with going to church amidst this chaos. In fact, because of the nature of this crisis, he believes that God actually wants more of it because the Bible says regarding the assembling of ourselves, and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. (Hebrews 10:25)
But he also remembers that the Bible says If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. (Romans 12:8) And it also says not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. (Romans 12:3) And the Bible also speaks of Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:3) And the bible also says Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. (Hebrews 13:17)
So Brother Phil texts Pastor John, “Hey Preacher. Are we having service Sunday morning?”
“No Brother Phil. We’re gonna have to livestream the service.”
“Gotcha, Boss. Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help. We love you and will be praying for you.”