Question 1

Why are there deadly viruses?

Accepted Answer

Genesis 3:19“By the sweat of your brow will you have food to eat until you return to the ground from which you were made. For you were made from dust, and to dust you will return.”When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, sin entered the world and all of life changed. As a result, there is now sickness, pain, and death. Deadly viruses and pandemics are one of the results of sin that we all experience living in a fallen world.

Question 2

What should be my response to people who have contracted a virus?

Accepted Answer

Matthew 22:39“A second [law] is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”Romans 12:9Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.Scripture commands us to treat all people with the same love that Jesus would show them. The love of Jesus must be shown equally to all people. Only then can God’s message of grace and forgiveness and healing break through.Mark 1:40-41A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. “If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean,” he said. Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!”Leprosy was one of the deadly pandemics of Jesus’ day. Lepers were shunned and led lonely lives. Here, Jesus touched and healed a leper out of great compassion. That doesn’t mean we should necessarily touch those who have a deadly, contagious virus. But we can move to bring “healing” in any way we are able to—taking sick people meals, spending time in safe and socially distant ways, even by video, and offering words of encouragement and hope via notes, emails, and texts. In short, we can follow Jesus by being a good friend.John 9:1-7As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. “Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?” “It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him. We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work. But while I am here in the world, I am the light of the world.” Then he spit on the ground, made mud with the saliva, and spread the mud over the blind man’s eyes. He told him, “Go wash yourself in the pool of Siloam” (Siloam means “sent”). So the man went and washed and came back seeing!It is unwise and unfair to conclude that there must be a personal sinful reason when a person contracts a virus or suffers from some disease. Consequences are real, but not all misfortune can be directly assigned to a personal fault. It is much wiser to pray diligently for those who are sick.

Question 3

What is my responsibility towards those who are sick?

Accepted Answer

Mark 6:34Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd.2 Corinthians 1:4He [God] comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.God calls us to love, serve, and have compassion for all people.James 5:13-18Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises. Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven. Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops.Whether a leader of the church or not, our responsibility is to pray for any brothers and sisters who are sick. Sin may be a factor that needs to be addressed, but the ultimate objective is not to find fault but to bring healing and help from God in this world of suffering.

Virus