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

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.