Christians And Covid: How the Church Should Respond to a Pandemic

As I write this, we are in the midst of the Omicron surge, which of course comes as we’re still reeling from the Delta variant – which itself came in the midst of the world grappling with COVID-19 itself. It seems we can’t quite put this pandemic behind us. And most people are (no pun intended) sick of it.

Not only have many lives been lost and families devastated, but controversy continues to boil and divisions continue to get deeper over how we should handle COVID. In America, some believe the government isn’t doing enough, while others believe the government is doing too much.

Some believe vaccine mandates, more shutdowns and restrictions, and greater testing are the answers, while others believe the vaccines are themselves dangerous and government-imposed mandates and restrictions only cause additional problems. And there are of course the concerns over government overreach in general and the ramifications for civil liberties, including the freedom of speech and religion.

The struggles extend into the marketplace and workplace with many facing employer-driven vaccine mandates and/or restrictions — and some losing their jobs if they object or decline to go along.

It should come as no surprise that churches themselves are caught up in all this. Many churches have closed or been severely damaged (in terms of cohesion, membership, or finances) during this pandemic. Many have split over internal political differences. And most are reeling from having lost members and friends to the dreaded disease.

All churches are struggling with how to most effectively do ministry — serving their congregations and communities — in the midst of an ever-changing pandemic that has left a permanent mark on our world.

When it comes to many of the specifics, each congregation and each family will need to prayerfully ask God for wisdom and direction, but there are some basic biblical principles that should guide how we navigate this, and other, challenges. And sadly, many Christians are not living up to these principles.

All of these passages are broad and can be applied to most (if not all) areas of our lives. As you read through these passages, please ask God to show you what He wants you to learn from these passages as well as how you can apply them in the context of COVID (whether in your home, in the workplace, or in your community).

Here are 11 Bible passages (all in the NKJV) that should guide how we should deal with COVID-19, the government, our churches, our employers, and each other as we struggle to get through this together:

• Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:29-31)

• I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:1-2)

• Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. (Philippians 2:3-4)

• So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. (James 1:19-20)

• Wise people store up knowledge, But the mouth of the foolish is near destruction. (Proverbs 10:14)

• Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. (Proverbs 4:23)

• Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:29-32)

• Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. (I Peter 2:13-17)

• Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior. (I Timothy 2:1-3)

• And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves. Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (I Thessalonians 5:12-18)

• For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. (James 3:14-18)

If every believer in Christ lived up to the principles enshrined in the biblical passages above, just imagine how it would positively impact our churches and our country.

Better yet. Let’s not just imagine it. Let’s do our part to make that a reality.