This is how the church is responding to the Wuhan virus that is creating worldwide havoc.
I’ll start with the most fatuous: almost every Anglican archbishop is exhorting us to light a candle. A bit like this:
I have nothing against candles – except that we now have incandescent, fluorescent and LED lights that work better and don’t set things on fire. The problem is, whenever something bad happens, people compulsively light candles to symbolise…. something, nobody really knows what. Instead of a candle, why aren’t the bishops telling us to put a cross in the window; at least that is a clear symbol that announces to passers by the convictions of the occupants.
Then we have the synchronised recitation of the Lord’s Prayer. That can’t be bad, other than the “Thy will be done” bit. What, perish the thought, if His will is to smite what is undoubtedly an evil generation and its ecclesiastical enablers, hip and thigh?
Lastly, the church is no longer meeting. I find myself in two minds about this. As far as I am aware, never in the history of the church have Christians been afraid to congregate. If persecuted, Christians met in secret. I believe that the church continued to meet during the black death – someone correct me if I am wrong. Are Christians just as afraid of death as everyone else? I know, we don’t want to see the grim reaper marching through our congregations, that’s why I am in two minds about it.
What is the missing component? Repentance. Admittedly, the Anglican Church of Canada is in a state of constant repentance about bringing Christianity to the original inhabitants of Canada. But what about the very real current evils it tolerates – even celebrates – in our society? In Canada, 100,000 babies are murdered in the womb every year; euthanasia is now legal and has killed more people than the Wuhan virus (as of this writing); children are fed transgender nonsense by adults and being butchered to become something they are not and never will be. Has the church stood against any of this?
I know that to even suggest that God might be judging the world will evoke shrieks of horror from all, the loudest coming from clergy. But what if it is true? Should not the church be calling on the country to repent just in case? Before it gets even worse.
David’s post introduces all kinds of interesting points. Here is the A C of C lighting candles- one of the few things they do well now – one of their sentimental bag of tricks – although it would have been more apt and more fun if they had offered games of Pin The Tail On The Donkey on line.
And here is the government of Canada closing churches – a power I hope they do not enjoy and reserve for future use.
And here is Mr Trudeau with his power grab – which made me think of the Reichstag Fire in Berlin in the 30’s – and the use that emergency was put to.
And here are the governments of the western world in a sea of debt and now immensely increasing their expenditures.
This is no time for cringing prayer from Christians. I think we need to ask God to help us be fearless now; and thoughtful and alert: and very aware of the needs of others: and useful to Him.
Think you’re right David. People don’t like the idea that this could be a judgment. But I like to turn the question round – why would God not judge this generation?
Practising social distancing will help controlling the spread of COVID-19. Christians practise social distancing because they “look to the interests of others” (Philippians2:4). They do not panic because they believe that the triune God is always in control. They belong to Him in life and in death.
For the encouragement of the vulnerable to get out more: https://www.thecollegefix.com/covid-19-could-be-a-tenth-as-deadly-as-the-flu-in-america-stanford-med-professors/
The Collect for the Fourth Sunday in Lent in the Book of Common Prayer expresses the attitude we ought to be taking perfectly: Grant, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that we, who for our evil deeds do worthily deserve to be punished, by the comfort of thy grace may mercifully be relieved; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.