How should us Christians be reacting to the Coronavirus? This thing that has created a level of panic and fear that has resulted in most of the world being shut down. Should we as Christians be practicing social distancing and hiding in our homes out of fear? Buying all of the toilet paper available? Wearing mask everywhere we go?
The Coronavirus and a Balanced Perspective : The Numbers
The first thing we should do is try to keep this virus in it’s proper perspective. To date, the recent Coronavirus outbreak has resulted in 190,000 confirmed cases that have caused 4000 deaths in the United States. Worlwide there have been 880,000 cases resulting in 44,000 deaths.
In comparison, preliminary numbers from the CDC show that for the 2019-2020 Flu season, there will have been an estimated 38 million – 54 million flu illnesses that will result in 24,000 – 62,000 deaths just in the United States alone. Worldwide there is an estimated 300,000 – 600,000 deaths a year from the flu. That is (822) to (1,644) deaths every day.
Looking at these numbers can help us to maintain a balanced perspective. Yes, it is understood that there is the potential for the Coronavirus to cause many more deaths. Only God knows where the final numbers will stop for this current pandemic. With that being said, the world is looking at 44,000 deaths so far from Covid-19, compared to upwards of 600,000 who die every single year from the flu.
It is possible to not downplay the seriousness of this virus but yet still be able to keep it in perspective. Maybe the numbers eventually do rise to a level that surpasses the flu, but until then you may also die in a car crash or even from the flu itself.
To Fear Or Not To Fear
Fear often has a way of being much worse than what it is you are afraid of. In our current situation it has caused our grocery store shelves to be wiped out of some things that make sense, and some things that don’t (toilet paper). Should we practice good common sense, absolutely. Should we be locked down in a paralyzing fear, absolutely not.
If you don’t go around licking door knobs in public during the flu season, you probably shouldn’t do it now. Whatever good hygiene habits you follow during the flu and cold season should be followed now. For those who don’t have good hand washing practices, now would be a good time to start.
The one thing we should not allow as Christians is to be gripped by fear. Many times it is easier said than done, but that doesn’t make it any less true. Let’s do a little practicing what we preach. We have a choice right now to show others God has not give us a spirit of fear, or we risk having them say ,”O you of little faith”.
Combining a lot more common sense with a lot less fear will help us all to be a lot more rational. While there is nothing wrong with making some practical decisions to avoid the unnecessary risk of catching such a virus, all of us as humans have the potential to become very irrational when scared.
Only you can decide the specifics as to how far you are willing to go when trying to avoid catching the Coronavirus, but if you find yourself as one of those who bought a lifetime supply of toilet paper so you wouldn’t have to come back out of your house for 6 months, you might want to check your fear level.
Follow THE BIBLE ANSWER on Facebook and Instagram!
