Resurrection and the pandemic: No fear
Published Apr 1, 2021 12:13 am
OF SUBSTANCE AND SPIRIT
Diwa C. Guinigundo
After inflicting us with economic scars which portend another bad year for output and employment, this pandemic is spreading the spirit of fear.
From a Christian perspective, this is pathetic. The Scripture is categorical that “God hath not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Tim 1:7
Yet this spirit of fear can overcome us because of the increasing probability of imbibing the virus. What heightens fear is our overwhelmed health facilities and doing home quarantine without medical support. Down by COVID-19 means one cannot work, even if he wants. Those fortunate to source medical care should be prepared to spend weeks in bed and millions of pesos in expenses. Those who do not survive would be cremated and consigned to an urn.
With vaccines still beyond reach, getting sick of COVID-19 is enough pressure to seek help.
No wonder, more are no longer in denial they needed help.
Many turned to social media. In December last year, Christianity Today reported that the pandemic caused Bible searches to soar online and “a record number of people turned to Scripture for passages addressing fear, healing and justice.” YouVersion Bible App showed searches increased by 80 percent in 2020 or 600 million worldwide. With the global population at 7.8 billion in 2020, some seven percent must have been fearful of untimely death.
This spiritual pivot reminds us of what happened after the 9-11 terrorist attacks in 2001. Gallup polls reported religious attendance rising by six percent during the first weekend after the event. Some would have wished a great spiritual revival in the United States. This was not about to happen because by November 2001, church attendance receded to the usual levels.
It is the spirit of fear that gripped the Americans after the terrorist attacks. It is also that same spirit that continue to grip them, many of whom could have figured significantly in the Bible searches for 2020.
What Bible passage was the most searched, read and bookmarked verse?
It was Isaiah 41:10 which says “fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
God secures His people from their fears and worries. It was the same assurance that emboldened King David in Psalm 23:4 to declare that “even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me…”
We have no reason to fear because God is with us, and He is our God. This pandemic is death staring us in the face. Being alone in the ward is dreadful enough. Going through untested medication could be torturous. But God is saying today, He is with us. We have nothing to fear.
God delivers us from worry and distress. What He promised to us in Jeremiah 29:11 cannot be truer today. He knows His plans for us, “plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” God promised to strengthen us, help us and uphold us.
We should not be surprised that this passage in Isaiah should score first in the US, India, South Africa, the Netherlands and the Philippines — all high ranking in the pandemic infection. It is also difficult to deny that more Filipinos sought spiritual comfort because of the pandemic. The 2021 World Happiness Report lists our ranking retreating to 61st among 149 countries, from 52nd among 153 countries. Higher levels of negative emotions such as worry and sadness came out in the survey.
Our comfort comes from the word.
Indeed, against the spirit of fear, God has given us the spirit of power, and of love and of a sound mind.
The spirit of power was given to the apostles to handle fear. The apostles were empowered during the Pentecost to preach the Gospel of Jesus. They needed to be bold because God expected them to be persecuted for telling the truth about Jesus. If God is with us, we should remain strong even as the pandemic rages on.
The spirit of love was released to the apostles to feed God’s flock. Love is key to serving the ministry of God which is centered on the unloved and unlovable. Jesus’ love for humanity made crucifixion bearable. In our time, our frontliners continue to serve, risking their lives because they know the meaning of service and love for people.
The spirit of sound mind is what the apostles needed to teach the Gospel of love and peace. This is the spirit of discernment. We need this in following the public health protocols and deciding for ourselves whether we should take the jabs, or alternative medicines.
What best way to discard fear and be assured of the spirit of power, love and sound mind but for Jesus to be resurrected. He did not only proclaim that He was the resurrection and the life, but He also promised us “He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces.” Isaiah 25:8
Fear not!
Diwa C. Guinigundo
After inflicting us with economic scars which portend another bad year for output and employment, this pandemic is spreading the spirit of fear.
From a Christian perspective, this is pathetic. The Scripture is categorical that “God hath not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Tim 1:7
Yet this spirit of fear can overcome us because of the increasing probability of imbibing the virus. What heightens fear is our overwhelmed health facilities and doing home quarantine without medical support. Down by COVID-19 means one cannot work, even if he wants. Those fortunate to source medical care should be prepared to spend weeks in bed and millions of pesos in expenses. Those who do not survive would be cremated and consigned to an urn.
With vaccines still beyond reach, getting sick of COVID-19 is enough pressure to seek help.
No wonder, more are no longer in denial they needed help.
Many turned to social media. In December last year, Christianity Today reported that the pandemic caused Bible searches to soar online and “a record number of people turned to Scripture for passages addressing fear, healing and justice.” YouVersion Bible App showed searches increased by 80 percent in 2020 or 600 million worldwide. With the global population at 7.8 billion in 2020, some seven percent must have been fearful of untimely death.
This spiritual pivot reminds us of what happened after the 9-11 terrorist attacks in 2001. Gallup polls reported religious attendance rising by six percent during the first weekend after the event. Some would have wished a great spiritual revival in the United States. This was not about to happen because by November 2001, church attendance receded to the usual levels.
It is the spirit of fear that gripped the Americans after the terrorist attacks. It is also that same spirit that continue to grip them, many of whom could have figured significantly in the Bible searches for 2020.
What Bible passage was the most searched, read and bookmarked verse?
It was Isaiah 41:10 which says “fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
God secures His people from their fears and worries. It was the same assurance that emboldened King David in Psalm 23:4 to declare that “even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me…”
We have no reason to fear because God is with us, and He is our God. This pandemic is death staring us in the face. Being alone in the ward is dreadful enough. Going through untested medication could be torturous. But God is saying today, He is with us. We have nothing to fear.
God delivers us from worry and distress. What He promised to us in Jeremiah 29:11 cannot be truer today. He knows His plans for us, “plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” God promised to strengthen us, help us and uphold us.
We should not be surprised that this passage in Isaiah should score first in the US, India, South Africa, the Netherlands and the Philippines — all high ranking in the pandemic infection. It is also difficult to deny that more Filipinos sought spiritual comfort because of the pandemic. The 2021 World Happiness Report lists our ranking retreating to 61st among 149 countries, from 52nd among 153 countries. Higher levels of negative emotions such as worry and sadness came out in the survey.
Our comfort comes from the word.
Indeed, against the spirit of fear, God has given us the spirit of power, and of love and of a sound mind.
The spirit of power was given to the apostles to handle fear. The apostles were empowered during the Pentecost to preach the Gospel of Jesus. They needed to be bold because God expected them to be persecuted for telling the truth about Jesus. If God is with us, we should remain strong even as the pandemic rages on.
The spirit of love was released to the apostles to feed God’s flock. Love is key to serving the ministry of God which is centered on the unloved and unlovable. Jesus’ love for humanity made crucifixion bearable. In our time, our frontliners continue to serve, risking their lives because they know the meaning of service and love for people.
The spirit of sound mind is what the apostles needed to teach the Gospel of love and peace. This is the spirit of discernment. We need this in following the public health protocols and deciding for ourselves whether we should take the jabs, or alternative medicines.
What best way to discard fear and be assured of the spirit of power, love and sound mind but for Jesus to be resurrected. He did not only proclaim that He was the resurrection and the life, but He also promised us “He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces.” Isaiah 25:8
Fear not!