Christians often quote scripture to give their decisions a sort of godly approval. While there is nothing inherently wrong in this, we must be very cautious, when it is so easy to accidentally misuse Scripture. When that happens, one is misinterpreting God’s word to support what they want to do, when he or she would simply be better off carrying on without appealing to Scripture at all. Worse yet is the inherent suggestion that if you don’t do as I do, you are disobeying Scripture. Does Scripture apply to COVID-19? I would argue that Scripture can guide our decisions around this pandemic, though possibly less than many people would assume. I will make two brief points from Scripture.
In 2 Timothy 1:6-7, Paul instructs Timothy: “Hence I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands; for God did not give us a spirit of timidity but a spirit of power and love and self-control.” We have probably all heard a portion of this quoted from time to time. Unfortunately, it is often misused. This passage is instructing Timothy to use the gifts God has given him to equip him for his calling, despite the challenges—including Paul’s imprisonment. Paul then continues in verse eight, “Do not be ashamed then of testifying to our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel in the power of God.” So when someone says I am just going to live my life as if coronavirus doesn’t exist because God hasn’t given me a spirit of timidity, but of power, they are misunderstanding this passage. It has nothing to do with that at all, any more than it has to do with bungee jumping. The context makes clear that it is saying we are to be bold in witnessing to non-believers. If we are being honest, it is far harder for most of us to be a bold witness for Christ than it is to ignore the risks of COVID-19. How we react to a pandemic is more a matter of personal choice than it is a matter of obeying Scripture.
With COVID-19, there is a key exception to this, however. This has to do with the nature of the virus itself. Study after study confirms that the virus can be spread by people who never show symptoms or by those who will, but aren’t yet displaying symptoms. This means that one can have the disease and be a spreader without even knowing it. Philippians 2:4 says, “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” That means we are to care about the well-being of others—friends and strangers alike. This may entail giving up something we want for the benefit of others. When considering COVID-19, one application could be wearing a mask in situations where others will be near you, since masks have been shown to protect others from the air you exhale. Wearing a mask may not be comfortable or stylish, but if it keeps others safe, it is a way to look out for the interests of other. It could even be a way to be a bold witness for Christ! “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35). One could apply this verse by loving others enough to wear a mask for their benefit, which reveals one’s discipleship. So if anyone ever asks why you are wearing a mask, you could say, “I am wearing a mask because I am a Christian, and Jesus wants us to love one another, so I am loving you by wearing a mask.” That’s a spirit of power indeed.
