Run Against the Crowd: A Christian response in turbulent times.

I interrupt my sermon writing today because I am interrupted in my time. In the face of this COVID19 pandemic[1] and the collective reaction currently ongoing, I am reminded of the Christian response to the second great epidemic (around 260AD) as recorded by Rodney Stark in his book, The Rise of Christianity.

In studying the rise of Christianity, Stark highlights the contrast between Christian and pagan responses to the epidemic. He writes,

“The Christian teaching that God loves those who love him was alien to pagan beliefs.” And then, “Equally alien to paganism was the notion that because God loves humanity, Christians cannot please God unless they love one another. Indeed, as God demonstrates his love through sacrifice, humans must demonstrate their love through sacrifice on behalf of one another. Moreover, such responsibilities were to be extended beyond the bonds of family and tribe, indeed to ‘all those who in ever place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ’ (1 Cor 1:2). These were revolutionary ideas.”(p86)

He notes how Christian and pagan writers not only stressed love and charity as central to the Christian faith but how it was sustained in their everyday behavior. Noting that the best of Greco-Roman science did not know how to treat these epidemics, they ordered people to avoid all contact with those who had the disease. Then he asks, “so what could Christians do?” and his research shows, “At the risk of their own lives they could, in fact, save an immense number of lives.”(p88) He shows how all factors should have reduced the number of Christians, but instead it did just the opposite. Against the background of all that was taking place, the Christian survival rate “hardly could seem other than miraculous.”(p90)

Stark also notes the impact of Christians on those who survived. Because of the way Christians responded, many pagan survivors “owed their lives to the Christian neighbors” and “no one could help notice that Christians not only found the capacity to risk death but were much less likely to die.” The research is so overwhelming that another author, who Stark cites, wrote, “It is self-evident that a great deal of conversion was based on a ‘visible show of divinity at work’.”(p90) Stark’s research provides Christians today one great reminder; that in the face of societal uncertainty and immense personal threat, Christians run against the crowd in obedience to Christ to serve those in need.

This record of Christians’ reaction stands as a potent reminder for us today. Christians guard against excessive overreaction. (We don’t buy all the toilet paper and paper towels, unless we plan to give them away to people in need.) We remain disciplined in our response as we manage our concern through study, consideration and decision. But one thing we must never forsake is our gospel mission. I urge each one of us to exercise strong discernment in all matters at all times in the midst of a world fueled by anxiety-induced chaos. You may need to limit your exposure, especially if you are in a group more susceptible to the effects, but please do not stop loving people and looking for every opportunity to serve others in Jesus’ Name.

Christian, be wise in all matters, but remember; you have not been given a spirit of fear. Fear in these times does not come from our Lord. He has given you a Spirit of power, love, and self-control.(2 Tim 1:7) Make sure you discern between fear and His wisdom to serve and show His love. Exercise His Spirit above your own as you hear, read and watch public reactions to this “pandemic” and discern how you will respond. We may find that God uses just such a time for the multiplication of His glory through conversion. Christians strive, at all times, to live as we’ve been loved, to serve even when threat of our own well-being exists.