THE CORONAVIRUS AND THE CHURCH

To quote Thomas Paine out of context, "These are the times that try men's souls." Among the strangest try-ers of men's souls are the ideas being dogmatically proclaimed by various false teachers who, as usual, have no regard for the Bible.

One such false teacher is Kenneth Copeland who is worth $760 million and is the country's richest televangelist.  On his TV broadcast, Copeland reaches out his outstretched, glistening hand towards the camera and asks viewers at home to touch their television screens for healing from the virus.

"He spent part of a recent show attempting to heal his viewers of the coronavirus through the TV, literally, by putting up his oddly shiny hands to the camera and instructing people to put their hands on their television sets before reciting a weird prayer. During said prayer, he seemed confused as to what COVID-19 actually is, saying at one point that 'the devil’s trying to give me the flu, or whatever else kind of thing he’s trying.'" (Lindsey Weedston)

Then another pastor, unworthy of the title, said that half his congregation is prepared to lick the floor to prove the virus does not exist. Not to be outdone, Rodney Howard Browne, a pastor in Tampa, Florida, promised to bind the virus from the United States. He also said that the coronavirus pandemic is a plot to "kill off many people" through forced vaccinations. This is the same pastor who said at a revival event in Washington D.C. that he saved America by issuing a restraining order against the antichrist.

Another pastor tells his hearers that he's received a word from God that said that God has ended the virus. Pat Robertson declares that if a person buys and follows his health booklet, he will be immune. Jim Bakker claims his ointment will cure it. As if in competition to win the prize for insane remarks, a New Zealand pastor guarantees that Christians possess a built-in immunity.

Other pastors have stepped forward to claim that the coronavirus is God's discipline on America for allowing same-sex marriages. Another claims the virus was loosed on China because the government restricts freedom of worship, but left it unexplained as to why the disease is in America which doesn't.

Whatever happened to humility? The idea that we know why this scourge has come reminds us of God's interaction with Job as He drills him with 77 questions, all meant to show Job's ignorance. God's intent in the interrogation is for Job to recognize that God has no obligation to explain everything to him. But my oh my, how we hate to say, "I don't know why."

Unfortunately, such huckstering as eagerly reported and shown by the media is the impression millions of people have of Christianity. Awhile back, a late-night TV host showed a film clip of Mrs. Kenneth Copeland instructing viewers not to worry about the flu because "Jesus is your flu shot." The audience howled at the hilarity.

But should the Christian care what people think? Paul says, "Yes. We should definitely care what people think." That's why Paul warned the Corinthians to cease and desist their behavior: "Therefore if the whole church assembles together and all speak in tongues, and ... unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are mad?"

Christ told the disciples to pay the Temple tax even though they had a right not to do so. Jesus said, “Then the sons [of the King] are exempt. However, so that we do not offend them, go to the sea and throw in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for you and Me.” He told them, "Pay it."

Proverbs 22:1 advises: "A good name is to be more desired than great wealth."

Paul also said, "We are ambassadors for Christ." An ambassador represents his country. The believer's citizenship is in heaven. Our words, actions, and attitudes represent Christ to others. We see this principle on every hand in the secular world--when a person is employed by a company, he now represents that corporation and their brand, even to the extent of his grooming, hygiene, and sartorial splendor, i. e. the prescribed dress code of the bank and even the fast-food emporium for which he might work.

These false teachers are absurd, but they are not to be passed off as harmless buffoons. They are, as they have always been, dangerous.