NCE (English); Dip (Computer Studies); ND/HD (Journalism); Dip,
BA (Theology) MA, PhD.
THE ROLE OF THE CHURCH IN TACKLING COVID-19
DISEASE (abridged)
INTRODUCTION
Coronavirus,
also known as COVID-19 is one infection that has brought huge burdens on the
entire world. Initially, some supposed the virus was GOD’S judgment on China,
for demolishing churches and confiscating Bibles, since the outbreak of the disease started at the time the
Chinese government of the regime of IX Jinping was in the act of its brutality
against the Church of JESUS CHRIST, our BLESSED LORD and SAVIOUR, in that
country. But, shortly after the emergence of the pandemic, accusations and
counter- accusations began to crop-up, as some say, the virus leaked from a
Chinese lab studying coronaviruses. Others suggest the virus was engineered for
undisclosed reasons. Prominent in the China lab origin theory is the president
of the United States, Donald Trump, who has vehemently accused China of being
the ‘evil genius” behind the “evil
monster”, referred to as coronavirus. However, as at the time of this
writing, there is no evidence to show that coronavirus was created in the lab
or has a scientific origin.
Today, Coronavirus or COVID-19 is
real, and the major concern about the virus across the globe is not whether, it
is of a scientific or spiritual origin, but a way to solve the problem, since every
part of the world shares in the alarming rate of deaths caused by the deadly
disease, as well as its economic dilemma, which poses a lot of humanitarian
needs. And so, in the face of this devastating problem which mercilessly holds
down peoples and governments of the world, is/are there role(s) the Church of
JESUS CHRIST, the BLESSED SON of GOD
should play, a way of alleviating the sufferings of the human race? No doubt,
the answer is in the affirmative, but before such an answer, it will be proper
to x-ray the following.
(1)
THE ORIGIN OF COVID-19 DISEASE
Wuhan, an emerging business hub of China, at the end
of 2019, experienced an outbreak of a novel coronavirus that killed more than
eighteen hundred and infected over seventy thousand individuals within the
first fifty days of the epidemic. This virus was reported to be a member of the
group B of coronaviruses. The novel virus was named Wuhan coronavirus or 2019
novel coronavirus {2019 n-Cov} by the Chinese researchers. The international
Committee on Taxomony of Viruses {ICTV} named the virus SARS-Cov-2, and named
the disease COVID-19. In the history, SRAS-COV in 2003 infected 8098 individuals
with mortality rate of 9% across 26 countries, till the date of this
information. COVID-19 is traceable to coronaviruses, which our source says
belong to the coronavindae family in the Nidovivaies order. Corona represents
crown-like spikes on the outer surface of the virus, thus, it was named a
corona virus, and this, therefore shows that the virus, as a member of the
corovindae family of viruses, definitely, outdates its present date of outbreak
in China.
(2)
THE SPREAD AND DEATHS OF COVID-19 ACROSS
THE WORLD
The new coronavirus has spread rapidly in many parts
of the world. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organisation {WHO} declared
the virus a pandemic. A pandemic occurs when a disease that people are not immune
to, spreads across large regions. Though, the recent outbreak of COVID-19 began
in Wuhan, a city in the Hubal province of China, and precisely in December
2019, it has since spread across the globe, as the CNN Live coverage on
tracking coronavirus global spread of May 17, 2020 shows that the authorities
in 214 countries and territories have reported more than 4,656,000 novel coronavirus
cases worldwide, since China reported its first cases to the World Health
Organisation {WHO} in December 2019. According to the report, the actual figure
of the reported cases is 4,656,639, with 312,188 deaths. The report, equally,
shows that the United States has the highest number of cases of 1,467,884, with
88,754 deaths, and shows the magnitude of the problems of COVID-19 on the
shoulders of the human race, as updates of this report, from the same or other
sources, may help open-up the space for further understanding of the role of
the Church in tackling COVID-19 disease
(3)
THE GLOBAL SEARCH FOR TREATMENTS AND
VACCINES
FOR COVID-19 DISEASE
The Church of JESUS CHRIST , the BLESSED HEALER, is
the only institution on earth that is in position to draw healing for any
ailment that agitate mankind, including, COVID-19 disease, from the BLESSED
STRIPES of her BLESSED SAVIOUR, as the Holy Scripture shows in 1 Peter 2:24,
without any iota of failure, if approached in the real spirit of faith, humility
and repentance, 2 Chr.7:14, as today’s noticeable failure to this effect, is a
disservice to God and humanity, with the simple reason for the flop, being that
the Body of CHRIST has, at present, compromised deeply with the world, and so,
can no longer draw the glory and blessings of the LORD. And, even the
scientific solution to the COVID-19 disease is only possible, in answer to the prayers
offered to GOD, by the Church, though, peoples and governments of the world may
disagree. This highlights the intermediary role which most of the stakeholders
in the present day Church carelessly handle, even, in the face of the rampaging
threats of COVID-19 disease.
Presently, scientists around the world are working on
potential treatments and vaccines for the new coronavirus disease, known as
COVID-19. Several companies are working on antiviral drugs, some of which are
already in use against other illnesses, to treat people who already have the disease,
as other companies are working on vaccines that could be used as a preventive
measure against the infection. And, with confirmed COVID-19 cases surpassing
4.3 million, and continuing to grow, scientists are pushing forward for
vaccines and treatments to slowdown the pandemic and lesson its damage. The
aforementioned show that, at present, there is no cure the coronavirus, as
treatments are based on the kind of cure given for influenza {seasonal flu},
and other severe respiratory illnesses, known as “supportive care,”…These
treatments essentially treat symptoms, which often in the case of COVID-19 involve
fever, cough and shortness of breath. With this in mind, one can readily deduce
that the world is in the deep sea of the problems of COVID-19 disease, which
only the GOD of Heaven, through, medical
or DIVINE means can solve. And, as it stands now, if there will be medical
solution to the problem, it will be, in answer to the prayers of the Church,
and, if there will be DIVINE solution to it, it will equally be, in answer to
the prayers of the Church, and to be blunt, there is no other way out of
COVID-19 disease and its problems, apart from help from above, thus, the need
for an effectual fervent prayers of the righteous, which the Holy Scripture
says avails much, {James 5:16}.
(4)
THE RELEGATION OF THE CHURCH BY CIVIL
AUTHORITIES
IN TACKLING COVID-19 DISEASE
The outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic really exposed the
disrespect and scornful attitude of civil authorities across the globe on our
LORD and BLESSED SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST and HIS Church on earth. The disease opened up a space that would have allowed
the Church to serve GOD and humanity in the best of love which the grace of GOD
offers. But, the powers that be, generally, became nonchalant and disdainful,
thus, the crucial role of the church, at the time of need, became arrogantly
subverted. COVID-19 disease generated a huge humanitarian concern, which the Church
can handle best, anywhere, in the world; yet, the ruling class did not consider
her for the service. Even the spiritual role of the prayer and supplication,
for DIVINE solution, which the Church is
known for, was disrupted, in the name of lockdown, as pastors who attempted to
hold prayer meetings and fellowships were arrested and locked-up in police custodies.
And so, GOD was locked-out, as the Church and society were locked-down, in the
name of the hopeless hope of curtailing the spread of coronavirus. But, people
in authority, across the world, should better put to heart that, whether
scientific or DIVINE Solution to COVID-19 diseases, it must come from the LORD
GOD of Heaven and earth, or nothing comes. For, HE is the AUTHOR of medical
healing, {Ezek. 47:12}, as well as the AUTHOR of DIVINE healing, {Psalm.
107:20}, and for any blessing or success to be recorded through any of the
cited means, it must come from the GOD of all creations, and, such a DIVINE
goodness must be, in answer to the prayers of HIS saints, via the Church. But,
who knows if the negative attitude of the ruling class against the Church was
informed by the unfaithful behaviour of certain elements in the Body,
especially, the clergy. Therefore, in keeping with the forgoing, if the Church
must be trusted for her DIVINE role on earth, she must undoubtedly radiate a
convincing moral light among the people of the world, {Mat. 5:16}
(5)
BASIC ROLES OF THE CHURCH IN TIMES OF
TROUBLE
COVID-19 disease and the problems it carries help see
clearly the basic roles of the Church In times of trouble, as a careful
analysis of the burdens of the people, as a result of the epidemic would
definitely show that they have; economic,
social, spiritual and humanitarian concerns, of which the Church has roles
to play. It is true governments, through their various agencies, and
non-governmental establishments can play these roles in times of need, but the
only organisation DIVINELY blessed with the real heart of the assignment is the
Church. So, in times of trouble, like this period of COVID-19 infection, the Church
should play; economic, social, spiritual
and humanitarian roles. Having cited the above, it becomes proper to
portray the:
(a)
Economic Role Of The Church In Tackling
COVID-19 Disease
COVID-19 pandemic carries with it a lot of problems
that affect the material goods of people on earth. The adverse effect of the
lockdown policy of various governments
on economic fortunes of the citizens of the world is at alarming proportion,
which, as expected stirred some government agencies, non-governmental
foundations and some good spirited churches to engage in the role of alleviating
the sufferings of the people within their reach. This is a crucial role, in
times like this period of coronavirus infection, and the Church should feature prominently
in this role. The Church, unlike government organisations, may not have all the
material resources to adequately meet the needs of the people affected by the scourge
of the virus, but a little palliative offered by means of tithes and offerings
can rekindle hope in the lives of beneficiaries, or help rebuild the businesses
of those displaced by the problems of the pandemic. But, instead of playing
this role with the passion and commitment it deserves, certain church
officials, amid the crises of the infection are fingered in the shameful act of
pilfering cash and materials donated by governments and charity organisation
around the world; regardless of the injunction of the Holy Scripture which shows
that, “pure and undefiled religion before GOD and the FATHER is this: to visit
orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the
world”, {James 1:27}
(b)
Social Role Of The Church In Tackling
COVID-19 Disease
The major social concern in the COVID-19 disease
problem is the safety of the people. To this end, concerned people and
organisations around the world work hard to prevent the spread of the killer
infection, creating the awareness that, “when people with COVID-19 breathe out
or cough, they expel tiny droplets that contain the virus. These droplets can
enter the mouth or nose of someone without the virus, causing an infection to
occur. The most common way that this illness spreads is through close contact
with someone who has the infection, thus, the need for social distancing and
use of facemask. Also, droplets containing the virus can land on nearby
surfaces or objects and other people can pick up the virus by touching these
surfaces or objects, as infection is also likely to take place if the person
then touches their nose, eyes or mouth. This information is ongoing, and the Church,
like other committed organisations all over the world should equally play the
role of spreading safety messages to the people, to avoid the spread of the
virus.
(c)
Spiritual Role Of The Church In Tackling
COVID-19 Disease
The indispensible role of the Church, in trouble
times, as this movement of COVID-19 disease is prayer and supplication for
DIVINE solution. For, without a hearty commitment to prayer and devotion, no
positive result comes, as a “prayer-less
church is a powerless church,” and so, cannot draw blessings from the THRONE
OF GRACE. Another spiritual role the Church
should play in the tackling COVID-19 disease is building up the people’s faith
through biblical counselling that empowers them to put their trusts in GOD as
the only ONE who can save them from the infection, as well as open-up avenues for
their help. But, today, in the face of the troubles of COVID-19, the Church has
become a point of fear and disbelief, instead of a point of faith, hope and
encouragement. Now, consider the fact that, during the enforcement of
government lockdown policy by security operatives, the Church was afraid to
pray, in the guise that “we should be subject to those in authority”{Rom.13:1}
without recourse to the biblical injunction which also shows that, “when
government policy contradicts the WILL OF GOD, the position of the Church
should be, “we ought to obey GOD rather than men,” {Acts 5:29}. Therefore, the Church
should muster up the courage in checking the excesses of government, as well as
discipline herself to the limits of her operation on earth. For, when the Church
is kicked out of her spiritual roles, darkness prevails, and when government
blindly and arrogantly goes beyond its rule of DIVINE engagement, darkness,
even, becomes darker. But, be sure that, COVID-19 disease and similar problems
will find quick solution, if the Church is allowed to freely play her spiritual
roles on earth.
(d)
The Humanitarian Role Of The Church
In Tackling COVID-19 Disease
Humanitarian service is connected with improving
people’s lives and reducing suffering, as humanitarian aid is sending food and
supplies to areas or persons affected by natural disaster or man-made conflict,
and, at this time of COVID-19 disease, the Church should play the caring role
of assisting people affected by the epidemic. It is common knowledge that
coronavirus has claimed the lives of hundreds and thousands of parents, whereby
making their children orphans, as well as sending them to orphanages, where
aids from all and sundry are needed. At the entry points of nations are people
who are stranded by reason of COVID-19 pandemic, and are in dire need of help
to get to their destinations. The list of the problems generated by coronavirus
infection is endless. But, will the Church look elsewhere, in the guise that
she is branded a non-profit organisation, whereas GOD raises unquantifiable
sums of money and materials through tithes and offerings that are enough for
her operations and humanitarian services? In this connection, the Church is
called upon to wake up to her humanitarian role, by sending aids to victims of
COVID-19 disease and its crises, as a way of helping them cope with the burdens
of the virus.
In conclusion, so far, you may have deduced that, the
effort here is to bring back the core values of the Christian faith, which
hitherto may have been lost for lack of commitment, which now, requires recovery
for the effective handling of the problems generated by COVID-19 disease. Let
it be noted that, the Church in whose shoulders the cited roles are placed is
you and I, as the failure or success in the work is either for our blessing and
reward or for our shame and punishment. THE
CHOICE IS YOURS!
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