Fear vs Love in a Pandemic
It's been quite a week in our home. The entire house has been down and out with COVID.
Thankfully, however, we are emerging from it, and our time of isolation ends on Saturday. We will all be happy to get out of each other's way this weekend!
Naturally, the topic of the two-year pandemic, restrictions, and vaccinations came up in our conversation this past week. I realize that these topics are very volatile subjects these days, both inside and outside the church. As people's frustration with the ongoing pandemic mounts, emotions run higher and it's getting more difficult to have a casual conversation about it.
But I'm going to try and address our pandemic decisions from a different perspective, using vaccines as an example.
I am not here to recommend getting the vaccine or not getting the vaccine (or any other response we may have to this pandemic). There is no Bible verse that says "thou shall" or "thou shall not" get vaccinated. Instead, the choice is something each person needs to wisely and prayerfully decide for themselves.
Instead, I'm here to ask a simple question: Why did you make the decision you made?
Sadly, some people are making the vaccine decision from a place of fear. Perhaps they fear the disease, or they fear the vaccine, and the greater fear wins the day. Or perhaps they fear losing autonomy and the right to make these decisions themselves. Or perhaps they don't trust the science (for or against vaccines) or don't trust the government, and fear there is a hidden agenda at work.
Whatever position a person comes from, fear can be a motivating factor.
However, even though fear can be a powerful impulse, it is not one that should enter our decision process as followers of Jesus. Instead, God gives us a new motivating factor: love.
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. This is the first and most important commandment. The second most important commandment is like this one. And it is, Love others as much as you love yourself.”
~ Jesus, in Matthew 22:34-40
Don’t let selfishness and prideful agendas take over. Embrace true humility, and lift your heads to extend love to others.
~ Paul, in Philippians 2 :3
So, when it comes to issue of vaccines (or any other pandemic decision) the answer is not about what we fear more, or how we feel about being told what to do, or even whether we trust the science / government that has brought about current restrictions (regardless of whether we feel the restrictions are too much or too little).
Rather, the question is, "How can I best love God and best love the people around me as I go through this pandemic?" This is the question that should guide our vaccine decision, our mask-wearing decision, and every other response we have to what is going on around us.
PAUSE and REFLECT: What is motivating your pandemic decisions these days? Is fear, frustration, or anxiety creeping in? Are you avoiding doing loving things simply because you've been told to do them?
If you're finding yourself moving away from love and toward fear or frustration, here is a simple exercise to help you reset. Stop what you're doing and take three deep breaths. Allow your breathing to return to normal and for the next minute connect this short prayer to your breathing:
INHALE: I am deeply loved
EXHALE: You are always with me
Then, return to your day.
God's presence brings peace and connects us to his love. This is why - especially in a two-year pandemic - we need to ensure that our decisions do not stray away from our relationship with him. God's got this, so keep him close.
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