What does this text have to do with COVID? Nothing directly, of course. In fact, we all know that the Bible doesn't mention COVID. But, we do learn about what the church did during a famine. It is not a direct parallel but it does teach us something very important about the church during trying times. From these four verses, I want to bring out three simple points.
I. God was not unaware of the famine. All calamities that befall humanity, the church, the world are under God's control. They serve His inscrutable purposes. Sometimes it serves as a punishment, other times to refine, to affect his purpose for this or that end, etc. But God ordained this famine to come. There are multiple purposes and all known to God. God is not unaware of this pandemic. In fact, we know biblically that God sent this plague upon the earth. They play a role in His purpose. FOR YOUR GOOD (Rom. 8:28);TO TRUST ONLY IN GOD (2Cor. 1:9); TO DISCIPLINE US to MAKE US HOLY (Heb. 12:7-11); TO LONG FOR HEAVEN (Heb. 13:14). II. The church did not cease to be a church during the famine. This may be a very simple observation but I think one of the most important ones from this passage. The church doesn't stop being a church because of a famine nor can she stop being a church because of the pandemic. She is called to be a church in the midst of a pandemic. She cannot be dictated by the world how she can worship. Virginia governor said that we can worship without congregating. III. The church acted more spiritually during the famine.
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Dr. Mark Herzer has been the pastor of Christ Covenant Presbyterian Church (P.C.A.) in Warminster, PA since 1997. Before this, he was ordained to labor as an Assistant Pastor of Korean United Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia (1992-1995). He received his M.A.R. and Ph. D....
