First, I feel as though an apology is in order: I’m late to the party. And I know that everyone in the world is waiting for me to write something about Coronavirus (sarcasm obvious,
Any advice I stumble through giving in this article isn’t so much applicable to us as we “enter into” the coronavirus, but as we head out of it and into whatever we find next. As we got a few weeks into what has become a few months, I began to suspect that one of our greatest weapons as a church was going to go by, sitting on the shelf. That weapon: Calm, clear joy in the face of all comers.
As we consider this idea, I hope it is fully distinguished by some kind of generic, positive-vibe-cosmic goodness that many might think I’m referring to as calm, clear joy. For several reasons I think that real calm, clarity, and joy, can only be held in truth by the Christian. Non-Christians may have a measure of it, and I hope that they do! However, I think the fullest measure of this abiding joy and calm is exclusively offered to people who know the sovereign God and the sovereign promises of that one true God.
So what do I mean when I bring up this weapon? Let me walk through that sentence, starting at the end. Calm Joy is the Church’s Greatest Weapon
Christian Weapons
Why do I call it a weapon?
Because it is a weapon—because it has to be a weapon. We forget that we actually are in a battle. Our greatest enemies, the world, the flesh, and the devil, are at war with us, even if we would rather them not be. (Ephesians 6:10-18, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5)
(A quick aside, the term the “world” is not to denote every individual on planet Earth as a mortal enemy. Rather, it denotes the system or patterns of life in the world as opposed to the system of life and pattern of life outlined in God’s kingdom.)
At the onset of the current COVID crisis, it should have been clear to us that we were entering into a battle. No, not a battle against the liberal media, or the conservative media, or Trump, or the democrats, etc., etc.
The battle was behaving like reasoned, joyful people who believe in God and truth vs. behaving like chickens with their heads cut off. I’m not writing this to affix blame to some group of Christians, nor to accuse, that would just mean that I, too, am getting my battles confused.
In this and all other future crises (big or small), the battle exists, behave like a person with hope and truth, or not.
Christian Calm
Now, back to the top: calm is one of our greatest weapons. Why? Because the world is anything but calm. People are worried; people are panicked. To make ourselves feel better, we often call our being panicked as “being prepared,” but the root is panic nonetheless (if I’m only preaching to myself here, than I’ll still say, “Amen.”)
Even in the face of great dangers, we ought to be calm people. This ought to go without saying, but our thick heads need it to be restated: we believe in a sovereign God. He is sovereign above viruses, kings, presidents, vaccines, governors, health officials, health, wealth, panic, peace, calamity, and all creation. (Ephesians 1:11, Romans 8:28, Matthew 10:29-31, Col 1:16, Isaiah 45:7-9, Proverbs 16:33, Job 42:2, Acts 4:27, etc.)
I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things.
Isaiah 45:7
In all things, God never loses grip on any aspect of our peace or our calamities. At the same moment, His purpose can never be thwarted, which means we can have calm minds because we know that all things are from His hand, for the good of His people, and they are never out of control.
Christian Clear
If we are dreadfully honest with ourselves, we would be able to say that Christians are not always the clearest thinking people on the planet. “Duh,” you say, “I just talked with my friend that voted for/against Trump,” (make your choice, either works). I’m not merely talking about the way that we vote, I’m talking about the way we interact with life as a whole.
Do we make decisions based on emotion? Do we react to our wives, husbands, kids, or friends based on truth? Do we swallow any pill thrown our way, so long as it comes from a news source we like, a conglomeration of news sources we like, or it agrees with what we want to be true all along?
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.
2 Cor. 10:4-6
Do we really do the hard work of trying to think about all things in light of scripture? And, in moments of upheaval, do we still fight as much as we can to think with our renewed minds?
As Christians, we have an opportunity to be clear thinking. Why? Because of our sovereign God, and because we have the truth! We have the source of all truth: the Word of God. It tells us all things pertaining to life and godliness. We have a clear, rational basis for our worldview that makes reality understandable. Without it, there is no basis for our science, our math, our morals, or our computer models.
Subject all things to the revelation of God’s word, first of all. This clears away the cobwebs of worry and confusion, and we are then equipped to be people that approach subjects on the basis of truth.
Though we are awash in a culture that lives and breathes emotional, unclear thinking (just watch any news outlet for a few hours), let’s be set apart by thinking clearly, and truthfully.
Christian Joy
In all moments, Christians have immense capital for joy available to them. Not only do we have absolute security of the perfect life to come, where every potential sorrow is removed, but we have absolute security today that we are in the care of a sovereign God.
We have security that every sin we’ve ever committed has been washed away, and we stand completely righteous before the Judge of all the Earth.
We have ammo to be truly joyful over the beautiful creation and comforts all around us, as well as the Creator who “Richly provides us with everything to enjoy” (1 Timothy 6:17).
The Christian must, especially when in a climate of fear and worry, repudiate despair and dive deep into hope and joy. We have no choice. We have no greater weapon. We have no greater mark to distinguish the Church by. We have no greater food and sustenance for our souls than the purposeful, abundant enjoyment of the one who has made us and saved us.
Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.
Nehemiah 8:10