I remember the 1980’s AIDS scare. People were carrying cans of disinfectant spray in fear of contracting the AIDS virus. When a Florida pastor discovered that one of his families had contracted the disease through a blood transfusion, he announced it to his congregation and to the world. The family became outcast in their church and community. Throughout the world AIDS sufferers were the new lepers – to be avoided at all cost. Even though the medical community tried to educate the public, fear prevailed. Decades later this horrible disease still afflicts, but the apocalyptic pandemic never materialized.
With the diagnoses of the first Ebola case in the USA, we are again watching politicians and medical professionals as they struggle to educate the public. Frankly, because of the tendency of the political class to “spin” the news (aka, lie to the public) their words are greeted with skepticism. The truth is that with the advent of global travel, there is no such thing as a localized outbreak. This was effectively demonstrated in the movie Rise of the Planet of the Apes in which an engineered virus decimated the human population of the earth. The spread of the virus was global because of air travel.
When Dr. Kent Brantly contracted Ebola in Liberia, Africa and was transported to the US for care, many talking heads suggested that we should shut down travel and place the affected areas under quarantine. Now that we have the threat of Ebola taking root in Texas and possibly spreading across the county fear is growing. The missionary healthcare professionals who are trying to help the suffering are being maligned. Donald Trump griped that do-gooders trying to save Africa should be prepared to “suffer the consequences.”
Politicians and medical professionals need to be diligent in protecting the public from the spread of these diseases. But, that is not my point here. My point is how should Christians respond in the face of such pestilence?
Jesus was a healer, and his disciples are called to be healers. When lepers were quarantined from society and considered untouchable, Jesus touched them (Matthew 8:2-3). Jesus commissioned his disciples to preach the gospel and heal the sick (Mark 6:13; 16:18). Anointing with oil – the anointed touch – was a sacramental rite in the apostolic church (James 5:14-15).
Healing the sick cannot be limited to prayer and sacrament. In spite of many prayers of faith, many people suffer and eventually succumb to their disease. Often, these diseases are communicable. In such situations Christians are called to be ministers of mercy, often putting their lives at risk. Christian medical professionals and volunteers who dedicate their lives to such tasks are heroes of the Faith and deserve our prayers and support. Those who suffer from disease need our compassion and prayers as well.
The Black Death decimated Europe during the 14th century. Best estimates are that at least 75 million people perished. In spite of the inherent risk Christian monks and nuns cared for the dying, many of whom perished themselves. Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, “When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.” The nature of Christian ministry – to go into all the world – is full of risks. That’s why we need “power from on high” (Luke 24:49). The Holy Spirit empowers us to overcome our fears and boldly demonstrate the love and mercy of Christ (Acts 4:31; 2 Timothy 1:7).
