What should a Christian family’s response to Corona look like when we can’t… go to church… fellowship with friends… attend our class or small group?
Staying at home has become the norm. Online church has become the platform. Living out our faith has become carona-customized. In my personal Bible reading this past week in I Peter 2:11-17, I was reminded of some practical principles for families to follow when it comes to the Coronavirus and how it is affecting the way we carry out our personal faith.
In these verses, Peter lays out some timely reminders for all of us who are in this season of ‘suffering’ (vs.19). And he starts by reminding believers that we are strangers and pilgrims – we are just passing through this life. And because of that, this ought to affect our perspective about EVERYTHING in life (starting with abstaining from ‘fleshly lusts’ that he lists in verse 1). We are called to see the world through a different lens than those who consider this world to be their home.
“If all you can see is all you can see, you’re in trouble.” (Not sure who to credit this quote to, but I love it.)
Peter then goes on in these verses to share three practical reminders for us in uncertain times. (These are great things to discuss as parents with our children.) Because of who we are as believers (strangers & pilgrims), we must respond in these three ways:
We are called to live lives of honesty
Peter says that our conversation (conduct/lifestyle) is to be different than the world around us. And even though the world may accuse us of evil, our good works will prove otherwise to the glory of God.
During this season in our world, it is a time like never before for Christians to rise up and be the light that God has called us to be in a dark world (Matthew 5:16). More than people need anything else, they need hope, and true hope is only found in Jesus. Some of the ways they will see Jesus’ hands and feet at work is through us – our kindness, our prayers, our generosity, and our support.
Help your family understand that our opinions about all that is going on in the world may be valuable and important. But the world around us doesn’t need our opinions, our politics, or our rants. Right now all they need is our Jesus. As Christians, we can make a point, or we can make a difference. Let’s choose, every time, to make a difference through “honest conversation” like Peter encouraged.
We are commanded to live in submission to authority
Authority will always be a part of our lives, no matter our age. Kids need to understand this. In verses 13-15, Peter clearly commands for believers to follow the God-given authority of government (see also Romans 13:1-7). While there are definitely Biblical boundaries that government should never cross, and times when Christians must choose obedience to God over government (Acts 5:29), we must use wise discernment as to when those extreme cases arise.
In general, God has called us to submit to our authorities “for the Lord’s sake” (vs. 13) and “with well doing” (vs. 15). In other words, we don’t obey authority for us, but for Him! (Colossians 3:23-24, Ephesians 6:1)
This is not an easy time for our families, or our children, to be separated from their church and their friends. But helping our kids learn submission to God-given authority through these times in hugely important.
We can celebrate our freedom in Christ, but as servants
While our allegiance is ultimately to God, the way we use our freedom in Christ can either help or hinder the cause of Christ. We are called not to use our liberty as an excuse for wrong behavior (a cloke of maliciousness), but as the servants of God. As Christians, we are to maintain our testimony despite our differences (Romans 14:3,13). We are at times to surrender our freedoms in Christ for a greater good (Romans 14:15-16). And we are ultimately to allow our good works in the world around us to speak for themselves (I Peter 2:12,15).
The end result of doing these things is this:
- Others will “glorify God in the day of visitation”. (vs. 12)
- And our well doing will “silence the ignorance of foolish men.” (vs. 15)
I love how Peter sums it all up… because it gives us a great motto to follow for how a Christian family should respond to Corona… “Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.” Is it really possible to do all that? Apparently so, if we follow Peter’s advice.
Coronavirus and our response to it has been an ongoing topic of conversation in our home. How is your family responding? I’d encourage you to use some of these thoughts as a devotional/discussion starter in your home this week.
