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CORONAVIRUSA SPECIAL ANALYSIS

10 Biblical Principles & Practical Tips for Christians in the COVID-19 Pandemic

A BIBLICAL AND PRACTICAL GUIDE

DR. ELIZABETH MITCHELL, DR. ANDREW FABICH, BODIE HODGE, AND KEN HAM

TABLE OF CONTENTSIntro: What Is Coronavirus/COVID-19? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Biblical Principles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3Biblical Principle #1: The Pandemic Reminds Us of Our Mortality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Biblical Principle #2: Disease & Death Entered Creation Through Sin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Biblical Principle #3: How Jesus Dealt with the Problem of Suffering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Biblical Principle #4: God Will Provide for Our Needs Day by Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Biblical Principle #5: God Has the Right to Judge the World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Practical Tips. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91. Limit Exposure for Older Persons,

Especially with Pre-Existing Conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

2. Maintain Good Hygiene to Protect Your Family . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

3. Preserve Spiritual Disciplines when Governments Prohibit Church Attendance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

4. Redeem the Time with Your Family . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

5. Share Christ’s Love During the Pandemic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Idea #1: Go to the store for an elderly friend or neighbor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Idea #2: Share the gospel with a person who is rightfully worried. . . . . . . 13

Idea #3: Share biblical truths on social media. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Idea #4: Put together a medical mission team in your church. . . . . . . . . . . 14

Idea #5: Purchase personal hygiene products in high demand. . . . . . . . . . 14

Idea #6: Create/distribute tracts for people receiving care products. . . . . . 14

Conclusion: Trust God During the Pandemic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Endnotes & Photo Credits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

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The goal of this special report is to provide Christians with a biblical and practical guide for the COVID-19 global pandemic. This resource is designed to give you biblical principles and essential practical tips to help you think like a Christian during this critical time in our history.

Published April 2020

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WHAT iS CORONAViRUS/COViD-19?

Things are challenging in the world right now.

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) identified COVID-19 as an official pandemic.1 Since its discovery, science and news outlets have reported on the current spread to over a million COVID-19 coronavirus cases and tens of thousands of deaths—see updated data from Worldometers.info.

The COVID-19 virus hit the world by storm when the Chinese government began reporting a mysterious virus causing pneumonia-like symptoms that had been infecting many of its citizens. We now know that the novel coronavirus of 2019–2020 (which causes COVID-19) likely originated in bats and jumped the species barrier into the human population (probably in a food market located in the Wuhan province).2

Coronavirus is a broad term to describe an entire family of viruses. The corona-virus family is known to infect a wide

range of animals and humans, including the SARS outbreak in the early 2000s and the MERS outbreak more recently. This family of viruses can cause many different symptoms affecting the lungs, liver, kidneys, GI tract, and nervous tissue. COVID-19 is a respiratory infection spread by aerosol droplets like other diseases.

While not the first pandemic to strike the modern world, the need to contain it and slow its spread has rightly captured the attention of every household, business, church, and government. In this infor-mation age, the latest news about the dangers of COVID-19 and how to stop its worldwide rampage saturate us.

The goal of this special report is to help Christians consider the most important things during the COVID-19 pandemic. So we compiled five biblical principles and five practical tips for Christians to remember as they navigate this health and economic event affecting everyone.

INTRO:

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BiBLiCAL PRiNCiPLES

Although the Bible doesn’t specifically mention COVID-19 or coronavirus, there are several biblical principles that are essential to remember during this event.

Here are five principles taken directly from the Scriptures that relate to the current pandemic.

BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE #1: THE PANDEMIC REMINDS US OF OUR MORTALITY

During this pandemic, we have all heard, seen, or read stories of people dying. Our mortality is on display for everyone to see. Simply put, we all die.

And so many people right now are fearful of dying from this disease. Now, don’t get us wrong: we need to do our best to look after our health and protect our families, but this situation should remind us that, ultimately, death comes to everyone. In Luke, we read about Jesus discussing death:

Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who

lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. (Luke 13:4–50) 3

Note Jesus’ response to a tragic event during his own day: “Repent.”

When Jesus discussed those people who were killed in the tower tragedy, he noted it was their turn to die. And one day it will be your turn. So make sure your heart is right before the Lord. The overriding issue is that people need to be saved! Yes, what we see happening around us is alarming from a human perspective, but Christians shouldn’t fear death. We should be helping those who do fear it hear the most vital message of all time: the saving gospel.

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BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE #2: DISEASE & DEATH ENTERED CREATION THROUGH SIN

COVID-19 didn’t appear out of nowhere. In the roughly 6,000 years since the fall of mankind in Eden, death and suffering have plagued our world. One of the ways this has happened is through the effects of viral illnesses and other infectious diseases. Things have indeed gone horribly wrong.

As we live out our lives in this sin-cursed world, we know that every one of us is already living under the sentence of death from the moment our lives begin. While we continue living and loving, caring for each other, discover-ing the secrets of science, creating things that improve the world, and enjoying the many blessings, activities, and relation-ships open to us, we all know that our days are limited. One day we will die.

Death is the ultimate enemy, and it will surely snatch us away from those we love (1 Corinthians 15:26). Death will leave behind a gaping hole in the lives of those who love each of us.

Death entered the world because of mankind’s sin. And God, in his perfect justice, could not just change the rules once man rebelled. In his mercy, God introduced hope beyond death (Romans 5:19). He provided a way to restore the broken relationships between sinful man and holy God, a way to demon-strate his love for every person. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, became human to bear the curse of death on a bloody cross. He then defeated death by rising from the dead. Anyone who trusts in the sacrifice Jesus Christ made on the cross can have confidence that, after death, they too will live eternally forever in heaven.

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:56–57)

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BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE #3: HOW JESUS DEALT WITH THE PROBLEM OF SUFFERING

Tragedies are not new to humanity. Throughout history, people have dealt with events like COVID-19—including Jesus. How did Jesus deal with the problem of suffering in his day?

During his earthly years, Jesus was once asked by his disciples why a particular man had been born blind. Jesus acknowl-edged that there are lots of reasons people suffer, avoiding his disciples’ simplistic suggestions. But then Jesus told them that this particular man’s affliction would end up bringing glory to God, and he miracu-lously healed him. Here’s the beginning of the account in John 9:1–3, 6–7:

As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.” . . . Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man’s eyes with the mud and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing.

Jesus physically healed this man. And later, as described in John 9, that man came to understand that Jesus was truly God’s Son. Jesus spiritually healed this man too.

Think about the healed man. Suffering was the way to bring him back to God. He was born blind but came to see his trial as a way to bring God glory in his life. When he encountered Jesus and was healed by him, he believed in him as his Savior through his trial. The man’s pain and suffering turned into joy at his healing and salvation.

In the same way, this COVID-19 trial can become a way that many may be healed spiritually through Jesus. This trial of a global pandemic, social distancing, empty grocery shelves, and economic hardship can highlight the most important need: our spiritual need. And strangely, that may be the thing that we need the most.

C.S. Lewis once wrote, “Pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”

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Pain gets our attention, prompting us to ask where it came from and what we can do to protect those we love. Priorities come into sharp focus and scream to be reeval-uated when the things we value most are

threatened. Pandemics even terrify many into considering what awaits when we leave this world. Let’s be ready with the answers people need.

BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE #4: GOD WILL PROVIDE FOR OUR NEEDS DAY BY DAY

This coronavirus pandemic has been unnerving on many levels. From a health perspective, we are worried about our well-being and even our lives. From an economic perspective, we are worried about our financial well-being: How are we going to live without amassing mounds of debt?

In this situation, it’s so easy for us as fallible humans to look at the storm (the waves and wind) raging around us so we begin to sink as Peter did (see Matthew 14). We need to do our best

to focus on our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, and take hold of his promises.

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)

Yes, he promises to supply our spiritual needs and our physical needs. The following passage is the one Ken Ham and his wife, Mally, read in the 1970s when they were agonizing over Ken leaving a secure teaching job and going into the cre-ation-apologetics ministry full time.

Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about

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clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

Therefore do not be anxious, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?” For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:25–33)

After reading this passage and praying, Ken and Mally committed before the Lord to move full time into what has become the Answers in Genesis ministry. And look at what God has done through the

years, impacting millions of people with the truth of God’s Word and the gospel through Answers in Genesis, the Creation Museum, and the Ark Encounter.

In the same way, Christians can trust God to take care of his own people. If God cares for grass and birds and ministries like Answers in Genesis, he certainly will care for you. So whatever you’re going through, trust God to carry you through this experience because of his great love and concern for his people.

BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE #5: GOD HAS THE RIGHT TO JUDGE THE WORLD

COVID-19 is certainly serious. The effects of this virus outbreak are significant as seen by numerous deaths, forced business closures, financial market-stopping events, and worldwide panic in the 21st century.

As of the time of this printing, active cases of COVID-19 have surpassed a million and deaths are tens of thousands and

rising. The transmission rate appears to be higher than the seasonal flu and is one of the reasons governments have been so concerned. Add to this that governments have shut down commerce and are taking emergency measures to stem the rapid spread of COVID-19 in an effort to lower the rate of transmission, it looks very much like a plague.

Ken and Mally Ham before moving to the USA.

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Though we shouldn’t presume God’s intention through this pandemic, certainly God has reason to judge humanity. Prior to all the shutdowns in America alone,

3,000+ babies were being murdered every day through abortion (far more than what COVID-19 kills). Sexual immorality is running rampant in the LGBT movement and in the church. As a culture, we have largely abandoned God’s Word as a standard for right and wrong and replaced it with man’s word. It’s easy to see why God would judge the world. But to say the COVID-19 outbreak qualifies as a plague similar to biblical plagues is too far.

However, God will not withhold his righteous anger forever. All sin is ulti-mately a direct offense to him. And in time, God will judge the world. “Because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead” (Acts 17:31).

Signage from the new Starting Points exhibit at the Creation Museum.

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PRACTiCAL TiPS

Here are five practical tips to consider during the coronavirus outbreak. These include safety tips to limit possible

infection and spiritual tips to make the best use of your time during this outbreak.

1. LIMIT EXPOSURE FOR OLDER PERSONS, ESPECIALLY WITH PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS

To stay safe from the coronavirus, if you are an older person, especially with a pre-existing condition like diabetes, hypertension, cancer, and cardiovascular or chronic respiratory disease, to remain isolated from those who may be unwell. Use services that will limit your exposure to other people who may be infected. Ask for assistance while you stay home from healthy family, neighbors, church members, or from local social services. That will lower your risk for catching the coronavirus.

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2. MAINTAIN GOOD HYGIENE TO PROTECT YOUR FAMILY

There are several things you can do to protect yourself and your family from the coronavirus.

• First of all, wash your hands. The primary way we could make ourselves sick is by touching our faces. If you pick up the coronavirus by coming in contact with some con-taminated surface, you will likely give it to yourself by touching your face. The CDC recommends washing your hands for 20 seconds (they suggest hand sani-tizers work, although not as well as washing with soap and water).4

• Second, when out in public, maintain a six-foot separation between yourself and other people.

• Third, if meeting someone, use an “elbow bump” instead of a handshake.

• Fourth, avoid touching common objects when out in public.

• Fifth, stay away from coughing people to reduce your exposure.

• Sixth, if you are the person coughing, cough into your elbow and minimize how much travels through the air or gets on your hands.

• Seventh, make those around you aware of any international travel you have done since December 2019 (making you a potential carrier).

• And last but not least, be prepared, and do what you need to do (within the constraints of government recommendations and mandates) as any other day because we know that God is sovereign and can handle a disease outbreak like this.

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3. PRESERVE SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES WHEN GOVERNMENTS PROHIBIT CHURCH ATTENDANCE

The COVID-19 outbreak has changed many things about our lives, including how we do church. Most houses of worship have suspended meetings altogether to stop the spread of the virus. But this begs the question how Christians should respond.

On the one hand, the Bible tells us to maintain Christian fellowship. The author of Hebrews tells us not to neglect meeting together “as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:25).

On the other hand, the Bible tells us to submit to our civil leaders. Paul instructs us, “Let every person be subject to the governing authori-ties. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have

been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment” (Romans 13:1–2).

Christ also instructs us to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39). During this time of pandemic, the most loving thing we can do is practice social distancing which means not meeting together in the church building (and this also obeys governing authorities). But remember, the church is not a building, it’s made of people who compose the body of Christ. Here are a few ways to preserve spiritual disciplines in this unique time in our history.

• Spend personal time in God’s Word and prayer.

• Use technology to have spiritual conversations with other brothers and sisters in Christ: phone calls, FaceTime, emails, messaging apps, etc.

• Attend virtual services at your church’s appointed times. If your church does not have an online service, find a good Bible-based church that does. You may not be able to attend in person right now, but you should be able to join online.

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4. REDEEM THE TIME WITH YOUR FAMILY

We can so easily get carried away with worldly pleasures—not to say we should never have fun and relax. But this crisis situation in our country and the rest of the world has reminded us that there’s a lost world that desper-ately needs the gospel.

We need reminding to be “making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:16 ESV). The KJV says “redeeming the time.” In other words, God wants us to use our time in the best way possible.

First, use the time with your family in a productive way. Turn off those devices and unplug as a family. If you’re not already in the habit, try a family worship, prayer, or Bible-reading time. This could be a great way to “redeem the time” and connect with God together. Second, each of us can reappraise our priorities right now in regard to a diligent use of the time the Lord

has given us. We should take the best advantage of the time we have available andnot squander it. Time marches on, and none of it can be recalled. There is no better use of our time than to share the Word of God and the gospel to see people saved. Indeed the days are evil, and many are on their way to hell.

5. SHARE CHRIST’S LOVE DURING THE PANDEMIC

We need to be risk takers. Whether COVID-19 is ravaging the country or not, we should continue to step out in faith. God has instructed us to preach the gospel (Mark 16:15) and contend for the faith (Jude 3). We can

easily be intimidated by the world. But don’t be overcome at how evil and overwhelming the world is. God’s Word warns us to expect it. Let’s get out there and do what we can.

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Here are six practical ways Christians can share Christ’s love during the pandemic:

Idea #1: Go to the store for an elderly friend or neighbor.

Because some people can’t get out due to health concerns, that doesn’t mean you can’t go for them. Connect with an older person or a person who is immunocompromised and go to the store for them.

Idea #2: Share the gospel with a person who is rightfully worried.

Unbelievers are unsure of what to expect after death. They have a reason to be worried in this pandemic since they are without forgiveness and eternal hope at this time. Share the gospel with them. “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15).

Idea #3: Share biblical truths on social media.

You can post Bible verses that point people to spiritual truths. You can also share content from AnswersinGenesis.org. We have thousands of articles on our website that answer common questions people have about Christianity and the Bible. These are some of our more popular articles:

What Are the Most Important Questions?

How Long Did It Take Noah To Build The Ark?

How Old Is The Earth?

Does The Bible Teach That the Earth is Flat?

Arguments to Avoid: Women Have More Ribs Than Men

Dinosaurs and the Bible

Where Was The Garden of Eden Located?

Did People Like Adam and Noah Really Live Over 900 Years of Age?

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Idea #4: Put together a medical mission team in your church.

Similar to Samaritan’s Purse, you can help people close to home. The beauty of such a team is that, since infectious disease outbreaks happen regularly, having something in place will mobilize the church moving forward.

Idea #5: Purchase personal hygiene products in high demand.

We need to quit making memes about the shortages of toilet paper and hand sanitizer worldwide and begin to realize that people perceive these items as a need. Churches should responsibly stock up on these supplies for distribution to their local communities. Ideas for this include taking supplies to your community or putting together fliers indicating that your church is distrib-uting free personal hygiene products. And if people quit overbuying these

supplies, why wouldn’t the church not use the same items for its members during weekly services? It just makes sense to promote good personal hygiene because it is ultimately derived from a biblical worldview.

Idea #6: Create/distribute tracts for people receiving care products.

Have someone creative and biblical write a tract for distribution to each person receiving the personal hygiene products. What a travesty to meet people’s physical needs and neglect to tell them about their most important spiritual need: a relation-ship with the Creator Redeemer Jesus Christ.

Need Gospel Tracts? Order our Gospel Tracts Mega Pack

Everyone is talking about the coronavirus, so why should the church remain silent and not offer solutions instead of bemoaning the current panic. The church is called to be salt and light to this world (Matthew 5:13–14). We can be salt by promoting personal hygiene during this time of crisis. And we can be light to those in spiritual darkness, exposing their sin problem and sharing Christ.

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TRUST GOD DURiNG THE PANDEMiC

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a difficult trial for many people. On the health front, over a million people have been ill and tens of thousands of people have died. On the economic front, millions of people have lost their jobs, and many more have been emotionally affected by the events.

And yet, God is still in control of the universe.

After all the bad things that happened, God reminded Job who he is—the Creator who is in charge of all things. Job’s response should be our response:

I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. “Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?” Therefore I have uttered what I

did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. “Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you make it known to me.” I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes. (Job 42:2–6)

God knows all things and we humans do not. God’s purposes are beyond our under-standing. We need to recognize who we are compared to God. We need to repent before God. And we need to worship God. Ultimately, as Christians, we need to trust God during this coronavirus trial that he works all things together for our good (Romans 8:28).

CONCLUSION:

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ENDNOTES1 World Health Organization, “WHO Director-General’s opening remarks at the media briefing on COVID-19” March 11,

2020, https://www.who.int/dg/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-media-briefing-on-covid-19---11-march-2020.

2 X. Li, et al., “Evolutionary history, potential intermediate animal host, and cross-species analyses of SARS-CoV-2,” Journal of Medical Virology, February 27, 2020, doi: 10.1002/jmv.25731, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32104911.

3 Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved

4 https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/2019-ncov-factsheet.pdf

PHOTO CREDiTS Cover Getty Images/istockphoto layritten

4 Answers in Genesis Dan Lietha 5 Answers in Genesis Austin DeGroot 6 Getty Images/istockphoto RealPeopleGroup 7 Answers in Genesis 8 Answers in Genesis Cameron Suter 9 Answers in Genesis 10 Getty Images/istockphoto elenabs 11 Getty Images/istockphoto fstop123 12 Getty Images/istockphoto lisegagne 13 Getty Images/istockphoto freemixer 13 Getty Images/istockphoto CASEZY 14 Getty Images/istockphoto Arsenii Palivoda