Guest Column by Tom Walker
In light of the current COVID-19 pandemic, consider the wisdom in this directive God had provided the Israelites through Moses:
45 “Anyone with such a defiling disease must wear torn clothes, let their hair be unkempt, cover the lower part of their face and cry out, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’
46 As long as they have the disease, they remain unclean. They must live alone; they must live outside the camp.” (Leviticus 13:45-46 NIV)
In the above passage one who is sick is not to put others at risk of catching his illness. He is to warn others by way of appearance, wear a mask, verbally warn others to keep back, and isolate oneself from those not sick. He must continue to do so “as long as” he has “the disease.”
The implications in this passage may be difficult for some to accept, but believers can and will become sick and may spread their contagion to other believers “in the camp.” Believers have a responsibility to warn others when they are contagious. When one has the flu or COVID-19, it is a duty upon us to warn others and isolate ourselves to prevent its spread. That concern to protect others is an act of love.
It is an act of love, not cowardice, for churches not to meet in person during a pandemic to protect its members. “The camp” may be at risk if those with a disease don’t stay “outside.” In the case of COVID-19, many people because they are asymptomatic (i.e. “showing no symptoms”) unknowingly have it and are unwittingly carrying the disease to others.
Also, we must have concern for our neighbors and family. Consider these words of the Apostle Paul:
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,
4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. (Philippians 2:3-4)
Unfortunately, a few are viewing this COVID-19 crisis as no big deal because they are young and healthy. This is an egocentric attitude that neglects concern for high risk groups such as our elderly or those with underlying health conditions. The attitude of that our life and our freedom revolves unrestricted around us is reckless and destructive. At the ends of our noses is where our freedom ends and where the next person’s begin. Your neighbor’s best welfare MUST be your concern, and we are not to put him at risk. Don’t infringe upon his life and create a crisis for him and his family.
Do we love our neighbor? Do we love our family? Take action to protect oneself to protect them. Being self-centered and saying I am young and healthy and this virus won’t bother me makes you are a problem to society. None of us is an island to himself. Disrespecting our vulnerable is a horrible attitude.
Tom Walker holds an MA and an MDiv from Abilene Christian University. Most recently he has served several years as a hospice chaplain. He can be reached at caddoraccoon@gmail.com