Covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, which has been declared a global pandemic, has significantly affected religion (Robinson, 2020). May religious centers of worship have been closed down as governments are trying to combat the spread of the disease (Robinson, 2020). It has led to many religious leaders taking serious precautions and going to extreme measures to preach to their faithful (Kilgore, 2020). Christianity is one of the major religions in the world. Most people had been used to going to churches on Sunday to worship. As things stand, they have been forced to follow services from the safety of their homes as those churches are no longer accessible (Kilgore, 2020).
Analysis
Pandemics like Covid-19 test the perseverance of a person’s religious beliefs (Osei, 2020). As panic ensue as the disease spreads, many Christians have been sensitized on the need to remain stronger in faith and to be hopeful while at the same time praying to God for the disease to end (Osei, 2020). Religious leaders are the most influential beings in the lives of many Christians (Kilgore, 2020). The efforts they are putting in place such as streaming their services live from a safe distance helps to build their faithful ones spiritually.
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People are known to question their religious beliefs when a pandemic such as Covid-19 strikes (Law, 2020). There have been reports of people claiming that Covid-19 is a form of God’s wrath to his people. There are also reports that Covid-19 is a sign of the end of the world. Such believes can be connected to bible teachings that reference plagues and pandemics before God-made catastrophe hit the world (Osei, 2020). It is hard to dissuade someone from such believes as the intensity of their commitment to religion is immeasurable. Consequently, some preachers have taken advantage of the panic Covid-19 has struck on people to enrich themselves (Osei, 2020). That has been through sensitizing people on the need to repent their sins and embrace salvation. People who are led to believe in such individuals are known to be giving such preachers huge chunks of money in an effort to thank them.
From the above approaches, we can say that Covid-19 has shown and brought the best and the worst in most people as far as religion is concerned. People should be made aware that the only way to protect them is to isolate themselves from public gatherings and maintain social distancing (Robinson, 2020). It is not a punishment that churches and other places of worship have been closed but rather a precaution. There are no religious teachings in the bible that show God wishes His people to place themselves in situations that expose them to immortal dangers (Law, 2020). The bible teaches us that we should be responsible people and that we should take care of ourselves and loves our neighbors. Christianity is built along with such guidelines and having places of worship closed down is a way of expressing that responsibility and love to each other (Osei, 2020). As a religion, Christianity should follow the idea of protecting people.
Pastors who are misleading people by claiming that Covid-19 is God’s wrath on His people are the opposite of what Christianity should be. There have been cases of pastors praying with families of those who are sick (Kilgore, 2020). Such pastors are exercising good leadership which is supposed of Christians. They are choosing to help people keep on having faith while at the same time dealing with the hardships brought by Covid-19 (Osei, 2020). During this time when Covid-19 is devastating in many parts of the world, people need hope. People need to be told that things will get better (Law, 2020). There is a need to help them hold on to their faith and even become stronger believers (Osei, 2020). That way, when one of them falls sick to the virus, they can connect with them and help them become stronger on the knowledge that God does not abandon his people. With that in mind, a Christian can cope well even when they fall sick themselves (Osei, 2020). They do not give up and leave themselves weak. The strength and the desire patients are exercising while being treated has been known to help them get through the grip of Covid-19. Cases of heart failure and anxiety attacks are minimal when patients are courageous (Osei, 2020). As such, Christianity is helping save people by inspiring them. Christians must shun such leaders who are demoralizing people through dishonest religious teachings to save more lives (Kilgore, 2020).
Not every person has condoned to the idea of having places of worship closed and avoiding visiting them (Gostin & Wiley, 2020). Some people are still defying the orders to stay at home and visiting worship centers to worship (Robinson, 2020). Such people are placing themselves in danger of contracting Covid-19. The Diocese of Rome in Italy fought back Pope Francis’s order to close all churches. In his capacity, the Pope was having the wellbeing of the catholic faithful at heart (Robinson, 2020). He acted responsibly and those who pushed back are examples of the hardships the church has in its effort to fight Covid-19.
Many Christian teachings emphasize cordial gestures such as sharing communion, hugging and holding hands. However, that has been highly affected as social distancing has been adopted to fight the spread of Covid-19. Many Christians have been forced to conform to life without such gestures (Gostin & Wiley, 2020). Live streaming of services had been adopted. For instance, the National Cathedral in Washington, DC, recorded a significant number of viewers in March (Robinson, 2020). Also, the Pope’s daily mass has been constantly live-streamed and recorded in the Catholic Church (Robinson, 2020).
When a person falls sick to Covid-19, what they need is an environment that is working towards having them get better. Medical procedures are not the only things that help them get healed. Although religious leaders are not allowed into settings that host sick patients, what they are teaching people before they fall sick can have them adapt to the new environment. Sick people in ICUs do not have to feel lonely (Osei, 2020). Even though most of their body functions are limited, their minds can still perceive the things around them. Being n an ICU bed with the knowledge that fellow Christians and your religious leader are saying words prayers for your wellbeing is a comforting thought (Osei, 2020). When such people get out of ICU, chances are that their spiritual lives have been highly motivated and they will become stronger Christians.
People are already worried about Covid-19. Many pastors and priests have come up with various ways of talking about it to their communities without worrying people the more (Gostin & Wiley, 2020). They are offering words of prayers for the sick and encouraging people to keep on praying. The idea is to address the panic behind Covid-19 without having to talk about it (Kilgore, 2020). As they are part of the communities they are in, it is understandable when they connect with other faithful and ease the pressure already piled on them by Covid-19.
Many charity groups that associate with churches are giving donations to the people who are undersupplied. The donations are coming in the form of medical suppliers to medical institutions and food, clothing and shelter. Charity soup kitchens are still being run by the Catholic Church in Italy (Robinson, 2020). On the other side, more donations have been registered across the globe for refugees, senior citizens and low-income families (Robinson, 2020). Such charities show the willingness of religion to help each other out. It is what the world needs now. Even the Pope asked for prayers to healthcare workers and other people who are trying to keep public services working (Robinson, 2020).
Many church leaders have opted to sensitize people on the need to be cautious. Bobbi Trask, a religious leader of Fremont Presbyterian Church in Sacramento in Calif talked to senior citizens from her church who was not scared of Covid-19 (Law, 2020). The congregants have a history of having survived the hardships of World War II and the Great Depression and thought Covid-19 a minor threat (Law, 2020). By showing them that it was not about them alone, but rather every person around them, she was able to get them in line and have them take care of themselves to not affect others if they were to fall sick (Law, 2020). She is a perfect example of how the church is stepping up and helping fight the virus.
Conclusion
Christianity must help end Covid-19. Church leaders should be are that they have a great influence on the people they minister to. As such, the set precautions by authorities should not stop them from serving their people (Gostin & Wiley, 2020). They should also not mislead people through misinformation. The sick and the affected should be taken care of by the church and their faith served positively. Even though Covid-19 has led to the closure of most worship centers, new ways of preaching the word such as live streaming have proven effective (Law, 2020). As things stand, the church is playing an important role in its efforts to combat Covid-19.
References
Gostin, L. O., & Wiley, L. F. (2020). Governmental Public Health Powers During the COVID-19
Pandemic: Stay-at-home Orders, Business Closures, and Travel Restrictions. JAMA .
Law, T. (2020). How Religious Leaders Are Helping People Stay Connected in a Time of
Isolation . Time. Retrieved 18 April 2020, from https://time.com/5813521/religion-coronavirus/.
Kilgore, E. (2020). The Coronavirus Is Testing Organized Religion . Intelligencer. Retrieved 18
April 2020, from https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/03/the-coronavirus-is-testing-
organized-religion.html.
Osei, S. (2020). How one pastor is comforting his members during the COVID-19 pandemic . The
Undefeated. Retrieved 18 April 2020, from https://theundefeated.com/features/how-one-pastor-is-comforting-his-members-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/.
Robinson, K. (2020). How Are Major Religions Responding to the Coronavirus? . Council on
Foreign Relations. Retrieved 18 April 2020, from https://www.cfr.org/in-brief/how-are-major-religions-responding-coronavirus.
