Where Is A Loving God In The Pandemic?
Q: Where is a loving God in the pandemic?
A: Without wanting to be smart – he hasn’t changed. But in your question I see a big word – the word “loving”. That’s a massive clue to the answer.
Q: How so?
A: It’s only through the love of God that we can make sense of the world around us, including the pandemic. Otherwise, we’d be stuck for answers. “Loving” is a very biblical description of God – very Christian.
Q: But I’m not a Christian.
A: OK – but your question wouldn’t be asked by someone from other worldviews if they don’t use the Bible. Hindus, for example, don’t believe in “a God”. They believe that your suffering is your own fault and it will take karma to get it worked out over many re-incarnations. Islam sees everything that happens as the will of Allah including your suffering. For Buddhists, on the other hand, suffering is an illusion. It’s a sign you are still too attached to this world.
Q: Whatever – I’m just saying that, from where I’m sitting, suffering like Covid19 doesn’t look fair, does it? And anyway, I don’t actually believe in God myself – I’m not sure if I mentioned that.
A: But, if there is no God, your idea of what is fair would be as good as mine. And as far as pandemics are concerned, it would all be part of the regular violence of the natural world. It would be neither right nor wrong. We’d have to say, “Covid just is. Sorry.”
Q: OK – forget me and my ideas. Let’s talk about your God. Why did he make a world with pandemics – it’s something you must surely think about?
A: I do think about it. Two things help to keep my sanity. First, God created a good world which was later blighted when the first humans kicked back in rebellion. That wasn’t a small tragedy – it was a global catastrophe which has left us picking up the pieces ever since. Second, I’d find the world’s suffering to be head-wrecking if Jesus hadn’t intervened at the right moment to experience unimaginable suffering on our behalf. Some of my friends find this all rather embarrassing because they think the story of God’s creating the world and Jesus arriving in it is somehow passé. But it’s not passé – and it keeps my head on. This isn’t embarrassing you is it?
Q: No, no. That’s fine, if that’s your bag. And just supposing you’re right – why hasn’t your God stopped the pandemic by now?
A: I don’t know. I do know that the Bible teaches us that God inspires human beings with artful solutions to their life – like the many scientists who have worked on vaccines.
Q: You mean all those guys – and girls – are Christians?
A: Some are, some aren’t. Some recognise God’s inspiration, some don’t. And God has been inspiring scientists for ages. As Sir Ian McKellen – Gandalf from Lord of the Rings – said when he got his Covid vaccine a few months ago, “Anyone who has lived as long as I have is alive because they have had previous vaccinations.” Because I studied microbiology in college, my lab colleagues and I had to have protective vaccines at the beginning of every academic year. So I can’t even remember how many vaccinations I’ve had! Some colleagues believed in Jesus, some didn’t. Many went on to contribute significantly to medical science.
Q: So, do you have any idea when God will eventually get the world fixed?
A: Again, I don’t know. That’s another story for another day, because I know you will realise that “fixing” has to involve fixing people. That would include things like the equitable distribution of vaccines between countries, let alone the rest of the world’s problems. Very quickly this translates into changing individuals (like me say) from the inside. That is an intensely personal operation that only God can do.
But, in the meantime, all I can say is – beware of leaving out the embarrassing bits. Because I don’t think you are just a bag of chemicals. I think you were put on this earth for a purpose. I think you’re worth it.
