Ebola: The Calm Before The Storm

[Title Photo Attribution: Used Under Fair Use Act. Original Photo Posted Here]

The outbreak of the Ebola virus has the imaginations of Westerners everywhere running wild. Fueled by Hollywood’s desire to market fear, people everywhere are calling relevance to movies, TV shows, and novels about mass scale epidemics and, even, the zombie apocalypse. The media is not helping the cause either. They find ways to get us to keep coming back for more information. I can’t say I am outside the circle on this one. I have already pulled up a few news sites to get my daily update on the Ebola virus.

As Christians, It’s important that we not get carried away with what’s happening, or what could happen. We need to remain sober minded and fight to be the some of clearest thinkers out there, especially now. It is in times of great stress and fear that the church needs to be calmest; a chorus in the chaos, if you will.

See what I did there?

Fear and uncertainty are everywhere. As the church, we have an opportunity, and a responsibility, to direct people to the voice of truth and away from mob mentality of the crowd. Unfortunately, there are some who are using their voice not to not help, but hurt. Consider some comments made made by Christian Broadcaster Rick Wiles, on his radio show, a few weeks ago:

“Now this Ebola epidemic can become a global pandemic and that’s another name for plague. It may be the great attitude adjustment that I believe is coming. Ebola could solve America’s problems with atheism, homosexuality, sexual promiscuity, pornography and abortion. If Ebola becomes a global plague, you better make sure the blood of Jesus is upon you, you better make sure you have been marked by the angels so that you are protected by God. If not, you may be a candidate to meet the Grim Reaper.” Read the full article on Huffington Post

There are so many things off-base with this statement, I hardly know where to begin..

First of all, how is Ebola going to solve “America’s problems?” Our problems are far worse than Rick is giving credit. Our problems are start deep in all our sinful hearts. Not just the brief list of people Rick wants highlight. It is present in you, me, your neighbor, the president, and even your pastor. It’s absurd to think any virus is going stop people from looking at pornography or pursuing an abortion. I have my doubts about that it can “change the attitude” toward sin of Americans either. A virus has no power change people; only kill. Only God, through his grace can change hearts.

And while, Rick does make a reference to the blood of Jesus. It is said with so little love and so little care for those in hearing that it might as well be rendered useless. Don’t misunderstand me, I am all for the preaching of the gospel. I believe that our preaching should reflect Christ crucified and that message can, and often is, offensive. But this is hardly a proclamation of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It sounds more like a prideful blast of narcissism, declaring how good Rick is since he is not like those sinners over there.

The only reason any Christian can claim the blood of Jesus is because of the work of God in them. There is no room for narcissistic comments like this. We are all broken, empty, and hopeless vessels without Christ. It doesn’t take a terrible virus to change an attitude towards sin; it takes God. You, me, and Rick Wiles are no better than anyone else on this planet. We are all completely dependent on God for salvation and an attitude change.

When the church is before a storm, like Ebola, she needs to remain calm and focused. Christians ought to be  the soundest thinkers and offering some of the best advice. We need to be on the front lines meeting needs of our broken world. In doing this, we are given an amazing privilege from the creator of the universe, to share the wonderful gospel of Jesus Christ with a lost world. Let’s remind those around us that God is still in control. He is not frazzled and trying to figure out what to do. He is the sovereign voice of reason we all need to hear and share.

In the spirit of sound thinking and trying to help – let me say a few brief things about Ebola.

I understand that Ebola is scary. I have read the reports and seen the pictures. But Ebola, unlike The Flu, is not an airborne disease. The truth of it is, statistically, you have a better chance of getting HIV than Ebola. Take a look at this graphic from a report originally posted by NPR:

“The reproduction number, or “R nought,” is a mathematical term that tells you how contagious an infectious disease is. Specifically, it’s the number of people who catch the disease from one sick person, on average, in an outbreak.”

So while, Ebola is a serious disease and we should pay very close attention.  Let’s not jump to conclusions and assume the world is coming to an end. It is not a “global epidemic” as Rick Wiles called it. There is an outbreak but that (nor the media) should drive Christians to fear. Let’s have a healthy respect for what it is and how to handle it. This is a chaotic world who needs to hear a voice of reason.

What do you think are some ways Christians can serve those countries and communities battling the Ebola virus?