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Anti-Lockdown Protests and the Christian

I was shocked to see people marching in the streets on Saturday 24th July. Thousands flocked to the streets of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane to demonstrate against public health orders to wear masks and to stay at home. It was reminiscent of the marches in America driven by far right-wing activism. I am not seeking to push any political agenda in this matter. With time and much reflection, I believe that there will be many lessons to be learnt by State and Federal governments and agencies about how to best handle pandemics in the future. But the overwhelming motivation for us all must be to care for those who are the most vulnerable in our society and to put the needs of the whole of Australia above our own. 

Even more scary for me, as a person of deep Christian faith, is the emergence of religious overtones in the debate. CSA advocates strongly for religious freedoms and protections. To see faith used as a reason not to follow public health orders is one thing, but to use poor theology as the justification for one’s actions brings all Christians into disrepute and does a disservice to the gospel.

A Timely Reminder

John Dickson, in a recent online post, provided a timely reminder from the great third-century theologian and martyr, Cyprian of Carthage, that the blood of Jesus does not protect Christians from disease. Amidst the pandemic of AD250, Bishop Cyprian wrote to his people begging them not to imagine believers receive special protections.

Eternity News provides a good article on this topic and it might be useful to educate school communities about what the Bible does say about this topic.

For me, I am reminded of the impact the Christians had upon society in the 2nd and 3rd Centuries with their practical witness during two great plagues. They did not flee in times of pandemic and sickness, as the wealthy and elite of society did. Rather, they remained steadfast, even when these pandemics lasted years (In 156, small pox lasted 15 years in Rome). They cared not only for their own sick, but those of unbelievers also. This witness of love gave the faith great credibility and caused the church to grow astronomically. William H. McNeill points out in his book, Plagues and Peoples, that Christian nursing would have reduced mortality by as much as two-thirds! We have such a powerful witness to share in caring for and loving our community. (Biloa Univeristy have released an interesting article on this topic). We bring the true light of the gospel when we profess our love through self-less acts of service than through protesting our individual wants and rights.