Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
I Corinthians 13:13 “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”
Philippians 2:3-4 “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.”
Matthew 22:37-40 “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all they soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
I recently came across a superb article published in Psychology Today. “Ethics in a Pandemic Age” was written by Dr. Michael Austin, a professor at the United States Air Force Academy (see link below). Though it is written from a secular perspective, it contains superb spiritual truths.
Dr. Austin’s thesis is that “it is a cold world where everyone only cleans up the messes they were responsible for making.” He contends that our proper response to a COVID-19 world characterized by anxiety, fear, and a concern over our own well-being is activity focused on grace, generosity, and gratitude instead of a priority on rigid rules, rights and responsibilities.
None of this discounts the importance of rules, rights, and responsibilities, but Dr. Austin contends that it is better for society if these are not the dominant considerations in our lives. For our own mental health, and for the mutual benefit of society, we are to exude grace, generosity, and gratitude.
This challenge by Dr. Austin is a perfect recipe for American Christians and American Christian churches in such an age. It is how our Saviour was victorious in a world characterized by a crisis of sin. It is how we can demonstrate our distinct worldview that loves God and loves others as our top priorities. It is the way that we can break the cycle of fear and showcase the characteristics of Christ. It is a way that we can reflect our loving God’s ability to clean up the messes of humanity that are solely our responsibility.
PLEASE PRAY FOR AMERICAN CHRISTIANS TO LIVE WITH DISTINCTION BY REFLECTING THE DIVINE. Let us lead our society through the current crisis through divine demonstrations of grace, generosity, and gratitude.
“Ethics in a Pandemic Age” can be found at:
