Thanks Dave. It is unfortunate if the narrative of judgement is being used as a narrative not to care. We absolutely must care sacrificially for those on the margins. But the Bible is also absolutely clear that God is sovereign over the rise and fall of nations and why this happens. In other words, we have enough direct revelation in Scripture itself (eg. Ezk 14:12-23; Amos 1:1-2:5, 3:6,7; Daniel 2:21, 4:17; Jeremiah 46-50; Acts 17:26 etc). Judgement on Israel is of course within the terms of the Old Covenant (the curses of Deut 28:15-68; Lev 26:14-46 etc) but the nations are under God’s judgement too as they are all in breach of the creation ordinances of the beginning of Genesis both before and after the flood. See also passages like Rom 1:18-32; Rev 9:20-21, 16:8-11, 21:8, 22:15 which list specific sins in end stage cultures like ours. This is all very clear in Scripture. We do not need special direct revelation. I think that we just need to read the Bible. I think too that there is a danger of emphasising the fallen world narrative to an extent that we miss God’s continuing active work throughout history and his absolute sovereignty over everything that happens on planet earth. We should not be agnostic about these things when God’s Word is clear.

Thanks for these helpful comments Ben. You are of course right about the love of God but my intention here was to make the key point about God’s sovereignty over this event and the need for Christians especially in the West to repent.

We are generally very good at speaking about God’s love but I’m not sure that we always understand it biblically given how often we doubt his love when trouble strikes.

The Bible’s most famous verse John 3:16 explains how God’s love is shown – in sending his Son so that through faith in him we might not perish but have eternal life.

In other words, God’s love enables us to obtain eternal life and escape hell and damnation in the next life rather than maximise pleasure and escape pain and suffering in this one.

I agree heartily that this is a time to preach the Gospel but without the reality of judgment and the need for repentance the Gospel does not make sense.

I think we are very good today at preaching a ‘therapeutic Gospel’ that is primarily about God wanting us to enjoy success and avoid suffering in this life.

When Christians understand the Gospel in this way they will find it much harder to cope with times such as these and are more likely to fall by the wayside.

I agree also that we see God’s mercy in this epidemic – it is very serious but it could have been so much worse – imagine a virus with the virulence of Ebola and the infectiousness of measles or chickenpox. But hell is of course far worse than that and the pattern we see in Scripture is of escalating warnings. This is only the beginning of what is coming.

Yes, God wants no one to perish and so delays his return (2 Peter 3:9) but we know that many will indeed perish on the day of judgement which is why it is so important that we heed his warnings.

We must not show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience as God’s kindness is intended to lead us to repentance (Romans 2:4).

I’m Ben, I’m studying theology and I have a lot of thoughts too regarding how we as Christians should be interpreting this crisis theologically.

I agree with everything you’ve said – that it’s God’s will for this virus to spread, in order to incite Christians to repentance, particularly in areas of wealth inequality – sharing what we have with those in need (Luke 3:11). I also think it’s a call to obey Jesus’ command to preach the Gospel the world. Those two things go hand in hand, living and preaching the Gospel. I believe this virus has created many more opportunities to be doing those things.

However, I think it’s also really important to emphasise how God’s love fits into all this. Everything God does comes out of his love – because God is love (1 John 4:8).

I believe that God loves everyone – as Scripture says, the Lord is “not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9. And God “relents from sending calamity” (Joel 2:13).

So yes, I think it is an act of God’s judgement, but he does this because He loves the world – and I think we can be certain that this is, tragically, the only way God can get his people to repent and to wake up to Jesus’ calling, with the least amount of suffering possible (and that is clearly still an enormous amount – but we can also see God’s grace in that the percentages are not higher).

I also believe that God walks with us, as Christians, in these things. He loves us no less when we fall short because we are in Christ – we have already been “sealed for the day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:30).

But yes, now is absolutely the time to humble ourselves, seek God’s face and repent – and proclaim his Salvation to the world.