Coronavirus Judgement or Jubilee
There are some tedious and boring comments flying around that claim that the virus is somehow part of God’s idea to reek judgement on the earth, quoting obscure Old Testament verses out of context or scouring the book of Revelation trying to find prophesies of doom. This is nonsense and gives a false impression of God and what He is about.
If this was God’s judgement it would be targeting the oppressor and not the weak and vulnerable.
God is marvelling at the resourcefulness of humanity to tackle the threat of the virus, smiling at the acts of kindness and shaking His head at the acts of selfishness.
There is a poem in the book called Ecclesiastes that records the musings of an old philosopher trying to understand what life is about. He notices that the rhythm of life is made up of different times, seasons and events. This time is just one of these. Epidemics have happened through history.
A better way of looking at this time is to see it as a type of jubilee. Jubilee is a time of rest where some activities stop allowing a period of redemption and renewal. God wants us to enjoy His rest (not a lack of work, but a lack of meaningless toil), that results ultimately in fulfilment of our potential. Jubilee is a time of freedom from past debts and problems that have trapped and enslaved us.
Jesus proclaims the year of jubilee in himself, and brings freedom from anything that binds us. Redemption is a ransom paid with a price.
In a time of jubilee life is a lot simpler. It allows time to enjoy family and friendships.
This is a chance for the earth and it’s environment to take a rest from our battering. This earth is our responsibility. In the Genesis creation songs God makes it clear that He has entrusted the planet into our care. We are to name the creatures. As we are aware when bringing up children, naming also means nurturing to a point of full potential. Some animals are still becoming extinct before we discover and name them.
This time is only temporary. It provides the opportunity of a new start.
It enables a renewed approach to church and worship. The meaning of ‘church’ has nothing to do with buildings (even those inaccurately called churches). Church is people who are followers of Jesus, those who express what humanity should be like.
‘Worship’ has nothing to do with people gathering once a week in a building to carry out some rituals. God doesn’t want this. Isaiah expressed how God feels about it, his boredom, weariness and even hatred of such worthless behaviour. Instead He wants us to hear and obey Him, through Jesus to learn to do good, seek justice, reprove the ruthless, defend the orphan and plead for the widow.
This time can be productive. When we move from this time into the next, it does not have to be a return to how life was before. It is an opportunity to change to a new time expressing more clearly God’s purpose for humanity.
The central focus of the book of Revelation revolves around the church revealing what humanity will be like, people who see Jesus and hear the Holy Spirit and allow them to be revealed in their lives. The diseases, famine and wars are all a sideshow that will be overcome. The most important signs of the end times are not the disasters but the revelation of people jointly expressing humanity as redeemed by Jesus and transformed by the Holy Spirit.
Background Passages
Ecclesiastes Chapter 3
Genesis Chapter 2
Isaiah Chapter 1
Luke Chapter 4
Seeing Jesus Revelation Chapter 1
Hearing the Spirit Revelation Chapters 2 on