Why so much fear?

Why are so many Christians afraid of the Coronavirus? Are you afraid of dying? (You shouldn't be) Are you afraid to leave your house? I had to leave the chat because the constant fear mongering was driving me nuts. We as Christians can not let fear deter us from where the Holy Spirit leads us. We should pray for the sick, heal the sick, welcome(opposite of avoid) the sick without fear, as Jesus would have. Maybe I am crazy, but there is no love in fearing the sick, avoiding the sick, or not praying in person/laying on hands, for the sick. Where there is no love there is no God, for God is love.

Be careful! You will be lablled a sectarian…………...or worse. Of course our Savior was called worse wasn't He?

At this point, I'm beginning to welcome death.

Goes on record saying...

I am so sad for the family and friends of those who have died from this virus. However, it seems we humans are overreacting at this stage. There are so many causes of death, number one being living.

Jesus remains in control, simple as that.

I think the broad brush you are using about Christians, isn't completely accurate though. With some, however, 100% yes. As far as I am concerned, you are so spot on with this...

We as Christians can not let fear deter us from where the Holy Spirit leads us. We should pray for the sick, heal the sick, welcome(opposite of avoid) the sick without fear, as Jesus would have.

With His help, may we never allow fear mongering to affect our personal rejoicing in the Lord.

This chat is blessed with you and your honest words to encourage our faith, rather than our fears.

Of course there is fear but we must also be cautious. Concern is different than fear.

People in Hawaii who were diagnosed with leprosy were exiled to an isolated peninsula attached to one of the tiniest and least-populated islands. Details on the history of the colony—known as Kalaupapa, records suggest that at least 8,000 individuals were forcibly removed from their families and relocated to Kalaupapa over a century starting in the 1860s.

Father Damien, a canonized saint who contracted leprosy while living in Kalaupapa. Here are some of his thoughts.

I feel no disgust when I hear the confessions of those near their end, whose wounds are full of maggots...This may give you some idea of my daily work. Picture to yourself a collection of huts with 800 Lepers. No doctor; in fact, as there is no cure, there seems no place for a doctor's skill.

I make myself a leper with the lepers to gain all to Jesus Christ.

I would not be cured if the price of the cure was that I must leave the island and give up my work I am perfectly resigned to my lot. Do not feel sorry for me.

He ultimately did pass away from leprosy but helped save the souls of many.

Obviously the Coronavirus isnt the same but it can also lead to death. Loving your neighbor also involves being wise and mindful. If you go and get in contact with sick individuals then you have made that choice. Stay and ride it out because if you leave and spread it then that could be the deaths of many others.

Let the professionals do their job to care for these individuals. We have the power of prayer to help these sick people but also to protect the medical staff and scientists who are working hard on a vaccine.

I'm not afraid of dying because I know there is a place in heaven for me

Roughsoul, I see your point and from a worldly standpoint, it is spot on. I do have a degree in Biology, 1/6th of it in the medical field, specifically Medical Microbiology. I was also a missionary to Ghana, witnessing death, disease, and spiritual warfare.

Maybe its the miracles and healings I have witnessed that bring me to my point of view. My faith, is that Jesus is in control, always, no matter what "professionals" or others say about it.

The only choice I make is to be led by the spirit or not. If he leads me to sick people, I will pray, if he then leads me somewhere else, I will go, regardless of what any person says or does. If that is wrong, then please show me where in the Bible, in context, I am wrong. I seek the truth no matter what, that is who I am and who I must be.

The first part is spot on.......... thousands of people in the US die of the flu every year, and we don't see the reaction to that truth like we are seeing with this corona virus. As well, we are not born with a spirit of fear, as Scripture teaches us, and we should have our faith in God that He will protect us. However, we are ALSO not the tempt God, that is......do something we know will be dangerous to our health/well being.

Pray for the sick, even provide for those who have been afflicted and put in isolation to help them and their families. These would be good ways for the Church to show Gods love towards them. Openly and carelessly exposing ourselves to the virus does not serve God or reflect His perfect love in my opinion.

How did you arrive at this conclusion? Since it is just another strain of influenza, it should be ignored. Chances are most Christians have seen through the media-hype.

However the Left-Liberal mainstream media have found another GRAND OPPORTUNITY to broadcast fear-mongering and panic, so they have made a pandemic out of this.

It allows people to be distracted from the real issues plaguing America -- evil and corrupt politicians on the Left trying to take down Trump and promote their incompetent and evil substitutes. Have you noticed the words they are using to create mistrust of the President?

You are correct, we should never tempt God, and this could easily become that for some. That is between God and each individual, as he knows our true intentions, he knows when your tempting and not. That being said, if anyone requests prayer, regardless of what disease or spirit is causing the issue, I won't hesitate to lay hands on and pray for that person, neither should anyone, unless the Holy Spirit tells you otherwise.

I am wondering where you got the careless from. Anyone doing what Jesus tells us to do, in love, is not being careless, they are being obedient. I could see those with false motives causing chaos, and Satan totally wreaking havoc with unbelievers posed as Christians, but my target audience is actually sold out Christians who are succumbing to fear over this. I probably should have noted that, will do from now on.

I am not advocating against Doctors, washing hands, coughing in your elbow, etc. Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, I believe you should practice good personal hygiene as a believer, not only for yourself, but others, especially non believers.

When someone sick in church asks for prayer, do you feel like you shouldn't touch them? Why? Why not?

I actually arrived at this conclusion in the chat app this morning. Seeing and hearing what others were saying about it started this thread.

I only had to read 3 sentences of your post to see how well we would get along. I like you. Politically, I woke up when Ron Paul was running and I saw what they did to him. It is surely going to be a crazy election year, growing extra popcorn for it : ) Just keep Trump, Congress, and the Senate, in prayer, its the greatest weapon humans have and it can/has change(d) history.

Your convictions are yours. Nothing wrong with it. The Spirit will lead you where it will. And not sure what was worldly about what I said when in consideration we still live in the world so we still have to deal with disease, sickness, and decay. All I am saying is in your choices do not let them hurt others.

This reminds me of the Christian's who do not take medication and say by faith they only can be saved.

Amen!

One is either foolish, ignorant, or arrogant. Every precaution must be taken or more people will die because of folks who carelessly doesn't take it seriously. As for me, I am not scared of this but I am aware that good hygiene not only protects me but my neighbors. All we have to do is be wise and do like the medical personnel are telling us. Past that, just live because this will soon pass.

I see this as just another scare tactic by the media, its just a flu. Swine flu, coronavirus, mad cow's disease, SARS, avian flu, there will always be pandemics.

I will live my regular life, but I also wont be an idiot and just open my mouth when someone is coughing and say "cough here" because while I am not afraid of dying, who enjoys being sick with the flu?

I was listening to a video last night from 1968 by a preaher who was talking about the 'Asian Flu' back then. He was a faith teacher who through the Word of God, received healing of 3 ominous afflictions. From his perspective he said he hadn't had even a headache since his healing and was not afraid of catching the flu. It sounded to me straight from the picture of Paul shaking off the viper attached to his arm, into the fire. I agree this takes a lot of trust in God's Divine protection, Amen.

I'm around a multitude of Christians just about every day, and I don't know a single one who is afraid or panicking.

Have you seen this?

The Department of Public Safety in Newark, New Jersey, warned residents that they could be prosecuted if they spread disinformation about the coronavirus on social media.
"Any false reporting of the coronavirus in our city will result in criminal prosecution," said Director Ambrose.
https://www.theblaze.com/news/newark-threatens-charges-against-coronavirus-misinformation

Why is no one going after the MSM for spreading disinformation about this so-called pandemic?

Here is a great sermon on Fear and ruling over it:

I don't believe this subject is as much about fear of dying as it is about believing lies. As Christians we ought to have a little bit more wisdom about us.

Here is a video on the 1976 Swine Flu fraud: