.
It is now more than nine weeks that we have been marooned here in Sydney.

It was a Wednesday afternoon, back in June, that we received a phone call from Eileen’s sister, Linda, to tell us their father, Jim, was deteriorating rapidly.
Within two hours we hurriedly packed and were on our way, arriving at the Nursing Home the following evening. We were able to see Jim right away; he was in a low condition.

Less than two days later he died. (See here)
Three hours later, Sydney locked down. Suddenly we weren’t allowed to leave.
Since then, despite pleas to the Qld government, we have not been allowed to return home.[1]

But I write this, not to complain. Though inconvenient and frustrating, our circumstances are far better than those of many others in a similar position.
In the meantime, it is just a matter of waiting on the Lord one day at a time.

Lockdown Darkness

Rather I am writing because I can only imagine how horrible it would be for Jim, had the Lord not taken him when He did. He was 94 and dying: I know he would have wanted to go when he did rather than go on existing in lockdown darkness.
The staff at the Nursing Home had been very good: they allowed family every possible liberty to care for Jim and to always have a family member at his side in his dying days.
But the thought of him spending his last days in lockdown, with no one at his side, is too horrible to imagine. No, far better that he went when he did.

It is this that got me thinking about what I believe is an increasingly unhealthy focus in the way the current unhealthy pandemic is being handled.
First, a few disclaimers:

• I am not an anti-vaxxer. Eileen and I were among the very first to be double vaccinated (AZ). I accept that there are risks involved in any medical procedure, but to my mind at least, the risks involved in refusing to be vaccinated are far greater. (Please, that is all I intend to say on this issue; I am not interested in debating it further.)
• I am not (at least so far on this matter) a “take-to-the streets” protester. I do believe, in accordance with Rom 13 and 1 Pet 2, that we are required to submit to the directives of governing authorities, unless it is clear they are requiring us explicitly to disobey God (Acts 4:19-20).
• I accept that this is a rapidly evolving situation and that those in government are themselves on a steep learning curve and most are trying to do the best they can on the basis of what they understand so far and in the light of their world view.

It is that last phrase, though: “in the light of their world view”, that causes me concern.

Pandemic Considerations

Government response seems to be almost exclusively focused on how to avoid people getting physically sick.
Meanwhile, people are lying alone in hospital beds without a loved one by their side, others are eking out a lonely existence at home, children are missing out on vital social interaction at school, wage earners have lost their jobs and can’t support their families, businesses have gone to the wall, mothers can’t be there to help daughters with new-born babies, marriages are breaking up (and again, the children suffer), old and young suffer from bouts of depression, some have suicided.
Also (and not least) many are unable to meet together for worship.
And last (and yes, least for us – though not for many others, eg. see a shocking example here) many are unable to return home from overseas, or even from interstate.

I understand there is a pandemic.
I understand that many of the measures introduced have been to prevent sickness, and in some cases, death itself.
What I don’t understand is why the constant refrain is: “We are just taking advice from the health experts.”
Of course, seek advice from health experts. But why only health experts when the suffering is occurring in so many areas apart from physical health?
Yes, occasionally economists are asked advice on how to help those who have lost their jobs, mental health experts on how to help those suffering from depression, and educators on how to help children who can’t go to school.
But it seems their advice is sought only after the decision has been made on what restrictions to apply; initially (so we are told) it is only the advice of health experts that is sought, in how to prevent people becoming sick.

Related to this is the “broader and deeper concern” that is “the epidemic of ‘Safety-ism’ in our culture” that David Murray addressed recently here:

• “This is ‘a culture or belief system in which safety (including emotional safety) has become a sacred value that makes people unwilling to balance other practical and moral concerns.’”

Shalom

Wellbeing is a broader concept than mere physical health, even if emotional health is also taken into consideration.

In the Old Testament, “wellbeing” is encapsulated in the Hebrew shalom. Usually translated “peace” the meaning is that of “completeness, soundness, and well-being of the total person.”^[2]
This includes physical health, but implies much more than just not getting sick.

I agree we should care for another’s physical health. I believe that the sixth commandment (“You shall not kill”) “requires all lawful endeavours to preserve our own life, and the life of others.” (Shorter Catechism Q.68)
But “all lawful endeavours” allows that, at times, it may be allowed, even required, to put our life in danger, eg. to defend a vulnerable person being attacked in a dark alley. (John 15:13, 1 John 3:16).
In fact, there are many circumstances where we risk our lives, though ever so slightly, to meet a higher good, eg. driving on a busy road each day to go to work to support our families.
While we are not to take foolish or unreasonable risks, we cannot live without any risk to life and limb. And such risks are necessary if we are to do more than end up living a Howard Hughes type germ-phobia lifestyle.

I am not advocating ignoring the risks the very real threat of COVID presents, or that we shouldn’t take reasonable precautions against such.
But looking out for the wellbeing of others means taking some risks. Looking out for the wellbeing of others has to mean much more than them not getting sick, or not getting sick yourself.
Looking out for others means: ministering to the dying, caring for the lonely and depressed, earning money to feed a family, educating children including allowing them healthy social interaction with others etc.
I am not saying any of these factors should be, by themselves, the sole consideration; just that I believe they should be given greater consideration, alongside preventing sickness, than appears to be the case in the minds of some decision-makers at present.

For example, take the matter of wearing face masks.
I am willing to comply with the various, and varying[3], directives to do with face masks. I have no problem complying with such directives in the short term. But the possible long-term detrimental effects of wearing face masks should also be considered.
Apart from anything else (eg. long-term health implications for the immune system), God has made us to communicate with each other. And the best way to do so is face-to-face, without a mask muffling our voice and preventing us reading another’s lips.
Also, God made our faces with 43 muscles, enabling us to communicate with an estimated 10,000 facial expressions (especially, but not only, by smiling) – many of which are hidden by masks. This, along with a muffled voice and hidden lips (not to mention, social distancing), greatly reduces our ability to communicate and hence affects the way we relate to each other.
And, as David Murray notes in his article, these things in the long-term especially affect “young people’s social, emotional, and intellectual development.”

So, if such a precaution is necessary for the time being, so be it. I am not advocating rebellion, or disobedience to government’s directives.
But “not getting sick” should not be the only consideration here.

Peace and Grace

In the New Testament wellbeing is summed up by “peace and grace” – as in the greeting in all Paul’s epistles, along the lines of: “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
“Grace” is added to “peace”, because our ultimate wellbeing is only possible through the grace of God in Jesus Christ.
“Having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” (Rom 5:1-2)

Our ultimate wellbeing is in being forgiven for our sins and accepted with God in Jesus Christ.
This means nothing to the one whose world view is materialistic. Such will naturally focus on material prosperity, particularly (in the current crisis) on not getting sick.
And especially, on avoiding death.

The believer need not fear death.
He won’t hasten it unnecessarily, and is to take reasonable precautions against it; but he need not fear it.
Jesus came, that “through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” (Heb 2:14-15)

Just this week, Greg Fox, a beloved servant of the Lord, passed from this life into the presence of God.
A good friend, Rod Leffley, wrote of his passing:

• “Everybody dies… Death follows you around from the moment you were conceived and finally, and sometimes when least expected, it fires its bullet and pierces your heart…
  “One person goes to heaven, the other goes to hell. One is welcomed into the blissful company of God Himself where there is no more tears or sorrow, for the other the fiery lake of eternal torment is waiting. There is only one solution. CHRIST is the only remedy: “I am the way the truth and the life,” says Jesus.
  “For Greg, (having trusted in nothing more than the atoning blood of Christ for the remission of all his sin) death is not really death at all, for he has simply been transported to a new and happier address. One can almost hear the voice of Greg calling from heaven a message he often did while he was here on earth, calling out to his family , his friends and his enemies: ‘WHAT ABOUT YOU?’”

When peace like a river attendeth my way
When sorrows like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say
It is well, it is well with my soul

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, o my soul

 It is well, it is well with my soul
.                                       – Horatio Spafford

[1] We could return “home” but only if we were to leave our car stranded here in Sydney, buy two airline tickets to Brisbane, then pay $4,130 to quarantine, not at home but in a government provided facility, for two weeks. Though even that is not available to us at present as quarantine is now “stretched to the limit.”

[2] Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary

[3] Not long ago we were told by the government face masks would not be required outside as they don’t make any difference; now we are told they do.