Transcript:

What should the church do in the face of the coronavirus pandemic?

We can take some inspiration from our shared Christian history.

The great German reformer Martin Luther is one who knew fear and tragedy. But he also one who knew the power of Christ to overcome these. When the plague hit the German university town of Wittenberg in August 1527, the pastor and reformer along with his wife Katharina maintained their post, ministering to both the spiritual and physical needs of those suffering. Katharina was pregnant at the time, but they opened their home to the sick and needy. How could they do this? Well, their hope was in the God of Psalm 46.

Psalm 46
1 God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change
And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea…

History suggest to us that it was about this time that Luther wrote his most famous hymn based on this Psalm. The opening lines declare:

“A mighty fortress is our God,
a bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood
of mortal ills prevailing

…[Later he goes on to end his hymn with the following]…

Let goods and kindred go,
This mortal life also:
The body they may kill:
God’s truth abideth still,
His kingdom is for ever.

Something to think about from The Kingdom Perspective.

“God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
The LORD of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah”

~ Psalm 46