This article is a follow-up to my Virus Crisis Survival Guide. If you don’t have a copy, I’m offended! Just kidding. Go to frankviola.org/svg and get your free copy.
Let’s jump in.
Conversations about the virus have turned into first-class blame-fests. All over social media “Christians” are bickering, complaining, and finger-pointing.
Of course, the Christians have all stopped spreading those bat-crazy conspiracy theories because they read my Survival Guide which excoriated them all (and explained how they are damaging to your mental, emotional, and spiritual health – not to mention your testimony).
So we no longer have to watch those who profess the Name above all names descending into crazy-town theories on social media anymore.
Right?
Cough.
Even so, the emotional temperature is rising all over the world as quarantines and social-distancing measures continue. Some states are sort of opening up, which could mean more infections.
(Fun fact: The word “quarantine” comes from the Italian term quaranta, a word invented during the 14th century black plague. Well, that wasn’t really fun, so just call it a fact. Or trivia. Or irrelevant. Or whatever.)
So here’s what happens when things stop being “normal.”
Those who feel a return to “normal” is completely out of everyone’s control get depressed.
Those who feel a return to “normal” is within someone’s control become infuriated.
That’s how the world rolls when expectations aren’t met and things aren’t “normal.” Depression or rage.
Insurgents (kingdom-first seekers) respond differently.
We are allergic to fault-finding (something the New Testament condemns – Jude 1:16). We also resist grumbling (Philippians 2:14).
I realize that if your best-friend’s ADHD toddler recklessly shatters that priceless decorative dish your great grandmother made with her bare hands during the Great Depression, you’ll be tempted to embrace a fault-finding, grumbling attitude (you might also commit murder).
But as Insurgents, we aren’t sucking up oxygen blaming other people for the crisis and we’re not grumbling about it.
Since we know that control is an illusion (the only thing we can control is ourselves), we completely trust the Lord in all things.
Friendly reminder. Insurgents view this crisis as an opportunity to make something brand new possible in our lives.
We live on a mountain and a valley called Psalm 23.
And we do our best to never waste a good crisis.
On the heels of that reminder, I’ve got two big points to make in this article.
1) Reframe “normal.”
If you look at world history, it’s actually normal for plagues, pestilences, economic fallouts — not to mention other disasters — to sweep through various parts of the earth from time to time.
So while what’s happening now isn’t normal for you or me, it’s perfectly normal for this unredeemed planet.
This perspective helps. Especially for those in the West who feel “entitled” to comfort, convenience, and pleasure (which happen to be at the root of all the grumbling and fault-finding).
2) No one knows what’s really going on, despite what they say. That includes YOU.
Some people are spending hours watching YouTube videos and reading articles in obscure journals, and as a result, they think they know everything about the virus, about the economy, about the “deep state,” about famous people they’ve never met, and where all this is headed.
Jumping on their high horse of “research,” they rain dogmatic judgments down on others all over social media.
The fact is, we don’t know much about anything.
We don’t know what the long-term repercussions of the virus are.
We don’t know how many people have really died from it.
We don’t know what’s going to happen with the economy over the next 12 months.
We don’t know if those who have had the infection and recovered can get it again.
We don’t know if/when a foolproof treatment will knock it out.
We don’t know if there will be a resurgence of infections in the Fall or Winter.
We don’t know when you can safely go to the hair salon again or when I can eat Johnny’s New York-style pizza (which I sorely miss at the moment).
None of us know. So stop pretending that you do.
There are question marks all over this crisis, and that means one thing … Well, I really don’t know what it means, and neither does anyone else. It’s all psychobabble rap to me.
The point is, we’re all flying blind here. Despite the arrogant rhetoric of those who claim to “see” because they watched some soon-to-be-banned video on YouTube.
Conclusion:
- Suspend judgment. Don’t be so confident in YOUR opinions and in YOUR research.
- Jesus has called you to make disciples to Himself and His kingdom, not converts to your opinions.
- Focus on your family, your friends, and yourself as it relates to the gospel of the kingdom.
- Set aside the seemingly urgent and focus on the important.
- Resist the temptation to get hijacked by your emotions.
- If you are new to my work, stop slandering people in the medical community you’ve never met because you came across some nasty rumor about them online. (Those who are NOT new to my work don’t engage in the sin of slander … so this point doesn’t apply to you, right?).
“Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, TO SLANDER NO ONE, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.” Titus 3:1-2
- For the one person who got on my email list by accident, PLEASE, for the love of God, stop spamming people with videos and articles about conspiracy theories (you’d know that most of them were debunked if you took 5 minutes to research it before you told everyone they MUST watch the video!). Which reminds me – next week I’m going to write about why seemingly mentally-stable people turn their brains off and adopt debunked conspiracy theories and spread them all over social media.
If you’re on the receiving end of this conspiracy nonsense, it will make a lot of sense to you.
- Get comfortable living with uncertainty.
The only things I’m certain of as it pertains to coronavirus are: Don’t drink Clorox or inject Lysol into your bloodstream. And Jesus of Nazareth is Lord of this world, and He has everything under control. So I’m not worried about a thing.
I hope we can agree on that.
But what do I know?
Yours in comfortable uncertainty,
fv
Psalm 115:1
The Real Pandemic (They Don’t Want You to Know About)
Excellent article Frank. So many of my older christian friends need to read this (I’m in my early 30s and I’m not seeing my generation slander people we never met or buy into these crazy conspiracy theories).
I read the article on slander by Zens that you linked to and it’s awesome. I think most christians have no idea what slander is while they do it all the time on social media. None of the people I know who have slander doctors know them personally. Great points!
Thanks for “getting it” bro.
Oh, I quoted this passage in the article and even put it in a different color so it couldn’t be missed:
“Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, TO SLANDER NO ONE, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.” Titus 3:1-2
It’s fascinating that some people have essentially said to themselves, “Yea, but that text doesn’t apply in a pandemic.”
Hmmm…
Thanks for saying what I have been thinking. Great to read it. It was written coherently.
Rock on Frank! It truly is psychobabble rap….I cracked up laughing when I hit the link. Appreciate the laugh, good tunes and great insight.
Glad you took the time to click the link and listen to the song. Can’t really understand the comment without doing that. 😉
Thanks Frank. Best take I’ve seen on the situation thus far. Awesome!!
Excellent article again! Loved the Survival Guide too!
I appreciate that you’ve been a steady voice of reason for so many years. Never saw you push a conspiracy theory ever.
I don’t understand how some of my friends buy into this garbage so easily. Looking forward to your article next week.
Thx! You are correct in your observations. Never backed nutty conspiracy theories.
I’m working on that article as I write this. You’ll see it next Thursday … that is, before Google “removes” it from the Internet. 😉
Amen!!!
Ty
Well done; well done. I distributed the link to a wide group of influencers. I pray spirits are provoked well and truly. Love you; appreciate you
Thanks bro. Next week I plan to write on the anatomy of a conspiracy theory and WHY some “Christians” latch on to them.
A thousand times yes. I nearly threw my neck out of joint nodding in agreement as I read this article. Thank you for clearly putting it into words, as you do so well.
I couldn’t help laughing out loud at the decorative dish someone’s great grandma made with her bare hands during the Great Depression :-).
I completely resonated with we coming to terms with “none of us know” what happens next.
Thanks Frank for the nuggets and reminders. Blessed reading.
Thanks for this article, Frank. Cleared up a lot for me.
I do so appreciate you and your work. This time not so much. Holy Spirit led connecting the dots is not slander. Being vigilant, watching and praying are also from the Scriptures. Many battles are fought here on planet earth. We see so many in the Word. I agree that the many things out there on cyberspace are goofy. We should be able to use discernment. I grieve for this world right now. Especially our Nation. God calls His people to different places in the body, some are warriors. I’m thankful we all aren’t speaking German today! You can chuckle about that. Right?
Thx. for the kind words at the front.
Usually when “Christians” engage in slander – speaking evil of others, especially those they have no personal relationship with — which violates Matthew 7:12 and tons of other Scripture — they justify it as “Holy Spirit-led connecting the dots.”
That’s pious religious rhetoric for rationalizing blatant sin.
I’d challenge you to read this article which clearly explains what slander is: https://www.frankviola.org/2008/12/16/guest-article-have-you-heard/
Thanks Frank. You have nailed it again. These articles are the best thing there is to read during this virus. God bless you, bro.
I appreciate the encouragement.
Thank you for this great article! I wish many, especially Christians, would read it (yes, I will share). On the word “quaranta”, it means “forty” in Italian, and it was for the forty days incoming ships had to stay out before docking on the port of Naples (Napoli) during the Plague (Black Death);
Thx. for the kind words and the added fun commentary on “quaranta.”
Brilliant! Love reading your stuff man.
If I see another conspiracy theory on facebook I’m gonna blow up! Looking forward to your next article on this.
(The survival guide is awesome. Laughed a lot!)
Thanks for “getting it.” I realize what I’m writing on the virus is mostly falling on deaf ears. But it’s folks like yourself that keeps me motivated to keep writing on it.
Hi Frank…
This article is where I want to be, failing miserably at times, and doing well at other times. I think we feel slander is in the context of the legal system. The transliterated word is blasphemeo, which by definition is much more restrictive in its meaning than the legal definition.
Larry
Perhaps some think that, but slander is NOT a legal term. It’s condemned in Scripture numerous times as a serious sin. Check out this article on the subject: https://www.frankviola.org/2008/12/16/guest-article-have-you-heard/