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“Relying on expertise might sound elitist, but it is grounded in the biblical principle that we have different gifts. 1 Corinthians 12:14-26 reminds us that all parts of the “body,” from the most prominent to the most overlooked, serve an essential role as part of the greater whole. There’s no room in Christianity for disdain for the humble and often thankless work of sanitation workers, food producers, and truck drivers. But there’s likewise no room for dismissing the essential role of scientists, doctors, and public health experts. We all have a role to play:

“The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you!’ And the head cannot say to the feet, ‘I don’t need you!’ . . . If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.”

As we steward the power of our influence through every Facebook post and every retweet, we should remember that we’re not following Jesus’ command to be “wise as serpents” if we’re swayed by the emotional manipulation of a conspiracy theory or a slickly-produced video. And we’re not “harmless as doves” if we spread misinformation or sow confusion in the midst of a global health emergency.”

How should Christians react or respond to the ever-growing claims about the coronavirus that float around on social media?

Discussion

10 comments

  1. Madison Willoughby says:

    From what I see, being ‘wise as serpents’ includes seeing the corruption of our politicians for what it is, so that we can make wise, real-time decisions as in showing up at the polls in November and taking care of practical needs in the face of infrastructure failure. Being ‘wise as serpents’ does not include sticking our heads in the sand while hoping this blows over. Jesus sure didn’t put up with the nonsense going on in the Temple courtyard. Christians failing to be proactive for the cause/case of Christ is a big reason our world is in the shape it’s in (advancement of abortion, gay and transgender rights).

  2. Jeremy Blatchford says:

    There is known corruption within the Pharmaceutical industry, which is completely profit based. Some things in the particular video you mention may be false, but they are often more believable when seen as part of the bigger picture. After all, an uneducated civilian turned billionaire who is a big proponent of population control is now seen as a foremost expert on pandemics and is literally guiding organizations like the WHO wherever he wants.

  3. Simon Yew says:

    I see parallel between the Pharisees and Sadducee with today’s authoritarian media, professional expert and politicians. Christ keep rebuke them and calling hypocrites.

    Mathew 23: Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples:

    2 The Pharisees and the teachers of the Law are experts in the Law of Moses. 3 So obey everything they teach you, but don’t do as they do. After all, they say one thing and do something else.

    4 They pile heavy burdens on people’s shoulders and won’t lift a finger to help. 5 Everything they do is just to show off in front of others. They even make a big show of wearing Scripture verses on their foreheads and arms, and they wear big tassels[a] for everyone to see. 6 They love the best seats at banquets and the front seats in the meeting places. 7 And when they are in the market, they like to have people greet them as their teachers.

  4. Nathan J. Lauffer says:

    Christians aren’t discounting people because they’re experts. They are questioning experts because they seem corrupt. The argument is against a straw man. I’m tired of hearing about how Christians are anti-science and anti-data just because they question the dominant narrative, sometimes. In the first century, when Rabbis said the disciples stole Jesus body, Christians didn’t believe that. Today, when many scientists say God doesn’t exist we don’t believe that. Christianity is a counter narrative. It’s not anti-Christan to question experts, and it doesn’t hurt our witness as long as we’re thoughtful and respectful.

  5. Ryan Wangen says:

    The return of Jesus isn’t a conspiracy and it’s quickly approaching as the world stage is being set and the birth pangs are increasing!

  6. Dianne Witzell says:

    I regard anything coming out of Biologos with deep suspicion, as Biologos specifically aims to get Christians to accept evolution and billions of years and twists Scripture to do it. Since Biologos doesn’t rightly divide the Word of Truth with regards to Genesis, why should I trust them to rightly divide it with regards to anything else?

  7. Kristen Park says:

    This documentary has been so thoroughly debunked by actual scientists – ones who have no stake in this at all. I’m seriously heartsick over the fact that my Christian friends are so skeptical of everything except super slanderous conspiracy theory videos set to ominous music.

    Truly it seems Christians have become as harmful as serpents and as foolish as doves. Does that mean I think there aren’t crooked politicians or that big pharma has no problems? Of course not. But my goodness, folks.

  8. Wayne Capell says:

    Regardless of this particular video there is so much to be suspicious of and so many inconsistencies that we definitely need to be aware of the need to read widely think critically and evaluate the evidence presented. Media propaganda is extremely effective at manipulating public opinion towards hysteria and ignorance of the facts.

  9. Skarlet Pike says:

    The virus is less fatal than SARS, the curve is already flat, and yet the government is acting in unconstitutional ways.

    PLAN or not, we need to stand up for USA and for religious liberty.

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