Letter from Nancy

DearFriend,

Our God is a compassionate God. And compassion for the needy has always been a mark of those who belong to Him.

This became apparent in the third century, in the midst of one of the deadliest pandemics in history. At its peak, it is estimated that in the city of Rome alone, this plague claimed some 5,000 lives per day.

Eyewitnesses and historians—many of them secular, some even critics of Christianity—have observed the difference between the response of nonbelievers to this crisis and the response of followers of Jesus. In many cases, non-Christians did their best to avoid those who were sick and dying, in an attempt to save their own lives. Christians, by contrast, were known for doing all they could to care for the sick, for their families, and for the bodies of those who died. Some of those Christians became infected with the disease and died. At the same time, those who survived the disease were now immune and became an army that provided care for others. This proved to be a powerful witness to the nonbelieving world.

I was struck by these words from one pastor:

Notice how non-Christians in the Roman
Empire emphasized self-preservation while the early church emphasized fearless, sacrificial service. Whereas non-Christians fled from epidemics and abandoned their sick loved ones as they feared the unknown, Christians marched into epidemics and served both Christians and also non-Christians, seeing their own suffering as an opportunity to spread the gospel and model Christlike love.

The costly love demonstrated by these believers made the gospel believable and had a remarkable impact on those who witnessed God’s love in action, resulting in many conversions and rapid growth of the Church.

Throughout the history of the Church, Christians have been at the vanguard of establishing hospitals, schools, orphanages, and promoting social reform—demonstrating the compassionate heart of God to those who need it most.

As our world is reeling from the impact of the coronavirus— physically, economically, socially, and psychologically—many Christians are compassionately caring for the sick and bereaved, extending a message of hope through digital platforms, and actively loving neighbors faced with prolonged isolation. Such efforts have been a means of advancing the gospel in these difficult days.

In the face of fallout from the global coronavirus crisis on so many fronts, it can be hard to know exactly how to respond. Constant news reports can leave us feeling overwhelmed. Where do we even start?

Let me suggest that you start where God has put you. Look for those around you who have needs you could help to meet and begin there. As you and I walk in the Spirit, God will impress specific people, burdens, and needs on our hearts. Our responsibility is not to solve all the problems in the world but to follow Christ and to love others as we have been loved by Him.

God showed us mercy and compassion when He sent His Son, Jesus, to pay the penalty for our sins. May our lives put the love and grace of God on display for our world during this season, as we reach out to the needy around us in Jesus’ name.

Blessings,

Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth