The Providence of God, The Supremacy Of Christ, And the case of Pandemic Virus
The hallmark of Reformed Theology is to believes that God is absolutely sovereign. Yet this notion cannot be separated with the other doctrine as well, that is to say, the doctrine of the providence of God. Sovereignty and Providence goes hand in hand. Hence, every events in the world are not random nor goes wild ineffectually. John Calvin says in the Institutes regarding the providence of God:
"The providence of God, as it is taught in the Scripture, is opposed to fortune and fortuitous accident"
The providence of God in this world is thoughtful. God does not play dice in creating and arranging the world. He has a plan in every event that occurs. If all hairs of our head are numbered by God thus all event are governed by the secret counsel of God, as Calvin further argued. Yet, if that were be the case. Why there still linger, a Virus that could killed thousand or even millions people in this world today, giving that Providence of God as the background knowledge in mind? G. C. Berkouwer rightly mentioned in his book, "The lot of man in sickness, suffering, and death has always raised questions about God’s Providence." And as we all see now, the outbreak of New Corona Virus increase and killed so many people globally since the end of December 2019. The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially declared COVID-19 a pandemic. This issue has made people wondered, does God even care at all? Moreover, how does God's providence fit into this kind of threatening situation?
Apparently, the case of deadly Virus that killed so many people is not something new. In Medieval times, there was a time whereby the epidemic virus called "Black Death" also killed so many people in Europe and its surrounding. Death spawned people, anytime and everywhere (reported that 600 peoples died In Viena daily, Paris 800 peoples died daily. In some other city, the virus has wiped away 80 % of population). Many has regard that Armageddon might soon will happened. Even the Medieval art theme progressively moving toward the theme of "death" because of this tragedy. The most popular expression of it can be seen in the motif known as Danse Macabre (dance of the death) which portrays people in all diverse social classes (King, noble, peasants) danced away to their death, by grinning skeleton and rotten corpse. This theme appeared shortly after the Black death Virus came into the scene. As we all know today, total death because of the past Black Death epidemic virus is approximetly about 20 millions. Frightening indeed! What's our response to explain God's providence?
In Renaissance time, people tend to believes that all kind of tragedies, including the epidemic virus was a form of God's judgement. Thus, this view can easily save the idea of the providence of God in this world. God care but He also judge. Yet this view cannot explain fully giving the reality, for there were so many innocent people have died yet at the same time, some other wicked people have been passed the judgement and lives. Calvin has different answer for this case. In Calvin's works, we can see two kind of Providence presented.
In Renaissance time, people tend to believes that all kind of tragedies, including the epidemic virus was a form of God's judgement. Thus, this view can easily save the idea of the providence of God in this world. God care but He also judge. Yet this view cannot explain fully giving the reality, for there were so many innocent people have died yet at the same time, some other wicked people have been passed the judgement and lives. Calvin has different answer for this case. In Calvin's works, we can see two kind of Providence presented.
The first, is universal providence. The second is particular providence.
The universal providence, is an idea that God is the Lord that rule the order of universe. He hold the world under His care. He nurtures and also sustains. Yet, albeit God works in all things in the world, there are also some mystery we cannot know. For Calvin, God is remind hidden in the work of providence, for His decree and Will is inaccessible for us as Calvin clearly says in the Institutes,
"His wonderful Method of governing the universe is rightly called an abyss
because while it is hidden from us,
because while it is hidden from us,
we ought reverently to adore it"
Although it is hidden, one thing for sure God is not the author of evil (including the Existence of the virus itself). Death, sickness and many terrible things in the world, can be said as part and puzzle of the broken and fallen world. Consequently, many things are not in line with what God intended to be in the first place.
The sinful-fallen world has brought the natural order in chaos hence, it is not strange that we could find a gene packaged within the protein coat could possibly been mutated, replicated and evolved and finally formed to be a deadly virus. In this matter, God could just intervene anytime but if he doesn't at the moment, that's means that He has a better plan in His eternal Will that is beyond our finite and limited mind.
GOD know the best for the world He created. In fact, if God always 100% intervening and answering all of our petitions regarding things in the world instantly, then we will love God on the basis of what "He give" not because of "God Himself".
Regarding the notion of providence, there is another angle to look on, and it is through the idea of particular providence, that is to say, God ordained the fate of the elect, the one who have faith in Christ to himself (Predestination). The particular providence of God is the supremacy of Christ over the fate of His beloved whereby Christ so ordained the world, so that His elects will be completely saved. The particular providence of God is not just talking about present, but also distant future whereby our destiny is already sure and secure in God's Hands, through the work of Christ at the Cross when he said, "It's finished."
If the eternal death was already been conquered by the supremacy of Christ at the Cross, what should we fear more at this present moment? (Including virus). As one of reformed dictum echoes: "Once saved always saved"; nothing could ever separate us from the love of God. Christ is very close to us now, in every kind of situations. Anytime & everywhere. Therefore, the basis of our security and comfort in this world should lies upon the fact of the providence of God in Christ, as the true Lord and savior.
This an assuring news to be heard, yet many of us seems to forget and over preoccupied by the things happening in this world rather than what God has done in and to this world. That is why Luther right when he says that we need the gospel everyday because we forget about it everyday! He also mentioned in another occasion aptly, "when you look around and wonder whether God cares, you must always hurry to the cross and you must see Him there."
Bringing this short writing to conclusion, what's the right respond as Christian in the midst of the deadly epidemic Virus in our wold today? Calvin in His book, A Defense of the Secret Providence of God (1552) gives us an helpful attitude to lived by, as we acknowledged His Providence in our life. Calvin put it profoundly,
The sinful-fallen world has brought the natural order in chaos hence, it is not strange that we could find a gene packaged within the protein coat could possibly been mutated, replicated and evolved and finally formed to be a deadly virus. In this matter, God could just intervene anytime but if he doesn't at the moment, that's means that He has a better plan in His eternal Will that is beyond our finite and limited mind.
GOD know the best for the world He created. In fact, if God always 100% intervening and answering all of our petitions regarding things in the world instantly, then we will love God on the basis of what "He give" not because of "God Himself".
Regarding the notion of providence, there is another angle to look on, and it is through the idea of particular providence, that is to say, God ordained the fate of the elect, the one who have faith in Christ to himself (Predestination). The particular providence of God is the supremacy of Christ over the fate of His beloved whereby Christ so ordained the world, so that His elects will be completely saved. The particular providence of God is not just talking about present, but also distant future whereby our destiny is already sure and secure in God's Hands, through the work of Christ at the Cross when he said, "It's finished."
If the eternal death was already been conquered by the supremacy of Christ at the Cross, what should we fear more at this present moment? (Including virus). As one of reformed dictum echoes: "Once saved always saved"; nothing could ever separate us from the love of God. Christ is very close to us now, in every kind of situations. Anytime & everywhere. Therefore, the basis of our security and comfort in this world should lies upon the fact of the providence of God in Christ, as the true Lord and savior.
This an assuring news to be heard, yet many of us seems to forget and over preoccupied by the things happening in this world rather than what God has done in and to this world. That is why Luther right when he says that we need the gospel everyday because we forget about it everyday! He also mentioned in another occasion aptly, "when you look around and wonder whether God cares, you must always hurry to the cross and you must see Him there."
Bringing this short writing to conclusion, what's the right respond as Christian in the midst of the deadly epidemic Virus in our wold today? Calvin in His book, A Defense of the Secret Providence of God (1552) gives us an helpful attitude to lived by, as we acknowledged His Providence in our life. Calvin put it profoundly,
"Our eyes must rest in the watchfulness of God, in ruling and guarding the single parts and particles of all these created things. which watchfulness is such that nothing occurs in them or concerning them, unknown & Unnoticed."
Although we do not know fully the reason why God allows the COVID-19 virus or any new one in the future one thing for certain, nothing happened in our world that comes out outside of His sovereign control & care. We believe firmly, God will do something about it. He is not silent. All things will works for good. And for our part to play, let us cast out our fear and anxiety to God, take care of our own health wisely, encourage one another, pray continuously, and rest assured in God unfailing providence.
Last but not least. Perhaps, Martin Luther attitude toward Black Death in the past can also be applied in the case of COVID-19 outbreak:
"I shall ask God mercifully to protect us. Then I shall fumigate, help purify the air, administer medicine and take it. I Shall avoid places and persons where my presence is not needed in order not to become contaminated and thus perchance inflict and pollute others and so cause their death as a result of my negligence. If God should wish to take me, he will surely find me and I have done what he has expected of me and so I am not responsible for either my own death or the death of others. If my neighbor needs me however, I shall not avoid place or person but will go freely as stated above. See this is such a God-fearing faith because it is neither brash nor foolhardy and does not tempt God." (Taken from The Annotated Luther, Volume 4: Pastoral Writings, 404).
Last but not least. Perhaps, Martin Luther attitude toward Black Death in the past can also be applied in the case of COVID-19 outbreak:
"I shall ask God mercifully to protect us. Then I shall fumigate, help purify the air, administer medicine and take it. I Shall avoid places and persons where my presence is not needed in order not to become contaminated and thus perchance inflict and pollute others and so cause their death as a result of my negligence. If God should wish to take me, he will surely find me and I have done what he has expected of me and so I am not responsible for either my own death or the death of others. If my neighbor needs me however, I shall not avoid place or person but will go freely as stated above. See this is such a God-fearing faith because it is neither brash nor foolhardy and does not tempt God." (Taken from The Annotated Luther, Volume 4: Pastoral Writings, 404).
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