{UAH} CORONAVIRUS IS NOT PUNISHMENT FROM GOD
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By Reveland Amos Kasibante
29 March at 22:54 ·
In parts of the Hebrew Scriptures (the Masoretic Text) there is a tradition that makes a strong connection between sin (wrong against God) and suffering. Suffering of various kinds is seen as a consequence of sin and as divine punishment. This theological tradition is called the Deuteronomistic theology because of its dependence of the book of Deuteronomy. But it extends to other books in the Pentateuch (the first 5 books of the Bible) through to I and II Kings and I and II Chronicles. It's also found in some Psalms in the Prophets.
The book of Deuteronomy, especially the part about "blessings" and "curses" plays a big part in many African Pentecostal churches alongside exorcism and healing – factors which have supplanted the stress on "holiness" that was at the centre of many African "independent" churches in earlier years.
But the Deuteronomistic emphasis on blessings and curses is not confined to the Pentecostal churches. It also plays a major part in the thinking of many in the historic or denominational churches.
Thus, many Christians have interpreted various epidemics as God's punishment for sin. In recent years, one such epidemic was HIV/AIDS. This trend started in the United States of America among some of the most vocal Telly-evangelical preachers and from there the narrative easily spread to Africa among their close followers. American fundamentalist preachers warned that HIV/AIDS was God's punishment for the sin of homosexuality. Initially, HIV/AIDS was thought to be a disease of the homosexuals. The link would increase both homophobia and stigma around HIV/AIDS, making it difficult for people to come out and test for the virus or reveal that they were positive.
The same preachers interpreted the bombing of the Twin Towers in New York in 2001 as divine punishment for America's having taken leave of God. They pointed to liberal attitudes towards homosexuality, abortion and pornography as an expression of the moral decadence that had come to define American society. They knew and believed that Islamic fundamentalist terrorists carried out the attacks. They also probably believed it had to do with US foreign policy in the Middle East. Still, they believed that it was nevertheless divine punishment.
It does not take much argument to show that there were wrong on both counts. In the first case, AIDS turned out not to be the homosexual disease. Most people to be infected by it were heterosexual. As to the Twin Towers' atrocity – how would one explain terrorist atrocities in other parts of the world where innocent people, including children are killed?
This focus on USA was due to "American Exceptionalism", the belief that America is God's chosen nation to carry out God's divine plan in and for the world. The Manifest Destiny doctrine goes back to the Pilgrim Fathers. Perhaps this might explain why the Tsunami that killed hundreds of thousands in the poor countries of Asia attracted little theological interpretation from US based preachers.
And now with the Coronavirus pandemic, the same evangelists and pastors have been quick to interpret it as divine punishment. Others see it as signalling the end of the world, with Covid-19 being seen as one of the tribulations mentioned in the biblical book of Revelation.
What is Jesus' attitude to suffering? Did he establish a direct connection between sin and suffering? Did he see suffering as divine punishment? A close examination of the Gospel shows that Jesus did not. This is illustrated, for instance, in Luke 13: 1-6:
'At that very time there were some present who told (Jesus) about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. He asked them, "Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them—do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did."'
Jesus clearly tells the carriers of the sad news of the massacre that the victims were not worse sinners than anybody else, thus implying that their fate could not have been related to their sinfulness. He then warns them that unless they repented, they would likewise perish. Jesus is not suggesting that they would suffer a similar fate. He is speaking at another level, a spiritual level. They must accept the gift of life that God offers, otherwise they will perish or get lost or not be in communion with God.
Another example is found in John 9: the Healing of the Man Born Blind. Jesus' disciples ask him, "Who sinned, this man or his parents?" They are following the Deuteronomistic theology. They are surprised by Jesus' answer: "Neither". The man's condition is not a result of sin, and Jesus is less concerned whether he is sinful or not but rather than he should receive his sight. The cause of his blindness is complex and cannot be interpreted in a narrow theological manner.
So, is Coronavirus divine punishment for the sins of China, Italy, Spain, USA, UK and other peoples who are infected? The answer is no. To link Coronavirus to sin would require us to attribute all pandemics in history to sin. It's tantamount to the primitive belief in ancient Israel that one suffering from leprosy was both physically and ritually unclean.
The image we get of Jesus in the New Testament is of one who is the expression of divine love. He shows compassion by healing the sick, feeding the hungry, and treating those on the margins with dignity. He takes upon himself the suffering of others. That is to say that God is with us in the Coronavirus pandemic.
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-- 29 March at 22:54 ·
In parts of the Hebrew Scriptures (the Masoretic Text) there is a tradition that makes a strong connection between sin (wrong against God) and suffering. Suffering of various kinds is seen as a consequence of sin and as divine punishment. This theological tradition is called the Deuteronomistic theology because of its dependence of the book of Deuteronomy. But it extends to other books in the Pentateuch (the first 5 books of the Bible) through to I and II Kings and I and II Chronicles. It's also found in some Psalms in the Prophets.
The book of Deuteronomy, especially the part about "blessings" and "curses" plays a big part in many African Pentecostal churches alongside exorcism and healing – factors which have supplanted the stress on "holiness" that was at the centre of many African "independent" churches in earlier years.
But the Deuteronomistic emphasis on blessings and curses is not confined to the Pentecostal churches. It also plays a major part in the thinking of many in the historic or denominational churches.
Thus, many Christians have interpreted various epidemics as God's punishment for sin. In recent years, one such epidemic was HIV/AIDS. This trend started in the United States of America among some of the most vocal Telly-evangelical preachers and from there the narrative easily spread to Africa among their close followers. American fundamentalist preachers warned that HIV/AIDS was God's punishment for the sin of homosexuality. Initially, HIV/AIDS was thought to be a disease of the homosexuals. The link would increase both homophobia and stigma around HIV/AIDS, making it difficult for people to come out and test for the virus or reveal that they were positive.
The same preachers interpreted the bombing of the Twin Towers in New York in 2001 as divine punishment for America's having taken leave of God. They pointed to liberal attitudes towards homosexuality, abortion and pornography as an expression of the moral decadence that had come to define American society. They knew and believed that Islamic fundamentalist terrorists carried out the attacks. They also probably believed it had to do with US foreign policy in the Middle East. Still, they believed that it was nevertheless divine punishment.
It does not take much argument to show that there were wrong on both counts. In the first case, AIDS turned out not to be the homosexual disease. Most people to be infected by it were heterosexual. As to the Twin Towers' atrocity – how would one explain terrorist atrocities in other parts of the world where innocent people, including children are killed?
This focus on USA was due to "American Exceptionalism", the belief that America is God's chosen nation to carry out God's divine plan in and for the world. The Manifest Destiny doctrine goes back to the Pilgrim Fathers. Perhaps this might explain why the Tsunami that killed hundreds of thousands in the poor countries of Asia attracted little theological interpretation from US based preachers.
And now with the Coronavirus pandemic, the same evangelists and pastors have been quick to interpret it as divine punishment. Others see it as signalling the end of the world, with Covid-19 being seen as one of the tribulations mentioned in the biblical book of Revelation.
What is Jesus' attitude to suffering? Did he establish a direct connection between sin and suffering? Did he see suffering as divine punishment? A close examination of the Gospel shows that Jesus did not. This is illustrated, for instance, in Luke 13: 1-6:
'At that very time there were some present who told (Jesus) about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. He asked them, "Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them—do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did."'
Jesus clearly tells the carriers of the sad news of the massacre that the victims were not worse sinners than anybody else, thus implying that their fate could not have been related to their sinfulness. He then warns them that unless they repented, they would likewise perish. Jesus is not suggesting that they would suffer a similar fate. He is speaking at another level, a spiritual level. They must accept the gift of life that God offers, otherwise they will perish or get lost or not be in communion with God.
Another example is found in John 9: the Healing of the Man Born Blind. Jesus' disciples ask him, "Who sinned, this man or his parents?" They are following the Deuteronomistic theology. They are surprised by Jesus' answer: "Neither". The man's condition is not a result of sin, and Jesus is less concerned whether he is sinful or not but rather than he should receive his sight. The cause of his blindness is complex and cannot be interpreted in a narrow theological manner.
So, is Coronavirus divine punishment for the sins of China, Italy, Spain, USA, UK and other peoples who are infected? The answer is no. To link Coronavirus to sin would require us to attribute all pandemics in history to sin. It's tantamount to the primitive belief in ancient Israel that one suffering from leprosy was both physically and ritually unclean.
The image we get of Jesus in the New Testament is of one who is the expression of divine love. He shows compassion by healing the sick, feeding the hungry, and treating those on the margins with dignity. He takes upon himself the suffering of others. That is to say that God is with us in the Coronavirus pandemic.
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Allaah gives the best to those who leave the choice to Him."And if Allah touches you with harm, none can remove it but He, and if He touches you with good, then He is Able to do all things." (6:17)
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