Reflections: Covid-19, Bible, and Theology

By Jason Hallig

COVID-19 TOOK THE WORLD BY surprise. Nobody expected this pandemic. We were rattled. We panicked. We feared its deadly sting. We have never seen a crisis like this in our lifetime. Did God cause it? Are we experiencing the force that would wipe humanity out from the face of the earth? Is this the end of the world? Is Mother Nature pouring out her wrath on humans for our irresponsibility? Are we at war with Mother Nature? Are we really responsible for this pandemic? There is no end to questions and also to speculations. REFLECTIONS is a work in the midst of the pandemic itself. It takes the pandemic and its challenges before the light of the Holy Scripture and the sacred task of doing theology. In this book are 43 reflections that address questions, relationships, and meanings of the dynamic interrelationship of COVID-19, Bible, and Theology in plain and easy language ordinary men and women can understand and relate to.

 

REFLECTIONS: COVID-19, BIBLE, AND THEOLOGY is wide-ranging but deeply challenging reflections. It is biblical, theological, and practical, prophetic and prescriptive, critical and creative. The book calls us to biblical worldview that is rooted in both the primary and secondary sources of theology: Scripture (primary), Tradition, Reason, Experience (Secondary). If you are a reader - reflective, a teacher - informative, a leader - developing people, like me, I recommend this book. It is very transformational.

Alfonso G. Pablo, Sr. DMIn, PhD

The Wesleyan Church of the Philippines

 

Far from being just a shopping list of exhausting horizontally-focused news, REFLECTIONS represents Jason Hallig's sustained interaction with and deep reflection on the most current crisis involving biblical relevance and application. Here's an invitation to move beyond lament to intercession to practicing compassion. This book serves as a vertical news, a timely utterance to the hurting kosmos who still holds on to divine providence and restoration.

Rolex M. Cailing, PhD

Asia Graduate School of Theology/Biblical Seminary of the Philippines

 

Ironically, a vision of a bright future is blurred in 2020. Thankfully, we are not without hope, especially when we can look at events from a proper vantage point. Jason Hallig's REFLECTIONS: COVID-19, BIBLE, AND THEOLOGY provides timely insights for the global pandemic we all face today. It does not promise to give definitive answers to the questions why these things happen, but shows us how to use the Scripture as the lens through which we can see God and ourselves in the midst of these trying times.

Samson L. Uytanlet, PhD

Academic Dean

Biblical Seminary of the Philippines

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jason Hallig
• Release date: Aug 24, 2020
• ISBN: 9789719252146

Jason Hallig

Jason Valeriano Hallig is a professor of Greek and New Testament at Alliance Graduate School and Asia Graduate School of Theology--Philippines. He is senior pastor of International Christian Fellowship. He is also the author of WE ARE CATHOLIC: CATHOLIC, CATHOLICITY, AND CATHOLICIZATION published by Wipf and Stock, Eugener OR 97401. 

Book preview

Introduction

C

OVID-19 TOOK THE WORLD BY surprise. Nobody expected this pandemic. We were rattled. We panicked. We feared its deadly sting. We have never seen a crisis like this in our lifetime. Did God cause it? Are we experiencing the force that would wipe humanity out from the face of the earth? Is this the end of the world? Is Mother Nature pouring out her wrath on humans for our irresponsibility? Are we at war with Mother Nature? Are we really responsible for this pandemic? There is no end to questions and also to speculations.

As a Christian, a pastor, and a Bible student, I too have my own questions about this pandemic in relation to my faith. I brought my own questions, observations, and discussions with friends before the Bible and the task of doing theology—constructing what we believe based on the Word of God. My reflection is demanded by my worldview as a Christian. This pandemic calls me to the sacred task of theology.

Theology is defined as a prayerful reflection of the Holy Scripture. It seeks to understand the meaning and significance of the Holy Scripture as the word of God in the various contexts and circumstances of men and women.

The Christian faith and life are both anchored in the Holy Scripture. The Holy Scripture serves as the foundation for understanding who we are, what we do, and where we are going. Such understanding is intertwined with who God is, what God is doing, and what He has in store in the future. It is in who God is that we understand who we really are. It is in what God is doing that we will find our vocation to life. Our future is tied with the eternal plan of God for his good creation.

The following REFLECTIONS demonstrate this theological task with regard to COVID-19. They are reflections of the causes, consequences, and challenges of COVID-19 in the light of the Word of God and theology. The Swiss theologian Karl Barth wrote, We must hold the Bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other. There is an inseparable relationship between the events of the Bible and the events of life. As Christians, we believe that the personal and existential importance and relevance of the Bible are in its ability to come to life in the various contexts of human lives and circumstances like COVID-19. In the same way, the meaning of human lives and circumstances is found in light of the Bible and its theological reflection. This means that the Bible without its dynamic interactions with life is existentially irrelevant and therefore personally unimportant; life, on the other hand, is meaningless and in darkness without the Bible and its light:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him, nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:1-5)

The One that we truly and personally encounter in and through the Bible is the Light Himself, from whom we have received life by grace through faith. It is through Him as the Light that we begin to see and understand the world and everything in it through the Bible and the sacred task of theology.

Reflections offers readers 43 personal and prayerful reflections on COVID-19 in the light of both the Bible and theology. These essays address questions, relationships, and meanings of the dynamic interrelationship of COVID-19 with Bible and theology.

For those who are interested in deeper studies of the topics reflected upon, I have included a list of materials, books, online lectures, presentations, and other resources done or written by scholars in their respective theological disciplines.  

1––––––––Covid-19: O Worship the King

I

T’S A PANDEMIC," THEY SAID. Thousands upon thousands of people have fallen to the horror and power of Coronavirus. Thus I am not taking the situation lightly. It has brought me to my most reverent act as Christian: prayer. There is a power greater than COVID-19 and it is the power of our King, Jesus Christ the LORD.

It is sad to see the world bow down before COVID-19 in fear. This virus has created panic, fear, and paranoia. Such a negative spirit is a glimpse of surrender without the Cross, it is fear without wisdom, and it is subjection without faith. This is my first experience of power this huge that even our most advanced scientific community finds it hard to fight. Ordinary men and women have already been subjected to the fear of