How do we stop being afraid of each other?

This is my magazine article for June:

Those of you on social media will have probably seen posts that say that people want to keep socially distancing after the threat of the virus has gone, not for health reasons but just because they don't like talking with people! However, although some people are enjoying not having to interact with others, a lot of people, including introverts, are finding that they are really missing being with people. But as I write this (and I'm aware it may all have changed by the time you read this!), there is a growing sense that the restrictions we face at the moment will gradually lift. The questions then are how? and when?.

Aside from the practicalities there is another problem we have to solve as we move towards normality: how do we stop being afraid of each other? One of my strangest experiences at the start of this crisis was talking to someone and thinking “this person may have Coronavirus; they may be passing it to me; this person might be killing me!” The precautions that we are encouraged to take also make us cautious about other people. We stay two metres away from people because we might infect them, but also because they might infect us. We want trolleys and door handles to be sanitised; we want deliveries left on doorsteps; we wear gloves to bring in the bins, all to prevent contamination from others. COVID-19 might be the enemy but the people around us are its agents.

It seems to me that there are two ways in which we can re-learn how to be with other people. The first is to re-assess how we view life. The Government mantra reminds us that we should 'save lives' but why should we? This pandemic could have been used to aid 'social Darwinism' – killing off those who were weakest in society, which would have helped solve the problems of an over-stretched NHS and a pensions crisis. The fact that this would have been unacceptable is due to the deep Christian roots of our society: life is sacred not simply some evolutionary accident, and life is only sacred because we are made in the image and likeness of God himself (Genesis 1 and 2) and because he loves us enough to die for us (1 John 4:9-10).

The second is to re-assess how we view death. We fear COVID-19, and therefore others, because we fear death itself. Christianity, with the death and resurrection of Jesus at its heart, has the antidote to this fear – death has been destroyed (1 Corinthians 15:26). This is why in the Plague of Cyprian (249–262 AD) that, at its height, caused upwards of 5,000 deaths a day in Rome, Christians stayed in Rome to tend the sick. Dionysius, bishop of Alexandria, reported that in doing so they often died 'serenely happy' unlike the other Romans who “deserted those who began to be sick, and fled from their dearest friends. They shunned any participation or fellowship with death; which yet, with all their precautions, it was not easy for them to escape.” (Eusebius 'Ecclestiastical Histories' 7.22.7–10). The Romans died in fear but the Christians died cheerfully, knowing that “that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him” (1 Thessalonians 4:14).

So as we ease ourselves out of this lockdown, let's learn again not to fear people (because the worst they can do to us is kill us and death is not to be feared) and to love them as God's beloved image-bearers (and that includes you!).

Lockdown lessons

Here's my article for the May magazines:

When I was young there was a craze for 'Choose your own Adventure' books, stories which offered the reader the chance to choose what the characters did and so there were a number of alternative stories and endings. I feel like I should write a similar article for this month: one where the lockdown continues and one where it is lifted! However, I'm going to assume that some sort of restrictions will be in place when you read this, especially if it's at the beginning of the month.

When I wrote my last article COVID-19 was just starting to become a concern outside of China – how much has changed since then! The restrictions we face are a real source of worry for a lot of people, with many fearful about where they can get food from, whether they or loved ones will survive and what their future economic prospects are going to be. And I know already how this situation is adding further pain to those who are grieving.

Whilst acknowledging all of that, it is also important to think about what we're learning from this time. And the lessons often fall into two categories: we're learning what we can live without and what we can't. Toilet roll is one of those things a lot of people think they can't live without, but really human interaction is one of the major things we need. And we have been discovering many different ways of connecting with people: alongside letters, cards and phonecalls we've connected through the internet and putting pictures up in windows and clapping outside at various times. However, these aren't as good as face-to-face interactions. Some of the things we can live without (at least for a short time) are days out, certain types of shopping and even some jobs!! I'm sure you can think of more in each category!

And as a church we've also been learning those lessons. Worship has continued in various ways online but we have learnt that although our buildings are not essential they are very important, because virtual gathering is not as good as physical gathering. And although we can pray to God anywhere at any time – there is something special about praying in a place where people have prayed for centuries. And through it all we learn the most important lesson – we need God.

There are many times in the Bible where God has taught his people to rely on him in difficult times, the forty years in the desert and Job's life are two examples. At the end of this month, wherever we are, we will be celebrating Pentecost – the coming of the Holy Spirit todisciples in lockdown. Paul would write from prison “I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance” (Phillipians 1:19-20). And if we ask that same Spirit is available to each of us whether or not we're in lockdown.