COVID Verses
Scriptures Christians might consider regarding Covid issues within the body of Christ In the early days of the restoration movement there was a saying “In matters of faith unity, in matters of opinion liberty, and in all things charity.“ Brothers and sisters in Christ should not become divisive, unkind, or antagonistic concerning
any issue, especially one that is material and not spiritual in nature. Whether we favor masks or vaccines or whether we don’t, we should all remember the scriptures which teach us divisiveness, bitterness, judgemental attitudes, unkindness, and an unforgiving spirit are antithetical to being disciples of Jesus.
Judgment: So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. (James 2:12-13 ESV)
Division: As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand. (Romans 14:1-4 ESV)
The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, skillful in teaching, patient when wronged. (2 Timothy 2:24 NASB2020)
Bitterness: Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. (Ephesians 4:31 ESV)
Love: Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful. (1 Corinthians 13:4-5 ESV)
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:1-2, 29-32 ESV)
Faith not Fear:
See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic. (Isaiah 28:16)
For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. (2 Timothy 1:7 ESV)
Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. (Hebrews 2:14-15 NIV)
Forgiveness: Bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone;
just as the Lord forgave you, so must you do also. (Colossians 3:13 NASB2020)
For if you forgive other people for their offenses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive other people, then your Father will not forgive your offenses. (Matthew 6:14-15 NASB2020)
How to dwell together as a family under the same roof: Love one another with brotherly affection. Out do one another in showing honor. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:10, 16-17, 21 ESV)
On Trusting the Experts: Stop trusting in mere humans, who have but a breath in their nostrils. Why hold them in esteem? (Isaiah 2:22 NIV)
Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, which some have professed and in so doing have departed from the faith. Grace be with you all. (I Timothy 6:20-21 NIV)
Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. (I John 4:1 NIV)