Covid-19 God's Wake-up Call?: Angry Bible Reflections in a Pandemic - Softcover

Inhaltsangabe

Eighteen Bible Reflections, with study questions, exploring the theological link between the pandemic and climate change. For thinking church members, priests and ministers in the UK.
PART 1 - Our Normal
God has given us a wonderful world. We are commissioned not only to care for the planet and its inhabitants but to ensure that everything and everyone flourishes. Our task is not devoid of danger because there are unpredictable elements within the natural order which make our job difficult. All our actions, whether directed to the earth or to the building of communities, should be guided by three principles: doing justice, loving mercy and walking humbly with God. (Micah 6.8). Justice safe-guards the very foundations of the planet. Unfortunately over the centuries these basic principles have been violated. Life on earth, from God’s perspective, has become ‘abnormal’ while we in Britain, before the pandemic, have regarded our manner of life as ‘normal’. How much longer can we continue to pursue our so called normal before everything collapses? What initiatives does God take to protect his creation?
PART 2 – The Abnormal
We have been living in a contemporary Babylon worshipping the money god of consumerism. Covid-19 has devastated that normality. The Government of Britain has tried to balance the safety of its citizens with keeping the economy going. It has not been altogether successful. Alongside stories of courage and sacrifice there has been anger and frustration. The pain of people, planet and God is palpable. Only a proper expressing of lament will take us into a creative ‘new normal’. In lockdown, the Church has had to learn new ways of being Church. Its future lies in being decentralized and dispersed with its focus ‘on the edge’.
PART 3 – The New Normal
Governments and those who hold wealth and power seek to maintain their status quo. Covid-19 should draw our attention to the climate disaster clock which is now ticking very loudly.
The agonising pain of people and the groans of creation have been heard by the Holy One. The Trinitarian Covenant God is setting his Kingdom over and against the Church. To become God’s vibrant vehicle of tomorrow the Church in Britain must relinquish its normality in order to receive. Because of the pandemic, this sifting process has already begun so Christians must not slip back into former patterns of work and witness. Justice and righteousness are now our number one priority. We must allow the Holy Spirit to radically and quickly reshape the life and structure of the Church. There is hope because, with or without the Church, God is doing a new thing.

If we do not respond quickly to this challenge we should not be surprised if something worse than the present pandemic suddenly shreds our ‘new normal’ in order to bring us to our senses!

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