Editor’s Note: As the world continues to struggle with the spread of the coronavirus, I and several other pastors received the following email from a friend who pastors a local church in China.
Just wanted to send an encouragement to you guys. As we’re processing the coronavirus news over here in China, we’ve talked with our congregations and met with pastors of other churches in our association to share news and discuss decision-making. We’ve certainly gone before the Lord in prayer and meditated on his Word.
One other thing that we’ve done is think historically. How have Christians throughout the centuries responded to plagues and epidemics? How have they encouraged their churches? Did they stay or go?
It’s interesting how many times pastors will speak of the necessity for essential public servants to stay and not flee. And by “essential,” they mean folks like doctors, nurses, government employees, and…wait for it…ministers of the gospel.
Take W.S. Plumer for example, in his commentary on Psalm 91:
In times of public calamity, as a general rule we should stand in our lot, and do and suffer the Lord’s will there. We may indeed flee from pestilence, if we neglect no duty
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