LOCK-DOWN:  abort it or extend it? 

LOCK-DOWN:  abort it or extend it? 

May 13, 2020 Off By Mike

For most people it is a straightforward choice between lockdown to save lives or open-up to save the economy – being pro-human or pro-economy, so to speak. Many supported the initial decision of national lockdown but now see friends and family struggling to survive and have to deal with shifting convictions.  But is the choice really that simple and where does this leave us as Christians?

The one question that confronts leaders across the globe today is lockdown:  extend it, abort it or prolong it?  Should nations extend the lockdowns or ease the pandemic restrictions.

The EXTEND- group

Those who support an extension of the lockdown have good reasons to do so.  As of 10 May, more than 4 million people have been infected and the death toll is nearing the 300,000 mark – so they argue.  The curve is not at a point of sufficiently flattening down and with no cure in sight, and without any better defences against the infections, it would be reckless to risk millions of lives by simply aborting the process.  The University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), which is also being used by the White House coronavirus task force, currently predicts 135,000 U.S. deaths from COVID-19 by August 4.  The IHME also predicted that in the UK there will be a need for more than 102,000 hospital beds. There are nearly 18,000 available, meaning a shortfall of 85,000.  Simply aborting the process could result in the deaths of millions across the globe.

Only time will tell whether this assessment is correct or not but the principle that many propose is that this is the ‘moral and humane’ consideration to make.  People who disagree are seen as ‘insensitive’ to human lives.  The columnist Amy Z. Quinn wrote in an article[1] that President Donald Trump is “choosing money over lives.” “What more do the men allegedly leading this country have to do to prove they value money over your life?” is the introduction to the article.

The ABORT-group

Those who support a stop to the lockdown, opening up businesses and allowing the economy to return to normal, also have good reasons to do so.  Yes, the infections are dangerously high BUT of the 4 million infections many have recovered and will recover, they argue.  More than 1,5 million people – nearly four out of every ten – have already recovered and of the 2,4 million currently still infected, only 47,000 – 2 out of every 100 people – are serious or critical[2].

For the pro-abort group, the concern lies in the increase in joblessness and escalating unemployment.  On 8 May the U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics announced that the US economy lost a staggering 20.5 million jobs in April, pushing the unemployment rate to 14.7% after a historic low of 3.5% in February[3].  The number has now grown to over 30 million who filed for unemployment in the USA alone.

In addition to unemployment new research published by United Nations University-WIDER  warns that the economic fallout from the global pandemic could increase global poverty by as much as half a billion people, or 8% of the total human population. This would be the first time that poverty has increased globally in thirty years, since 1990.

With both arguments carrying weight, this is not a simple, straightforward debate between a pro-human and a pro-economy camp.  The answer will be found in a balanced combination of both and a scientific approach to the unknown.

Senior Contributor for Forbes, Tara Haelle, argues as follows[4]:  If we knew that a broadly effective COVID-19 treatment was imminent, or that a working vaccine was months away, minimizing infections through social distancing until that moment would be the right course. At the other extreme, if we will never have an effective treatment or vaccine and most everyone will get infected eventually, then the costs of social distancing are untenable. We don’t know where we sit on that spectrum. So, we cannot know what the best way forward is even if we place the highest possible value on preserving life and protecting the vulnerable.

In times of uncertainty, the Church should provide a moral compass, not necessarily to discern which option is right or wrong, but how to deal with opposing ideas and contradicting convictions.  Reconciling people will assist in reconciling convictions and what the world needs most during this time of uncertainty is calculated and measured decisions by level-headed people.

Here are 5 guidelines to consider in our daily conversations

DON’T DEMONISE – PRAY

We need to refrain from demonising people whose views differ from our views, especially when we disagree with our political leaders.  Leaders are currently traversing on uncharted ground and have to make decisions that none of their predecessors had to make.  The burden they carry in making the right decisions, that will influence millions of lives, is a heavy burden to carry.  Yes, we may give advice, but we need to be careful not to demonise our leaders.  They have advisors and information available that we don’t, and have to provide comprehensive guidance that might be inconvenient for me but save the life of another.  Let’s pray for wisdom, discernment and godly advisors

DON’T POLITICISE – RECONCILE

We need to guard against the temptation of politicising this tragedy.  Pointing fingers at political ‘enemies’ will not contribute to finding solutions nor will it contribute to an atmosphere of hope.   Christians have the right to share their views but, at all times, need to be vessels  overflowing with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13)

As Christians we have been entrusted with a special mandate, all of us, to reconcile people with God, and people with people (2 Corinthians 5:17-18  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!  All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.)

DON’T CRITICISE – LISTEN

The pandemic is more than just about health and wealth.  There are so many levels to consider that no one single person has a full grasp of the full picture.  Be careful in just brushing an argument aside and criticising those who think differently.  No, not all who would like to end the lockdown are insensitive and not all who want to prolong it is rich and has nothing to lose.  Let’s use this time to listen and give proper consideration to all the arguments.

DON’T STIGMATISE – PRAISE

The warnings of thoughtful shutdown sceptics warrant careful study, not stigma rooted in the false pretence that they don’t have any plausible concerns or value human life.  We should praise all endeavours to seek commendable solutions whether we agree or not.  We should also not stigmatise those who seek a process of a prolonged shutdown as people who want to take our rights away and are enemies of freedom.  We should praise the willingness to seek solutions even though it might cause inconvenience.  As Christians, we often criticise those who have some skin in the game – who are actively involved – instead of praising them for their efforts in finding solutions.

DON’T VICTIMISE – GIVE THANKS

The hallmark of the Christian faith is that we embrace our suffering with dignity.  Our supreme example, innocently judged and unjustly crucified, gave us the mandate to find delight in the cross of Salvation and dignity in disgrace.   Jesus never lost His dignity by seeking scapegoats, by exposing the evil plans of His enemies, by calling His crucifiers the Antichrists or by pointing fingers to the corrupt Roman Empire and religious leaders.  His only dignified response was an appeal to His Father to forgive those who sought His demise.

We should refrain from embracing a victim mentality – rather give thanks, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.  There are always people that are worse off than we are and there is always something to be grateful for.  Here is the scripture to quote first thing every morning:

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18  Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 

CategoryBlog Lockdown
TagsBible study Corona COVID-19 devotion