In this locked-down world, politicians are responding with daily briefings; journalists and others are busy writing their blogs. How are we as believers to respond? If (as some politicians tell us) we are engaged in a war with Covid-19, how are we to have a ‘good war’ and a ‘good lockdown’?

There has undoubtedly been much prayer by ordinary believers throughout the duration of the pandemic. Just as almost exactly 80 years ago the heroes of Dunkirk were the little boats, perhaps today’s lockdown heroes are the faithful small groups coming together to pray.

But more broadly, denominational leaders collectively seem to be ‘on mute’, not really sure of the nature of the crisis and possibly hoping that it will all end soon and everything will carry on as before. Except it won’t.

Repentance in the Church

Local church leaders need to be challenging and encouraging their congregations (and others) to repent of sin and seek the Lord while he may be found. Concerted, serious prayer and fasting is necessary and days of prayer are to be commended – but God is looking for more than mere confession of sin. He wants us truly to repent (true repentance requires action) – whether of sins of omission or commission – and then to model biblical practice, whether in the family, at church, in the marketplace or wherever else.

However, most local fellowships are far from ‘biblical’ in their teaching and practice of even basic biblical themes. What is it going to take before the Church in much of the West takes both the Old and New Testaments seriously? What about creation, rather than evolution? What about the reality of heaven and hell? What about other religions, and the exclusivity of Jesus? What about baptism, both physical (immersion) and spiritual (in the Holy Spirit)?¹ What about the prophetic scriptures, including those regarding the rebirth and regathering - even now - of Israel?²

What is more, Covid-19 is only the harbinger of many more cataclysmic events to come (see Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21 and Revelation) – albeit a future that will also be characterised by great opportunity.³ It’s time for churches to make study and awareness of the imminent return of Jesus an absolute priority, setting current events in the wider context of God’s biblical dealings with Israel and the nations. His second coming may well be sooner than much of the Church currently expects – and we need to be ready.

God is looking for more than mere confession of sin: he wants us truly to repent (true repentance requires action) and to model biblical practice.

Repentance in the Nation

Scripture tells us that judgment begins at the house of the Lord (1 Pet 4:17), but while the Church needs to take this opportunity to repent for its own shortcomings, we must also confess the sins of the nation, so God can be merciful.

With over 10% of global coronavirus deaths and less than 1% of the world population,⁴ we need to ask why the UK is suffering so badly and what our official response has revealed. I would suggest that while Covid-19 is part of God shaking all nations (including the UK),⁵ our Government in particular is also being shaken, in part because so many of us look to Government as the answer to our problems, when we should look to God.

A key part of this is the NHS. There are some good aspects to the NHS – and it is right that we commend our doctors, nurses and other medical workers for their professionalism and dedication – but have we made the NHS into an idol? It may protect us physically, but it does not save us spiritually, despite mantras from Government suggesting otherwise. If we are not careful, this could be our Golden Calf - and the claps every Thursday will not be the sound of victory!⁶

At the moment, politicians are hiding behind scientists, not fully acknowledging that not everything about Covid-19 is knowable and controllable. God has been airbrushed out of the issue – in marked contrast to President Trump, who called a day of prayer in March (even before our denominational leaders issued a similar call here). It is easy to understand why senior politicians do not want to refer to God in their daily briefings or call for a similar day of prayer – it would admit not only that they are not in control, but that they are ultimately accountable to him. More fundamentally, it would go against the prevailing humanistic view of many: that man is basically good and able to meet his own needs.

The problem with this reluctance to acknowledge God is twofold. First, our sin is so extensive and the consequences so serious that nothing less than serious repentance will be sufficient to ensure the future of our nation. God heard the prayers of Britons 80 years ago in World War II - but as this video makes clear, God requires that we are serious about changing from our godless ways.

Second, there is absolutely no doubt now that we live in ‘biblical’ times. We always have, of course – but this reality is increasingly clear, for anyone with eyes to see. God will achieve his purposes, but will we in the UK co-operate? Or will we forsake our destiny? We cannot fudge it or ‘wing it’ – God will see through any half-hearted response. How we respond is of the utmost importance.

Senior politicians do not want to refer to God in their daily briefings or call for a day of prayer – it would admit not only that they are not in control, but that they are ultimately accountable to him.

True Church, Arise

To whom much is given, much is expected. The UK has historically been greatly used and greatly blessed by God. We are now in a very precarious place, which could become much, much worse (e.g. with the collapse of sterling, indeed possibly of our whole economy and body politic too). The urgency of the hour is critical – but what will it take for the Church to lead the way for the country as a whole in the sort of repentance that God requires?

God has brought us out of Egypt (the EU) for more than this. Soon we will reach a crossroads, where the signposts read ‘Back to Egypt’, ‘To the Wilderness’ and ‘To the Promised Land’. We as believers need to be in the right place to pray in and help politicians make the correct decision(s).

This time, for many (though clearly not all), the lockdown has been relatively easy. It is warm and there is food and water. But if we don’t engage seriously now, will God require that we have another unprecedented crisis (in much more challenging circumstances, and sooner rather than later) to get our full attention in a way that I am not convinced he currently has?

Is it too much to ask that church leaders should spend hours in prayer together – weekly, as a minimum, hopefully more often – and then lead their congregations in seeking the Lord as they themselves have been led? If those at the top are (by and large) proving to be blind guides, will God not raise up new shepherds for his people from below?

God will have his way in this nation, and if those who call themselves his people do not do as he requires, he will find someone else. In this war with Covid-19, it is time for the true Church to arise.

References

1 Hebrews 6:2. Note the use of the plural – baptisms.

2 “God [truly] is restoring Israel. And God is judging the nations.” (Derek Prince)

3 Daniel 11:32b.

4 By all accounts, Chinese deaths are materially understated.

5 Haggai 2:6-7.

6 Exodus 32:17-18.