A Further Christian Response to COVID-19

In mid-May of last year, I wrote a post responding to COVID-19, including some predictions, but especially about people’s reactions to it. If you’re interested in reading it, click here: https://keithpetersenblog.com/2020/05/12/a-christian-response-to-covid-19/ Obviously, a lot has happened since then in terms of our understanding of it, so it’s time for an update.

To begin with, let’s lay out some facts, beginning with mental-health issues. One thing that I had thought would be on the rise is the U.S. suicide rate, but to my surprise, it actually dropped 5.6% from 2019 to 2020; on the other hand, preliminary studies indicate that the suicide rate among blacks and other people of color increased from previous years in some specific communities. Whether that is the case nationally is not yet known. Regarding depression: from January-June of 2019, 11% of adults reported symptoms of anxiety and/or depression; in January of this year, 2021, that number was 41%. Given the huge increase, I went back to the original source to confirm it. Regarding kids: in late 2020, 31% of parents surveyed reported their children’s mental/emotional health was worse than before the pandemic; in a similar survey, 46% of teens were worse. A lot of this has to do with the lockdowns that almost all of us have experienced; thankfully, in many states, lockdowns have been lifted, at least in part.

Here are some facts about mortality rates: significantly more kids (0-17) have died from the flu than COVID-19. During the 2019-2020 flu season, 188 American kids died from the flu, but as of August 2020, only 90 American kids had died from COVID. Stats are not yet available for 2020-2021, but this still confirms what we knew early in the pandemic: the COVID mortality rate for kids is extremely low. In regard to the Delta variant: while it appears to be about twice as contagious as the original COVID strain, there are early indications that it is less deadly (in general, not just for kids) than the original. In addition, the overall COVID mortality rate is around 2%.

Regarding vaccinations: unfortunately, they have become extremely politicized, thanks in large part to the Biden administration’s strong urging of all Americans to get vaccinated. There is also continuing talk of vaccine passports. However, there is a recent study out of Israel, with a very large number of people, that suggests natural immunity gives significantly better protection than the vaccine(s). In other words, if you have previously contracted COVID and recovered, you are much better protected than if you have been vaccinated but have never had COVID. (Don’t worry; I’m not suggesting a “let’s get COVID party!”) This means that those who are pushing everyone to get vaccinated are most definitely not “following the science.” The continuing high-risk groups continue to be the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions. However, not all elderly people should be vaccinated; one of my best friends, who is elderly and not in great health, has been told by his doctor that he should not get the vaccine because it could kill him! It has become increasingly obvious that vaccination should be a choice.

In summary: mental-health issues are significantly on the rise, at least in part due to lockdowns; mortality rates for kids are very low, there are indications that the Delta variant is less deadly in general than the original strain, and the overall mortality rate is only 2%; natural immunity gives better protection than vaccination. All of this suggests to me that governments should give more freedom, not less, although I understand hospitalization rates need to be taken into account as well. In the past month, I have heard two experts say something like this: We may have to learn to live with COVID. Now, there is wisdom! What they mean is that given how widespread it is, and the fact that there are already eight variants, it may be around forever. As I have thought about this, one implication is that we may have to get used to COVID in the same way we have gotten used to the flu; there may be an annual COVID vaccination against the most prominent variant, for example.

I understand that people don’t like uncertainty, but as a Christian, I know that God is in control. Last year I wrote about how for those of us who are Christians, we should not be afraid or anxious. Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” If you find yourself anxious and fearful–for any reason, not just COVID concerns–take these verses to heart.

Some Reflections on Death and Life

Last week my oldest brother went to heaven; he is my third sibling to go home in the last ten months. I am responsible for settling his estate, but even in the midst of seemingly hundreds of details, I have had time to reflect on a lot of things.

First of all, there’s the importance of koinonia, or intimate fellowship. My spiritual brothers and sisters at my church have been life-giving. For example, I was scheduled to teach an adult Sunday-school class on Sunday, but one of my brothers offered to take over for me. One of my sisters came up to me and said, “When I read about your brother, I was speechless.” She then allowed me to talk about my brother and things related to his homegoing. Another sister asked me some questions which again allowed me to talk about my brother, as well as my other two siblings who have gone home in the past year. Another source of koinonia has turned out to be a tribute wall that the funeral home set up online. People who knew and loved my brother, including me and my surviving siblings, have been able to post wonderful tributes about him, giving us great comfort and joy in the midst of grief. For example, one was from a close friend of my brother’s who also happens to be the man who taught me in fifth and sixth grade! There have also been tributes from some people who probably don’t know the Lord, at least not yet, but who obviously saw something of Jesus in my godly brother. (My wife has referred to him as a “spiritual giant,” which is an apt description.) A third source was an extended-family Zoom meeting on Sunday, giving us a chance to share memories as well as some plans for a pair of memorial services: one in person, and one virtual.

Second, I have had multiple opportunities to talk to other people who may or may not know the Lord, including several customer service reps for various agencies and companies. When I have told them why I’m calling, they have invariably responded with expressions of sympathy. I have always said something like, “I’m sad for me, but very joyful for my brother because he is with the Lord Jesus now.” In other words, my brother’s homegoing has given me a very natural opportunity to say something about the Lord; I have even met two sisters in Christ. (A side note: one young gal said, “I apologize for your brother’s death.” Hmmm. I thanked her but had to stifle a chuckle; she’s not responsible for his death!) The Lord has also given me a chance to share something about Him with a delightful young couple in our neighborhood.

There are several verses in Scripture that have recently come to mind. One of them is 1 Thessalonians 4:13, which says, “Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope.” Paul then goes on to tell us about the second coming of the Lord. I truly feel sorry for those who have no hope; without it, I would be lost in a sea of grief. Another passage that has frequently come to mind is I Corinthians 15. Near the end of this chapter, Paul writes in verse 54, “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” Immediately following that, he asks in verse 55, “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The truth is, for a Christian, death has no victory; it is but a passage to eternal life.

This brings me to the second part of the title of this post: life. You can probably guess I am not referring to this life. There are so many passages in Scripture that give comfort and joy about the life to come; one of my favorites is in Revelation 21, where the apostle John sees the new Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. In verses 3-4 we read, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

I believe that the Lord has more work for me to do here before my homegoing, and I don’t have a death wish. However, I am ready to go home anytime; indeed, I am looking forward to being reunited with all of those in my family who have preceded me as well as all of the rest of God’s family throughout history. For those of you reading this who are already my brothers and sisters, I look forward to sharing eternity with you. If you are reading this and are not a believer, let this be the day that you turn to Jesus Christ in saving faith.

Why I’m Voting to Recall Gavin Newsom

First of all, if you have read any of my posts before, you know this is not a political blog, but a blog about Biblical answers to questions and issues. Nevertheless, as Christians, we are called to vote according to our conscience, and the recall election coming up next month is particularly noteworthy to me in that regard.

If you communicate with other Californians who are disenchanted, to put it mildly, with Governor Gavin Newsom, you will hear a litany of complaints: our rise in crime, our decline in education as measured by standardized test scores, and our economic downturn. The economic downturn is what seems to cause the most complaints. In March of 2020, Newsom got plenty of kudos from the media for being the first governor to issue a statewide stay-at-home order. However, as in other states, this eventually caused many small businesses to close their doors. Then in November, Newsom decided that his orders did not apply to him; he and his wife were caught dining at the ritzy French Laundry restaurant in Napa with many others from several different households. The diners were maskless and definitely not social-distancing, either. Although Newsom later apologized, this extreme hypocrisy ignited widespread fury. A petition was soon formulated and circulated, calling for his recall. This petition easily got the minimum required number of signatures to qualify for the ballot.

I was one of the 1.7 million+ signatories, and while the aforementioned reasons influenced my decision, my primary reason for signing was something else than I have mentioned so far; let me explain. Back in 2000, Californians overwhelmingly voted in favor of Proposition 22, which defined marriage as being between one man and one woman. Three years later, Gavin Newsom was elected mayor of San Francisco, and upon taking office in January of 2004, it took only 34 days for him to flagrantly break the law and defy the will of the people by directing the city clerk to issue same-sex marriage licenses. Obviously, he knew that they would be declared invalid, but that wasn’t the point; his action set in motion a series of legal challenges, culminating in the CA Supreme Court’s decision to strike down Proposition 22 in May of 2008. However, shortly before that, the more well-known Proposition 8 had already qualified for the fall ballot. Once again, California voters let it be known that they wanted marriage to be defined as being between one man and one woman. This time, it was an amendment to the state constitution; Prop. 22 was a state statute. Sadly, in a country where the courts seem to hold the ultimate power, even a CA constitutional amendment was not enough. The will of the people was again overturned five years later; the infamous CA Ninth Circuit Court permitted same-sex marriage in CA beginning on June 28, 2013. Two years later, the U.S. Supreme Court effectively legalized same-sex marriage across the country.

Meanwhile, Gavin Newsom had moved up the ranks, becoming lieutenant governor of CA in 2011 and eight years later being sworn in as governor of CA. To summarize: what is the main reason I’m voting to recall Gavin Newsom next month? Because with his illegal action in February of 2004, he set in motion same-sex marriage in CA, as CA courts twice defied the will of the people. You might argue that when Newsom did this, he was mayor of San Francisco, not governor of CA. That is true, but Newsom’s pattern of illegal actions as a mayor and now a governor have finally caught up with him, and now CA voters have the opportunity to remove him from office. I suppose you might argue that same-sex marriage was permitted in other states before 2013, when they were first allowed in CA. However, the first same-sex wedding ceremony was performed, albeit illegally, in CA on February 12, 2004; that symbolism was very powerful. You might even argue that same-sex marriage had become inevitable by the time Gavin Newsom became mayor of San Francisco, but that is beside the point; Newsom played a crucial role in its eventually becoming the law of the land.

Maybe you think that same-sex marriage should be allowed, and you certainly have the right to your opinion. However, as I mentioned at the outset, this is a blog about Biblical answers to questions and issues. I have written elsewhere about a Biblical response to homosexuality, including same-sex marriage; if you’re interested, check this out: https://keithpetersenblog.com/2020/10/08/should-you-attend-your-gay-friends-wedding/ Finally, if you’re a CA resident, I hope that you will at the very least seriously consider voting to recall Gavin Newsom next month.

What Does Heroism Look Like?

When I was a child in the 1960s, I used to faithfully watch Underdog. He and/or his girlfriend, Sweet Polly Purebred, would always be in peril from some nefarious villain like Simon Bar Sinister, Riff Raff, or Overcat. Each story had four parts, but they showed only two parts in a half-hour program, interspersed with a Tennessee Tuxedo or Klondike Kat cartoon, keeping you in suspense until the next program. Underdog always saved the day and was my first hero. I also discovered Superman, both on TV and in comics, who soon became as heroic a figure to me as Underdog.

When I was nine years old, one of my brothers went to Vietnam for a year. When he left our house, I told him, “Don’t let them shoot you!” (He survived his year there!) Around that time, I heard about a man who had jumped into a river to save someone; I didn’t know his name, but he became a real-life hero to me. I also became familiar with the stories in the Bible of Daniel’s three friends and the fiery furnace, along with Daniel in the lions’ den. I was in awe of the courage of all six of these men, and I wondered if I could ever be as brave as them.

In the past several years, the word “hero” has been very loosely applied to various people. This has motivated me to think about heroism again. I recently looked up the definition in various sources, and there seem to be two widely agreed-upon, overriding characteristics of a hero: nobility, by which is usually meant high moral character, and courage.

Keeping those two characteristics in mind, let’s evaluate the characters and people I’ve mentioned so far. Both Underdog and Superman are heroes because they are courageous in saving others from harm. My brother was a hero because he flew a helicopter for his country, ferrying other men and supplies from one place to another while sometimes being shot at. The man who jumped in the river is a hero because he saved someone’s life at risk to his own. Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are heroes because they took a stand for the Lord even though they knew that they might lose their lives in the process; they displayed both courage and very high moral character.

Now let’s look at a couple other examples of people who have been called heroes. In 2014, NBA player Jason Collins became the first male U.S. athlete in the four major pro sports (NBA, NHL, NFL, MLB) to come out as gay. He was widely lauded and applauded as a hero at the time. I understand why some think that his revelation was courageous, but it doesn’t meet the other standard of heroism, which is having high moral character. How about another, very current example: the 50+ Democratic state lawmakers from Texas who fled to Washington D.C. in order to deny Republicans a quorum in an effort to block what they consider restrictive voting measures from being passed in their state. They have been widely mocked for several things; I’ll mention a couple. First, some of them have shown photos of their underwear drying in their bathrooms; second, they have requested care packages. Apparently, their high salaries aren’t high enough for them to pay for doing their laundry or buying things like Dr. Pepper, hair spray, and salsa. On a much more serious note, they weren’t wearing masks on their private jet, and at least six have since tested positive for COVID-19. I could write much more about their folly, but let’s get back to the main point of this post: are these lawmakers “heroes?” Are they courageous? Are they displaying high moral character? Some on the left think so, but I think to anyone who’s not blinded by their political ideology, the answer is obvious.

In contrast to these examples of non-heroes, in John 15:13, we read, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” The ultimate expression of this is the Lord Jesus, Who died for us. In Luke 21:16, we read, “You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to death.” In Matthew 24:9, Jesus tells us, “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me.” Church history is full of examples of martyrs, particularly in the 20th century; you can read more about them and how we should pray for them here: https://keithpetersenblog.com/2021/03/10/how-should-we-pray-for-persecuted-christians/.

The ultimate kind of heroism is risking, and even sacrificing, one’s life for another, whether that be another person or the Lord Himself. There are many other kinds, and examples, of heroism that people may not have thought of as such: how about parents who choose to give of themselves on a daily basis, sacrificing at least some of their own needs and desires until later in life? How about a student who defends another student who’s being made fun of, or worse? How about someone who stops to change a tire for someone else? All of these require courage and moral character. I’m sure you can think of many others.

May we be heroes in “ordinary” ways, and may all of us who claim the name of Christ be prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice, if need be.

Racism and the Bible

The word “racism” is being thrown around a lot by the media and the Biden administration. I even overheard someone say that the Bible is “racist.” This has caused me to think about racism in the context of Scripture.

The word “racism” has been defined in various ways, some better than others. Here’s one example: Ibram X. Kendi, in How to Be an Antiracist, defines it like this:  “Racism is a collection of racist policies that lead to racial inequity that are substantiated by racist ideas.” That’s not exactly a helpful definition. In other definitions that I came across, the word that seems to be common to almost all of them is “superiority.” That is, if someone believes his race is superior to others, he is a racist. And naturally, if one believes this, it will eventually be reflected in one’s actions, some more obvious than others.

The person who I overheard saying the Bible is racist believes this because God chose the nation of Israel to be His people. Actually, and more accurately, the Lord chose Abram (later changed to “Abraham”) and promised to make him into a great nation (Genesis 12:2); the Israelites were his descendants through his son Isaac. In Deuteronomy 7: 6-8 we are told, “For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be His people, His treasured possession. The Lord did not set His affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But it was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath he swore to your forefathers that He brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt.” In the second part of Isaiah 49:6 we are told, “I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.”

So, why did the Lord choose the Israelites to be His people? Because He kept the promise He swore to their forefathers (beginning with Abram). The Israelites were then supposed to be a light for the Gentiles (non-Israelites), passing on the knowledge and blessing of the Lord. Way back again in Genesis 12:3, the Lord tells Abram, “All peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” You might ask why the Lord chose Abram; what we know is that it was the Lord’s sovereign choice. Does this mean that Abram and his descendants were superior to other nations? Not at all. In fact, when we read the Old Testament, we find that again and again, God’s people sinned greatly and were punished. Eventually, they were taken into captivity. By the time Jesus was born, they were under the thumb of the Roman empire; then in 70 A.D., Jerusalem was destroyed, and the Israelites were scattered.

We have examples from the Old Testament of non-Israelites who were blessed by the Lord. One person who comes to mind is Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Aram. In 2 Kings 5, you can read the story of how the Lord healed him of leprosy through the prophet Elisha. Another person who comes to mind is the widow at Zarephath of Sidon. In I Kings 17, you can read the story of how the Lord brought her son back to life through the prophet Elijah. Yet another person who comes to mind is the queen of Sheba (in Ethiopia). In 1 Kings 10, we read about her coming to visit King Solomon, and in verse 9, we have these astonishing words from her: “Praise be to the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on the throne of Israel. Because of the Lord’s eternal love for Israel, He has made you king, to maintain justice and righteousness.” This “foreign” woman had great understanding of the Lord!

In the New Testament, we also have examples during Jesus’ time on Earth of non-Israelites who were blessed by the Lord. The person who came immediately to my mind is the Roman centurion in Matthew 8. In verses 3-13, you can read how Jesus healed the centurion’s servant; not only that, but in verse 10 we read Jesus’ words about the centurion: “I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.” Imagine: a “foreigner” who had greater faith than any of God’s chosen people! There’s another centurion in Luke 23:47, immediately following Christ’s death: “The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, ‘Surely this was a righteous man.'” A third person is the Canaanite woman in Matthew 15:21-28; you can read there how the Lord cast out a demon from her daughter.

There are many other examples of non-Israelites in both the Old Testament and the Gospels who are blessed by the Lord. In Paul’s letter to the Galatians, Chapter 3:28, we have what I consider the ultimate statement of the Lord’s blessing to people of different ethnicities (as well as both genders): “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” In other words, neither your ethnicity nor your male/female gender matters in regard to salvation; the Lord saves all those who put their trust in Him, regardless of ethnicity or gender. In the grand finale, the book of Revelation, Chapter 7:9 gives us this glorious view of heaven: “After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb.” Notice the word “every!”

So, is the Bible “racist?” There is ample evidence that it’s not. For those who think it is, they’re on very dangerous ground because in essence, they’re saying that God is racist. After all, we don’t call the Bible “God’s Word” for nothing! Are people–even God’s people–racist? As I wrote earlier, the common denominator in various definitions I came across is superiority. If we view our race, whatever it may be, as superior to others–or even thinking it should be superior to others–and then worse, act on that view, whether in subtle or not-so-subtle ways, then yes, we are acting like racists. Let me put it this way, speaking for myself: I’m more comfortable with two races–my own and one other–than with other races. When that causes me in some way(s), even mentally, to exclude people from those other races, then yes, I am thinking and/or acting like a racist. One caveat, however: thinking and behaving like a racist in a given time and place does not define me as one, in spite of what the media may say. May the Lord continue to form us who profess His Name into Jesus’ image, including in this area.