What Do We Fear?
I have hesitated to write about the COVID-19 pandemic. I know relatively little about it and all of my assumptions are probably incorrect in one way or another. Up-to-the-minute analysis of current affairs is not what Penelope’s Loom is all about, either. On the other hand, this is a place to reflect on daily living and the quarantine has certainly influenced that, though much less for me than for those living near large population centers. Still, I have no wish to plant myself on one side of the debate or the other: should we open up immediately and combat the obvious conspiracy to ruin the economy before President Trump can capitalize on his success in November? Or is that completely and clearly foolish, because there is great danger yet and we need to remain isolated for several more weeks if not months? But recently I haven’t been able to avoid noticing something which correlates with one of my main complaints about modern life. Whichever side one chooses, the determining factor always comes back to one thing: what does the science say, and more often than not, is it possible to manipulate the science to support a theory?
For better or worse, we are moderns. We live in an age when the term “knowledge” can only be applied to what we can prove empirically. Has the study or test been performed correctly? Have twenty other scientists replicated the study exactly? Have the methods and results been meticulously peer reviewed? If not, the data must be thrown out. If so, better obey and follow those conclusions to the letter. Once we possess the information we should use it. If we don’t have conclusive results, a great deal of speculation and statistics should be thrown at the question.
Don’t misunderstand me. Scientific testing and observation, though developed significantly in the modern era, existed before modern times. And they are good things. Scientific study aids our understanding of creation. There is a long history in western thought of carefully watching and learning from nature. Great men including Aristotle, Euclid, Galen, Hippocrates, da Vinci, Copernicus, and Newton all respected the study of physical reality. However, they also understood the limitations of scientific study. The Enlightenment, modernity, and postmodernity have been guilty of pushing science to answer questions outside its realm. Now, in the twenty-first century, we are accustomed to this mindset. We assume science won’t let us down, so we want to trust any “expert” who is willing to give an answer, regardless of actual evidence (this is evident from the overwhelming quantity of articles, studies, and Youtube videos that pop up in our social media feed every minute.) That’s dangerous, but not surprising.
Now would be a good time for our modern culture to recall the limits of science. Eventually, with enough time to test, analyze, retest, and piece together information, I imagine we will know quite a bit about the virus. And there is some evidence that certain scientists working on the problem recognize their own limits and seek the aid of other experts. But generally our culture has given scientists a lot of power because of our desire for instant answers. Interestingly, the sheer quantity of unknowns regarding the virus (Will there be long term effects to the body even after recovery? Is it possible to build immunity and how long will immunity last? If the old folks and at-risk folks stay safe, can the rest of us go about our normal lives? How many people actually die from COVID-19?) is forcing our society to face a forgotten reality. Man does not rule his own fate, cannot create a utopia on earth, and no amount of scientific progress will change that. To put it quite morbidly, death comes to all, sooner or later.
“So while science can lend valuable information and insights, it cannot rule the day. Information is not the same as wisdom and knowledge is not power. ”
So while science can lend valuable information and insights, it cannot rule the day. Information is not the same as wisdom and knowledge is not power. The scientist that I would trust is the one who understands where his work fits in with philosophy, theology, economics, and so on, and who also understands that humanity’s greatest fear is not death, but permanent division from our Creator.
One could compare our current trial to that of Israel’s affliction under the reign of King Ahab. Elijah was the only true prophet left and there was only a small remnant of believers remaining in all the land. All of Israel was suffering because God had sent a great drought. Ahab’s wife, Jezebel, had slaughtered the Lord’s prophets, but Obadiah had saved some in caves. Obadiah was the lone, terrified believer in Ahab’s court. Understandably, he feared the king and awful queen, but of course he shouldn’t have. Eventually, to reveal Himself, God sent fire to consume Elijah’s offering but the prophets of Baal received no such sign from their idol. The story is a familiar one. (1 Kings 18)
Perhaps in our age we have made science our god and when, like Baal failing to rain fire from the heavens, our god lets us down, what will we do? Cut ourselves until the blood flows? Fear sickness or any other threat to our body? Or shall we return to the One who made the heavens and the earth? He tells us not to fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul, because our fear belongs to the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matthew 10:28) And the assurance we possess, the love we have received, drives out all fear because that One has promised us life everlasting. It is not a direct analogy. Science, in its many forms, is a wonderful blessing from God, not an imposter created by unbelievers. But science can be manipulated by man and given undue power.
While no definitive answers have been given to tough and important questions, some of the people in the white coats still want us to bow down to whatever their best guess may be. And suddenly we find ourselves in a terrifying position where we can’t tell which scientists we can trust, and worse, which scientists might be directed, not by science, but by politicians. The chaos of our current situation and the inability of scientists to resolve it immediately may serve to remind us where our trust ought to lie.
I do not know what each individual should do. Economic and theological wisdom should be considered in equal portions to the rather bare scientific knowledge we currently have, because though we seek each other’s health, we should not fear death. Those that decide differently from others should not be condemned or hated. What certainty does anyone have apart from faith in Christ? We can only be confident that neither COVID-19 nor our country’s economic demise can divide us from our risen Lord. Perhaps this time of difficulty will recall some to Him. Ultimately, I hope that Christians will remember that, whether we have scientific solutions or just speculations, terrifying prognostications of death or a great economic depression, we have nothing to fear because our God holds us close and will not let us go. If it is time to endure great suffering, let us continue to pray, “Thy will be done,” and, “Kyrie Eleison.”