United Church of God

October 14, 2021 - Letter from President Kubik - Impact of Covid-19

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October 14, 2021 - Letter from President Kubik - Impact of Covid-19

Personal from President Kubik on the impact of COVID-19 Link in our church.

https://www.ucg.org/members/news/personal-from-the-president-october-14-2021

A Time for Respect and Biblical Clarity

We heard the news about the death of our fellow brother and pastor Randy D’Alessandro early on Wednesday. He was actively serving God in the Chicago (Illinois) and Beloit (Wisconsin) congregations. We deeply appreciated his expository sermons and are deeply grieved by this tragedy and loss to the Church.

And now as we all settle back into daily routines after the Feast of Tabernacles, I want to encourage, even urge, all in the Church of God to do so while “keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith” (Hebrews 12:2, New Living Translation). It is Jesus Christ, identified by the apostle Paul and others as “the head of the body, the church” (Colossians 1:18), Who, in a titanic spiritual encounter with Satan, the adversary, positively declared that “man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4 quoting Deuteronomy 8:3, emphasis added throughout).

Why do I write this? We live in an unusual and challenging time. Thankfully, the United States (and the world) appears to be coming off a taxing, even deadly, surge of the Delta variant of COVID-19. But after nearly two years of this pandemic, many of us are worn out. We know that unrelenting fatigue often lowers, even compromises our immune systems. That is especially true for those of us who are 60 and above.

Now, particularly in North America, we near the time of the annual flu season. Here’s an important challenge for this time: the onset of this variant of COVID-19 often mimics the sinus symptoms of a bad cold or flu.

Thankfully, we hold the blessings of the broad principles of healthful living outlined in the Bible. One of those principles—the biblical principle of self-quarantining—helps prevent the spread of disease and helps protect us. In the Bible, the plague of leprosy is mentioned some 68 times. Biblical leprosy likely comprised a number of devastating, different, but highly infectious skin ailments, possibly including what is spread today by the Mycobacterium leprae bacteria, fostering a feared debilitating condition that can waste the body and is still found in parts of the world.

In recognizing it and advancing a path to recovery, the biblical principle is plain and direct. If, upon examination, the Israelite priest found evidence of “a serious skin disease . . . the priest will quarantine the person for seven days” (Leviticus 13:3-4, NLT). Further, additional steps directed that an afflicted person “shall put a covering upon his upper lip” (the New Living Translation renders this they must “cover their mouth”) and take other measures to help protect the disease from spreading to others (Leviticus 13:45, King James Version). John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible commentary notes that this “covering” represented “a linen cloth or vail [sic] thrown over the shoulder, and with which the mouth was covered; and this was done, as Aben Ezra [a prominent Jewish commentator from the 10th century] says, that the leper might not hurt any with the breath of his mouth.”

The point? If symptoms of a cold, flu or other infectious disease begin to appear or are evident, it is the personal responsibility of members and families to positively put into practice these biblical principles. Appropriately self-quarantining is an act of loving one other, protecting other members and families of the Church, particularly those whose resistance may be lowered from fatigue and stress, or may have less effective immune systems because of age or other conditions.

Rightly practiced, quarantining during a time of infectious disease reflects the twin commands of Jesus Christ in loving one another (John 15:12) and in living by every word of God (Deuteronomy 8:3, Matthew 4:4).

Positively applying these principles has been taught and practiced within the Church of God for several decades. Long-time members may remember sermons and sermonettes advocating positive quarantining to slow and prevent illnesses that were delivered before the regular Holy Day seasons when many people gathered together.

What’s the personal outcome of this? If you feel ill or suspect that you (or a child or other family member) are “coming down” with something (particularly if symptoms include sneezing, sore throat, coughing or other sinus issues), you should stay home. In this unusual time, don’t suppose, “Oh, this is just a mild cold.”

In this Internet age, there exist plenty of ways for members and families to connect with live services or be spiritually fed through streaming sermons or even DVDs and CDs of messages in many areas. Such connectivity can provide a meaningful alternative, and some congregations (like the Los Angeles congregation) offer opportunities for online fellowship after services.

Of course, this does not minimize or change the foundational principle that healthy members should not neglect the assembling of ourselves together to worship and fellowship in person (Hebrews 10:25). And as a pastor of more than half a century of experience, I know firsthand the earnest yearning of people—especially those shut-in or older—to meet and fellowship together. For many, it is an emotional hardship to miss services and the opportunity to see and be with dear friends.

But, as I wrote earlier, these are unusual times. And we should understand that quarantining with purpose is biblically acceptable, even when an assembly on the Passover or the Feast of Tabernacles is commanded. The Word of God warns that there are serious consequences for willfully missing the taking of the Passover. But the same Word of God teaches that highly unusual circumstances (including illness or other issues) may arise that force members to miss observing this solemn occasion.

In the case of the Passover, God makes possible the delayed observance of the Passover (due to unusual circumstances) a month later (Numbers 9:6-13). There is no condemnation or adverse judgment for legitimately exercising this.

If we’re sound and healthy, we should be attending services, fellowshipping, and positively assembling together. If sickness or suspected illness is within our household or personally afflicting us, then we should follow the biblical example of quarantining ourselves.

I also want to emphasize that we have an additional personal responsibility to our spiritual brothers and sisters. Paul emphatically teaches us: “Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others” (Philippians 2:4). If we know that people are afflicted or suffering from any illness, those brethren should be high up on our prayer lists. In this day and age, we have many ways we can stay in contact with each other through email, text messages, phone calls and personal notes or cards.

It is no accident that the Bible teaches us: “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver” (Proverbs 25:11). Gold sells today for more than $1,700 an ounce. Your words of heartfelt encouragement are worth a lot more than that.

Today is a time for respect and biblical clarity. As we enter this time of seasonal illnesses, let us surely live by every word of God, positively following the command of our Elder Brother Jesus Christ in loving one another. Let us intelligently and faithfully practice the biblical principles of protecting each other, of quarantining and covering our mouths when appropriate.

And when we know of others who are afflicted or unable to enjoy the priceless and life-enhancing opportunity of personal fellowship, let us reach out and extend care, actively “encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:25, English Standard Version).

Please pray for Mary D’Alessandro and the entire family for comfort at this most difficult time. Our hope is the Resurrection and trials of faith such as this make this hope real to all of us.