Looking for Answers Amid Covid-19
The Canadian Press published a story with the phrase “Looking for Answers” used to open the headline. As Christians, we’ve heard some testify of times in their life when they were “looking for answers” and someone gave them a tract, or invited them to a Bible study, or gave a personal witness. Those opportune moments led to Christian conversion and on to a productive Christian life. We look out at our world and we see many people who truly are “looking for answers” … but they seem always to be looking in the wrong direction. Our heart goes out to them and we yearn to be used by the Lord to get the attention of our friends, neighbours, and acquaintances to point them to The Answer, Jesus Christ.
Well, the Canadian Press wasn’t thinking of Christian answers with their headline. Here is the whole headline: “‘Looking for answers:’ More people turning to stars, planets during pandemic.” Yes, this is a Covid-19 story. Yes, the story is about the rise of interest in astrology as the answer to life’s questions. You might think of astrology as an odd eccentricity with, perhaps, a brief column appearing in your local paper describing the daily horoscope. You might think of astrologers as somewhat on the fringe of our secular society, and that is probably correct. Nevertheless, this story illustrates the deep spiritual needs that neither our secular society nor astrology can answer.
The story highlights these points on the increase of interest in astrology during Covid-19:
- Toronto astrologer increased from one astrology class a week to three classes a week.
- Same astrologer has a crystals store where she is now frequently selling out of items.
- Another astrologer, in Alberta, saw a 50% increase in clients, with her online classes selling out “for the first time ever.”
- This astrologer mentioned a “colleague” in Turkey whose student body went from 100 to 900 during this crisis. [Turkey is an Islamic nation, not a secular state – the yearning for spiritual answers is global!]
Consider this quote from one of the astrologers in the article:
And “our lack of emotional resources, our financial insecurity, other quirks … become apparent if we’re alone in contemplation,” she adds.
“It’s not so much about manoeuvring the pandemic as it is about people wanting to really understand their place in the world.”
There is no question that we are all feeling the pressure of the pandemic. There are the ever-changing announcements and pronouncements from government officials, newscasters, and the local expert (who is usually almost everyone you meet). There is pressure to conform to whatever local regulations we might live under. There is the waiting for things to change, to get back to normal. There are artificial barriers put between loved ones (I won’t get to see some of my kids this Christmas). There are friends and family members who have actually gotten sick with the Covid. There is the worry that I might catch it from someone. There are pressures for Christians about trying to maintain some kind of church life, navigating government regulations, societal expectations and our own fears.
Well, what do you think those who are outside the church, who have no knowledge of the eternal God who knows the end from the beginning, who provides us with a Redeemer and a hope of eternal life, who knows all our troubles — what of those who don’t know him? How do all these same pressures that trouble us trouble them?
Paul said to the Thessalonians, “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.” Now of course, Paul was talking about death, and subsequently the Christian’s blessed hope. However, the fears of Covid-19 are death-fears, are they not? Why are people looking for answers in the Covid crisis? They have no hope, that’s why. This life is all they get (they believe), and they are afraid to leave it. We, on the other hand, ought “to fear not, even as others which have no hope,” to paraphrase Paul. But more than “fearing not,” there is something else even more important that we need to do.
What do we need to do? We need to realize that our friends and neighbours are afraid and looking for answers. We need to think of ways to connect with their fears and point them to Christ. Astrology is no answer. Eastern religion is no answer. False cults are no answer. Secularism? It is to laugh! What answers does secularism give? No, there is much more to life than the cold, dead philosophy of materialism that dominates the minds and thoughts of most of our society. We have the Answer, the assurance of forgiven sin, the power of the resurrection to overcome sin, and the hope of eternal life, the escape from the penalty of sin.
When you have a conversation with someone this week, you could turn the conversation to eternal things with a few deft questions. “Does the news about increasing cases worry you?” “Do you know anyone who has caught the Covid? Are you concerned for yourself?” “How are you handling the anxiety we are experiencing?”
You know, my gut reaction to others is to dismiss the concerns, downplay the numbers, argue the science, etc. (As if I am an expert!) Should that be my reaction when people voice concerns? I need to repent of my pride and commit myself to caring for the lost. Who cares who is right or wrong about Covid? Who cares about the souls of fearful people who might turn to astrology to find “answers” to their fears and doubts?
Don Johnson is the pastor of Grace Baptist Church of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada.
Image by Hermann Traub from Pixabay