Today, most especially, Christians need to realize the importance of understanding that the Church is not a building. Regardless of our situation, we do not stop being a church because we could not go to the church building as we usually do.
Where can we find this passage in the Bible and what does it mean or signify?
Is the world is turning to God? The answer is it depends. The truth is, pandemic or not, community quarantine or not, people still have a big problem, one that is much worse than any virus or famine or war.
If the apostle Paul were to write a short epistle today addressed to Filipinos or to any other people group in the world, especially at this time of crisis, perhaps, just perhaps, it might possibly read something like this...
If Jesus had not resurrected, none of us would have any hope of eternal life. When we die, we’d remain dead with no hope of rising again. There would not be any such thing as “we’re going to a better place.”
While Holy Week rituals are being observed, there are those who are suffering from the effects of COVID-19. People are dying. Healthcare professionals are franticly working 24/7. And supposed bread-winners are desperately looking for bread in an empty basket. So we might ask, “What is the relevance of the Holy Week to a world that is reeling from the COVID-19 crisis?”
The truth is that we can trust in God’s character and perfection so much that regardless of what He causes or allows to happen, there is no need for us to doubt His reasons whether or not He makes them known to us.
The fact that God allows us to freely decide on things, good or bad, is a function of God’s love for us. He did not and does not consider us as His toys who exist only to please Him and to do things the way He wants us to.
God allows people to go through pain and suffering to get their attention to things that they need to see, learn, understand, and change, whether this be on a personal, national, or global level.
The fact is that many theologians and Christian apologists contend with the problem of evil, pain, and suffering not so easily. It’s a hard and real question that involves both the mind and the emotion.