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Where is God in a Coronavirus World?

(Inspired by Dr. John Lennox) 

          There is a philosophical question centered around the presence of evil in the world. It is called the theodicy question. It goes like this: Because evil exists in our world, we ask:

                    a. Does God love us enough to prevent evil but does not have power to prevent it?

                    b. Does God have the power to prevent evil but God does not love us enough?

          There are two types of evil: natural and moral. Moral evil is what humans do to each other; acts of hate, violence, terrorism, murder, etc. Natural evil – which may be confused with moral evil – arises from natural disasters and diseases.

          The coronavirus seems more like an apocalyptic movie than real life. It has caused us to become isolated, cut off from friends and family. It has disrupted the stable world we had grown used to. Cities – and even countries – have been locked down. The closing of borders and travel restrictions have further isolated us.

          There is a major disruption in the supply of goods and services. Prices in some areas have skyrocketed because factories are understaffed. Restaurants are closing and people are being laid off. Businesses are failing – causing massive unemployment. There has been a massive increase in alcoholism, drug use, depression, suicide.

          In the past, people have turned to the church for help and reassurance. Most churches have now closed their doors, have opted to meet in their cars in parking lots, or to worship via radio, television, and/or media. And there has been an increasing number of people who have opted for the “New Atheism.” As hope grows dimmer and dimmer, people are wondering if God Himself  is in some sort of inaccessible self-quarantine.

          The coronavirus - which could be argued to be either moral evil or natural evil - has had the effect of causing all of us to feel more vulnerable. Atheists – and Christians with a weak faith – point to the coronavirus and say that there must not be a God who could have prevented this. Richard Dawkins argues that the universe is both impersonal and indifferent.

          Charles Haddon Spurgeon once said: "God is too good to be unkind, and He is too wise to be mistaken. And when we cannot trace His hand, we must trust His heart."

          I do not have an answer for all of this. The only thing we can do, as Christians, is to face the question of “where is God in all of this” with faith. Unshakeable, unyielding faith that recognizes that God is sovereign.

          May God guide and heal all of us.

          Doug