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Opinion: The Church, Healing and Coronavirus

Opinion: The Church, Healing and Coronavirus by Victor Akintonde
Disclaimer:[All things written here are the opinion of the writer base on His understanding of the scriptures]

This write up shall discussing the church and its mandate given by Christ. It shall also mention the role of the church in solving national problem (if there is any at all). Kindly read with an open mind to the end before jumping into conclusion.

The church is from the Greek word 'ekklessia' which means the called out one's, those who have been called from the kingdom of darkness into the marvelous light of Christ. They are the set of people who have placed their utmost trust in Christ Jesus and believe that Christ came to the world in human form, died for the sin of humanity and rose up on the third day. The word church was first used in the new testament Bible of the Christian religion.
 
The Church, Healing and Coronavirus
 
Church also refers to the assembly/gathering of believers having fellowship with one another in a place. Jesus Christ gave mandate to His disciples before ascending to heaven. In mark chapter 16 of the Holy Bible from verse 14-20

Apostle Elijah Olopade Heals Man With COVID-19, Seeks Permission to Visit Isolation Centres

Mark 16:14-20
[14]Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.
[15]And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
[16]He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
[17]And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
[18]They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
[19]So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
[20]And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
The role of the church to the world is to evangelize the good news (gospel of Christ) to the unsaved world which will bring them into the membership of God family. Each believer possess the Holyspirit at the moment of believing the Gospel and in turn has the ability to do supernatural things like ministering of healing to the Sick. This was made manifest in the Life of Jesus Christ when He was on earth by healing every sick folks in came in contact with and also demonstrated by the apostles.

Matthew 4:23
[23]And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

Matthew 8:16
[16]When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:

Acts 3:6-7,11
[6]Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
[7]And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
[11]And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering.

Having seen that the believer in Christ who makes the church has the ability to minister healing to sick folks, let's look at the  leadership in the local church.  The local church is the congregation of some set of believers who fellowship together in love.

Ephesians 4:11-12
[11]And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
[12]For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Like any other association, Christ put some people in charge of the church who we can refers to as leaders ( they are place in charge not just through their desire but through special calling).

The role of the leaders in the church are IN and TOWARDS the church. A minister of the Gospel is a prayer activist and not a human rights activist. The only role of a minister of the gospel towards the world is the preaching the good news and never to advise the government on how to run the country.

1 Timothy 2:1-5
[1]I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
[2]For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
[3]For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
[4]Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
[5]For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

Apostle Paul here writes to Timothy who was a minister in Ephesus. The role of a minister of the gospel towards the world as seen in the epistle is to pray for all men to be save and come to the knowledge of God including those in authority and not to be seen criticizing the government

John the Baptist who after finishing His course (to reveal Christ) went after the government during His days had himself to be blamed.

Mark 6:16-27
[16]But when Herod heard thereof, he said, It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead.
[17]For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife: for he had married her.
[18]For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife.
[19]Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not:
[20]For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.
[21]And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee;
[22]And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee.
[23]And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom.
[24]And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist.
[25]And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist.
[26]And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath's sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her.
[27]And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison,

John the Baptist went after king Herod, accusing him of taking his brother wife , this led to his arrest and eventually he was beheaded.

When John was arrested, Jesus did not went to the press or on social media to protests His arrest, infact Jesus left town and went to other city.

Can a believer participate in politics?  Of course He can, same way He can go to medical school and be a doctor. Can a minister of the Gospel participate in politics? Of course He can. However, such individuals(ministers) should recognise that His platform as a minister in church should never be used as a means in dealing with politics. He should join as anybody would join and participate as anybody will participate. However, He is not to act in politics as someone who is not born again but rather act as a new creation Man will act.

Having said this, let's discuss Covid-19 relating with the church.

Corona virus is an infectious disease that nations has been trying their best to deal with  it. Government of  the world have put in measures to curtail the disease by banning all social gathering with the church inclusive and the church leaders have obey as appropriate. Covid-19 is a disease  government authorities has taken responsibility to deal with and hasn't in anyway left it in care of the church. This does not in any way stop the church to do everything in it's capacity to help the authority and the people and one important way to do this is by prayer against the virus and this will be done not to be seen, rewarded or appreciated as Jesus warn against those who makes prayer publicly to be seen of men (that's not the way of Christ)

In Conclusion, the church is the called out one which comprises of believers (those who place their faith in Christ Jesus and in turn possess the Holyspirit which enables them to minister healing) and  that the roles of leaders in the church is towards and in the church and not to those in authority. It becomes glaring that the believer has a responsibility to pray for the salvation of others.


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