Al Mohler On The 'Swine Flu'

I listened to Al Mohler's radio program today and a large part of his show focused in on the current 'swine flu' that has been causing rapid global attention. Some quick facts:

There have been cases reported in Russia, Europe, Mexico and U.S.

There is currently 159 deaths related to the swine flu in Mexico. The Average age is 14.

There is reported about 113 cases of the swine flu world-wide (outside of Mexico).

In the U.S. there have been 64 cases reported.

How many people die from influenza a year in the U.S.? There are 36,000 deaths directly related to influenza, but mostly among the older generation. So to have the average age in Mexico be around 14 may be somewhat alarming.

The reason why I think Al Mohler is really bringing this to the forefront now is not because he is attempting to scare people crazy. He wants Christians to prepare themselves on how they are going to respond if this gets any larger or if it 'hits home'.

So, what do you do if this becomes an epidemic or worse a pandemic? Do you stay home? Do you cut off everyone? Do you begin to look at family, friends, neighbors, as potential threats? What do you say tomorrow when your neighbor asks you, 'what do you think about this 'swine flu'? What do you say when your kids ask you about it? Relatives?

We have been somewhat protected in America with our technology and modern medicine. But this is not something that is new to the church, the body of Christ. The church throughout the ages have long been engaged with such trials. All kinds of viruses, plagues, and epidemics.

Martin Luther said, that if one would leave his neighbors in a time of of their illness, simply because of fear of contagion, then you would leave Christ or His mother laid low by illness....he went on to say that everybody that would be glad to be of service and help for Christ or to his mother and yet they would leave their neighbor....he said, that if you do not wish to care, to serve your neighbor, you can be sure that if Christ lay there instead you would not do so either and you would let him die there. Those are nothing but illusions on your part which puff you up with vain pride, namely, that you would really serve Christ if He were there in person. Those are nothing but lies. Whoever wants to serve Christ in person would surely serve his neighbor as well.

So one of the big questions and issues back in the plague era was, does a priest stay with the community? Does a pastor stay with his church in a time of great trial? Do you go in to minister to someone and care for their soul, if you know that you're likely to get the disease?