A Review of the Book "God and the Pandemic" by N. T. Wright

 

Title: God and the Pandemic
Author: N. T. Wright
Publisher: Zondervan
Year: 2020
76 pages

Is this pandemic the end of the world that has been predicted in the Bible? Some people certainly lean that way. We are locked away because of something invisible that kills us in ways we barely understand. People are getting restless and making rash decision which is only worsening the effect of the virus. With deaths in the hundreds of thousands worldwide and no apparent way to stop it, what are we supposed to think about this coronavirus crisis?

This short, easy-to-read book by N T Wright is a theological reflection that discusses the Christian response to the pandemic, where we can find God in the pandemic, what we can learn about ourselves during this time, and where we go from here. The book was published early in the pandemic but the thoughts found within the book are still applicable.

Wright makes reference to the fact that churches used to be the ones on the front-line of an emergency, proving care and shelter, and being the example of how we should treat each other during times of trial:

"The Spirit was given so that individual believers, and still more the believers when joined together for corporate worship, would take up their responsibilities as God's eyes and ears, his hands and feet, to do what needed to be done in the world." (p. 33)

Are we still that type of church today?

Chapter 5 is the most important chapter of this book: "Where Do We Go From Here?"

My favorite piece is when he compares what we are experiencing today with how the Church's mission began - with tears, locked doors, and doubt. (p. 59).

Tears = Mary Magdalene weeping in the garden outside the tomb

Locked Doors = the disciples locked away in the upper room out of fear from those who had chased down Jesus

Doubt = Thomas, who needed to touch and see Jesus for himself in order to believe

Throughout the pandemic there have been many tears (death, fear, uncertainty), locked doors (lockdowns in place for our protection), and doubt (what is this virus, is there hope, when will it end).

As per Wright on page 60, "If the earliest disciples found Jesus coming to meet them in their tears, fears, and doubt, perhaps we can too."

There is so much more that I could quote from this book but I would rather you go out and read it for yourself. I have never finished a book in a single day. This one is the exception.

If you are questioning where God is in this pandemic, then this is a book for you.