"So long as we are in this ministry, I do not see that any pretext will avail us, if, through fear of infection, we are found wanting in the discharge of our duty when there is most need of our assistance." - John Calvin in a letter to a fellow pastor (Viret) in 1542 in Geneva during an outbreak of the plague.
They did not know the death rate (it was probably around 60%).
They did not know the R0 value.
They did not have ventilators.
They did not know when it would end.
No charts.
No vaccine.
No Tylenol.
Just death.
But, they ministered to the sick and dying. They took steps to thwart the spread of the virus while spreading the good news of the gospel. They quarantined the sick. They held church services, made a hospital for those infected, temporarily shut down parts of the economy, etc. They also made grave mistakes: more than 100 people were executed for witchcraft (which was thought to have caused the outbreak), they killed all dogs and cats in the city (they were thought to be carriers), etc. They did their best all things considered. And people still died. Lots.
It was Calvin's conviction that Christian duty should be carried on in the face of such death. I am not necessarily suggesting the specific removal of any restriction currently imposed in describing this historical situation. I am suggesting that our current crisis should be considered within the context of church history for a more appropriate level of discourse regarding what is most wise for our society. What might this historical situation teach us?
Thankfulness - We live an age of unprecedented health and wealth worldwide (which makes it odd that so many would peddle a reductionistic prosperity gospel). We have antibiotics. We can develop vaccines. We know the transmission rate in general, the death rate in general of COVID-19. Through God’s providence, our society in many ways is able to carry on in the midst of a global pandemic. The death rate, when taken into historical consideration, is low. Not only this, but the church has endured conditions much worse than these. We can be thankful for God’s common grace and providence.
Humility - Modern technology has produced in us a strange godlike attitude with respect to the amount of control we have in life. This has produced the side effect of thinking that there is nothing beyond our control. This is a lie. There are many things out of our control. This pandemic is an invitation to get ourselves right with our God who is always in control. We are not the first to encounter a pandemic and we won’t be last. This is not our World War 2 or Pearl Harbor. It is a global pandemic. It has happened before. It will probably happen again.
Courage - Christians throughout history have championed gospel ministry during plagues and pandemics as a means to carry out the great commandment and great commission. It has been one of the hallmarks of the church. Fear does not look good on a Christian. We are the people who believe that Jesus Christ walked out of a grave and lives today. We believe that we live with Him and that death has lost its sting. We should take courage that Christians throughout the ages have remained faithful and bold in the face of death from disease.
Charity - Finally, I think we can all learn a bit of charity in how we treat one another. The pastors in Geneva were expected to minister to the sick and dying. This would have undoubtedly led to their own contraction of the plague and some died because of this aspect of ministry. At one point, the pastors drew straws to see who would have to go minister to the sick and dying because they were all afraid. Some abandoned their post. Others courageously volunteered to carry on ministering to the sick only to die from the disease itself. But they all experienced fear. We could learn to give grace to those who are afraid. We can be charitable with those who are afraid while at the same time reminding them to take courage because He has overcome the world.