Christians' Preparation for Avian Flu
From EurekaAlert,
we learn of ethicists doing advance thinking about bird
flu:
"Coping effectively with a predicted influenza pandemic that threatens to affect the health of millions worldwide, hobble economies and overwhelm health care systems will require more than new drugs and good infection control.
"An international medical ethics think-tank says that all-important public cooperation and the coordination of public officials at all levels requires open and ethical decision making.
"The Influenza Pandemic Working Group at the University of Toronto Joint Centre for Bioethics today recommended a 15-point ethical guide for pandemic planning, based in part on experiences and study of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) crisis of 2003."
This is an important matter to work on in advance. What can Christian leaders do to prepare for the possibility of a pandemic?
"Coping effectively with a predicted influenza pandemic that threatens to affect the health of millions worldwide, hobble economies and overwhelm health care systems will require more than new drugs and good infection control.
"An international medical ethics think-tank says that all-important public cooperation and the coordination of public officials at all levels requires open and ethical decision making.
"The Influenza Pandemic Working Group at the University of Toronto Joint Centre for Bioethics today recommended a 15-point ethical guide for pandemic planning, based in part on experiences and study of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) crisis of 2003."
This is an important matter to work on in advance. What can Christian leaders do to prepare for the possibility of a pandemic?
Bird flu would differ from the other current
pandemic of concern, HIV/AIDS, in that if it becomes a human-spread disease,
there would be no medical or moral safety zone. Giving a hug to a man with AIDS
has never frightened me. Getting close to someone with avian flu would be
another matter altogether.
We can't know whether what is feared will come, but we should be among those giving it serious thought in preparation, taking things like these into account:
Courage. Chances are that any one of us, or a family member, would be stricken, in the medium- to worst-case scenarios. Further, there may be widespread social and economic chaos, as people are unable or unwilling to be out among others. Fear of disease, death, or disruption should not be Christians' prime motivators, however. God walks with us even in the valley of the shadow of death. This will be a time for seeking God's peace, for trusting him even when faced with great fear or personal pain. The whole world will be tested. This will be a time to show God is real.
Compassion. The ethics report listed here speaks of "Health workers' duty to provide care during a communicable disease outbreak." Health care is not all our neighbors will need. Prayer and caring will be as important. The tendency will be to isolate ourselves in fear, when in fact this could be our greatest opportunity to serve. Christians should prepare to take the lead in providing compassionate care among the afflicted. Churches ought to prepare the members to be ministers in such a difficult time.
Cooperation. On the other hand, if quarantines are imposed on homes or communities, we should be leaders in urging cooperation with instructions. Quarantines will not be popular in a world obsessed with civil liberties. Our support could make the difference. Meanwhile, as social service agencies prepare for avian flu, churches should be sitting at the table with them, asking, "How can we help?"
Sacrifice. If there are limited quantities of vaccine or Tamiflu, will we be first to try to claim them, or will we be first to let another be protected? How can we best support the needs of the poor and weak, not only in our own countries but worldwide?
Discretion. Some will probably be tempted to preach that a global pandemic is a fulfillment of prophecies in Revelation, a sign that the end is near. The same, however, could have been said (and undoubtedly was) of the plague in medieval Europe. Whatever comes, we should not jump to conclusions about what it means for the future of the world and the timing of Christ's return. It's always appropriate to warn people, as Jesus did, to treat their own souls and destinies with great spiritual care. In the process, we ought to be careful not to say more than we know.
Let's consider carefully the answers to these questions: If a major pandemic broke out, what would we want God to do for the frightened, the afflicted, and their family members? Then, if the church is indeed the body of Christ, will we let him do it through us?
We can't know whether what is feared will come, but we should be among those giving it serious thought in preparation, taking things like these into account:
Courage. Chances are that any one of us, or a family member, would be stricken, in the medium- to worst-case scenarios. Further, there may be widespread social and economic chaos, as people are unable or unwilling to be out among others. Fear of disease, death, or disruption should not be Christians' prime motivators, however. God walks with us even in the valley of the shadow of death. This will be a time for seeking God's peace, for trusting him even when faced with great fear or personal pain. The whole world will be tested. This will be a time to show God is real.
Compassion. The ethics report listed here speaks of "Health workers' duty to provide care during a communicable disease outbreak." Health care is not all our neighbors will need. Prayer and caring will be as important. The tendency will be to isolate ourselves in fear, when in fact this could be our greatest opportunity to serve. Christians should prepare to take the lead in providing compassionate care among the afflicted. Churches ought to prepare the members to be ministers in such a difficult time.
Cooperation. On the other hand, if quarantines are imposed on homes or communities, we should be leaders in urging cooperation with instructions. Quarantines will not be popular in a world obsessed with civil liberties. Our support could make the difference. Meanwhile, as social service agencies prepare for avian flu, churches should be sitting at the table with them, asking, "How can we help?"
Sacrifice. If there are limited quantities of vaccine or Tamiflu, will we be first to try to claim them, or will we be first to let another be protected? How can we best support the needs of the poor and weak, not only in our own countries but worldwide?
Discretion. Some will probably be tempted to preach that a global pandemic is a fulfillment of prophecies in Revelation, a sign that the end is near. The same, however, could have been said (and undoubtedly was) of the plague in medieval Europe. Whatever comes, we should not jump to conclusions about what it means for the future of the world and the timing of Christ's return. It's always appropriate to warn people, as Jesus did, to treat their own souls and destinies with great spiritual care. In the process, we ought to be careful not to say more than we know.
Let's consider carefully the answers to these questions: If a major pandemic broke out, what would we want God to do for the frightened, the afflicted, and their family members? Then, if the church is indeed the body of Christ, will we let him do it through us?
Posted: Mon - November 28, 2005 at 04:11 PM |
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