What Dead Men Say about How Christians Should Think about COVID-19 (Part 2): Martin Luther

This is part of two in a series (the first post on CS Lewis is here).

Martin Luther, wrote a letter to Johann Hess entitled “Whether One May Flee from a Deadly Plague.” He wrote this when an outbreak of the Black Plague was taking the lives of many. Here are four things we can glean.

1. People Can Have Different Opinions

First, he notes that some think there is no need to flee, and others think they should escape (or close down events in our context). He points out that not fleeing for the sake of loving one’s neighbor is an “excellent decision” and can reveal “strong faith.” But he also points out that “one simply cannot place the same burden on everyone.” So, I take that to mean, we should not judge one another (especially on issues where motives make the difference). If you think you are strong in faith, do not judge those you deem weaker in the faith.  Furthermore, if you stay in the path of danger, it should be to honor God and serve your neighbor.

2. We Must Care for Neighbors and Fulfill Our Calling

It is not wrong to seek to escape a dangerous situation. Luther points out that Paul did in Acts 9:25 (in fact, Jesus even walked past a crowd that wanted to throw him off a cliff at one point). However, there is a type of fleeing that is sinful. It is wrong to leave a neighbor in need or to abandon one’s God-given post in a crisis.

Those who are doing spiritual ministry must “remain steadfast before the peril of death.” “However, where enough preachers are available in one locality and they agree to encourage the other clergy to leave in order not to expose themselves needlessly to danger, I do not consider it sinful” because the needs will still be met. The point is that we should not flee if we are needed. He applies the same thing to government officials.

When it comes to loving one’s neighbor, Luther writes,

Yes, no one should dare leave his neighbor unless there are others who will take care of the sick in their stead and nurse them. In such cases we must respect the word of Christ, ‘I was sick and you did not visit me ...' [Matt. 25:41-46]. According to this passage we are bound to each other in such a way that no one may forsake the other in his distress but is obliged to assist and help him as he himself would like to be helped.

He goes on to say that you can arrange for others to help (so you don’t always do it all yourself). In summary, it is not forbidden to “avoid destruction and disaster whenever we can, as long as we do so without detracting from our love and duty toward our neighbor.” If, however, we forsake our neighbor in a time of need, we become “a murderer in the sight of God” (cf. 1 John 3:15-17).

3. We Must Not be Rash But Seek to Preserve Life

While some give into sinful fear, and fail to love their neighbor, others sin with a disregard for others in the guise of “faith.” Luther is clear that it is not right to do things that needlessly endanger others.  

They are too rash and reckless, tempting God and disregarding everything which might counteract death and the plague. They disdain the use of medicines; they do not avoid places
and persons infected by the plague, but lightheardly make sport of it and wish to prove how independent they are. . . . This is not trusting God but tempting him.

He goes on to write that it is even “more shameful” when we pay no heed to how we might avoid the plague and “then infect and poison others who might have remained alive” if we had taken proper care. “He is thus responsible before God for his neighbor’s death.” Therefore, Luther says his own plan is to “avoid places and persons where [his] presence is not needed in order not to become contaminated and thus perchance infect and pollute others, and so cause their death as a result of [his] negligence.”

The point is not that we go into self-protection mode. The point is that we seek, as best we can, to protect ourselves and our neighbors while trusting God and loving others.

4. We Face Death and Danger with Confidence

There is one final point we can take from Luther’s letter. We have confidence in the face of danger. “If Christ shed his blood for me and died for me, why should I not expose myself to some small dangers for his sake and disregard this feeble plague?”

Next time, we'll look at Francis Grimke during the Spanish Flu outbreak of 1918.

(HT to Beth Khazraee for sending me the Luther booklet)