When the Crisis Exposes Our Heart
Tim Melton
Galatians 5:22-23
Research shows that Google searches on prayer have increased dramatically in recent days in the midst of the Covid-19. One evangelistic website launched new web pages with Covid-19 resources in six languages and in the initial four weeks, 173,000 people visited the websites. Another one of the largest online evangelism ministries made 12.4 million gospel presentations in March alone.
That is great news. God is using this crisis to turn many hearts towards Christ, but that is not the whole story. Difficult times can either drive a person towards God or away from Him. While some are being driven towards Christ others have responded to the crisis in a totally different manner.
In the recent weeks our attention has been totally focused on the coronavirus and its direct effects. There is a fear of infection, risk of becoming sick or losing loved ones, as well as having difficulties financially. We talk of hospitals, masks, gloves, social distancing, quarantine and lockdown but there are a whole other number of issues that are happening in the shadows, in the wake of the virus.
There are many problems that are taking root during these days of isolation, lockdown, stress and crisis.
People are turning to alcohol to handle anxiety, stress and boredom. ''Some doctors fear that people could be drinking so much alcohol during the coronavirus lockdown that a 'second health crisis' is on the way.''
A similar trend is seen in the use of pornography. It continues to increase during these days of isolation. It is the perfect environment for it. Anonymity, isolation, boredom, loneliness, and endless opportunities online. One large pornographic website has seen a ''57% rise in Italy, a 39% rise in France and a 61% rise in Spain.''
I recently spoke to one of the doctors in our church. He is a general practitioner but said that one of the common issues that he is now dealing with is that of anxi ...
Tim Melton
Galatians 5:22-23
Research shows that Google searches on prayer have increased dramatically in recent days in the midst of the Covid-19. One evangelistic website launched new web pages with Covid-19 resources in six languages and in the initial four weeks, 173,000 people visited the websites. Another one of the largest online evangelism ministries made 12.4 million gospel presentations in March alone.
That is great news. God is using this crisis to turn many hearts towards Christ, but that is not the whole story. Difficult times can either drive a person towards God or away from Him. While some are being driven towards Christ others have responded to the crisis in a totally different manner.
In the recent weeks our attention has been totally focused on the coronavirus and its direct effects. There is a fear of infection, risk of becoming sick or losing loved ones, as well as having difficulties financially. We talk of hospitals, masks, gloves, social distancing, quarantine and lockdown but there are a whole other number of issues that are happening in the shadows, in the wake of the virus.
There are many problems that are taking root during these days of isolation, lockdown, stress and crisis.
People are turning to alcohol to handle anxiety, stress and boredom. ''Some doctors fear that people could be drinking so much alcohol during the coronavirus lockdown that a 'second health crisis' is on the way.''
A similar trend is seen in the use of pornography. It continues to increase during these days of isolation. It is the perfect environment for it. Anonymity, isolation, boredom, loneliness, and endless opportunities online. One large pornographic website has seen a ''57% rise in Italy, a 39% rise in France and a 61% rise in Spain.''
I recently spoke to one of the doctors in our church. He is a general practitioner but said that one of the common issues that he is now dealing with is that of anxi ...
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