Please protect our pastors in this pandemic

97
949

…Straight Talk with Lawrence Musunte

The question most Zambians are asking is; “why are our clergy dying every day?”.

And some spiritualize the response by saying the Pastors and the church is under attack by the devil. This is over-simplifying of a very deep and complex virus at hand.

When I tested positive to covid19 on the 5th of January, 2021 I announced it. And from the 5th – 31st January, no outsider  entered our house except a qualified nurse.

As a Pastor myself, I have my Pastor. My Pastor didn’t have to jump on the plane to come to Cape Town to lay hands on me.

That doesn’t make my spiritual parents any less Pastoral. On the contrary without entering our house and laying hands on me, they have been a strong support structure.

Just because I am going ‘down’ with covid19 doesn’t mean I should go down with my pastor, and every member of the Church.

THE CLERGY IN HARMS’ WAY

At the beginning of the pandemic Italy lost a lot of Priests to coronavirus.
My background is Catholic. And I understand that Priests are often called to hospitals especially when it’s clear the patient is about to die to perform those final rites.

These final rights includes the administration of the Eucharist. The Priest is also expected to receive the body at his local parish for a funeral service.

Some clergy know the danger of being in close proximity with those who have covid19, yet they are scared to refuse to lay hands on the sick because the Christian community will label them faithless , or that they are not pastoral.

“Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins” (James 4:17)

The ethical or moral issues are not all stipulated in a piece of legislature. But I know that when I have a seat on the train, and an elderly person is standing next to me, my conscience will not allow my butts to be comfy and comfortable when an elderly man is uncomfortable.

I stand Up, so the elderly person can seat down.

When the label says poison, and I go ahead and drink, it is not faith but suicide.

The Clergy putting their lives in covid19 harms’ way to please the congregants is not an act of selfless service, but suicide!

ACTION STEPS

Congregants should Protect their Pastors by encouraging Pastor not to come to the house or hospital, but to pray on the phone, WhatsApp, video calls, Zoom etc.

God knew and allowed this level of technology to be in place before the Pandemic.

Physical Pastoral care is important and comforting under normal circumstances. But we are in unusual circumstances.

Secondly; local Churches are at different levels economically. While some local churches have deeper reserves to fall back to pay for the building and stipends to Pastors, some are on the verge of shutting down!

However Pastors must know we are not medical practitioners, we are Gospel Preachers. Step aside, and allow medical practitioners to do their work, and we can continue our Pastoral care remotely.

Why are our Clergy dying like chitemene system every single day? What is it they are doing that exposes them to danger?

Advert

97 COMMENTS

  1. Hello! I’m at work surfing around your blog from my new iphone 4!

    Just wanted to say I love reading your blog and look forward to
    all your posts! Carry on the superb work!

  2. Hі there i am kavin, its my first occasion to commenting
    anyplacе, when i read this artiϲle i thought i could аlso mmaҝе comment duе
    to this sensible post.

  3. Thank you, I’ve just been searching for info about this
    subject for a while and yours is the greatest I’ve found out so far.
    However, what about the bottom line? Are you positive concerning
    the source?

  4. Hello there! This is kind of off topic but I need some help
    from an established blog. Is it difficult to set up your own blog?
    I’m not very techincal but I can figure things out pretty quick.
    I’m thinking about setting up my own but I’m not sure where to
    begin. Do you have any tips or suggestions? With thanks

  5. Does your blog have a contact page? I’m having problems
    locating it but, I’d like to shoot you an email. I’ve got some recommendations
    for your blog you might be interested in hearing.
    Either way, great blog and I look forward to seeing it develop over time.

  6. We’re a group of volunteers and opening a new scheme in our community.
    Your website provided us with valuable information to
    work on. You’ve done a formidable job and our entire community will
    be thankful to you.

  7. I’m impressed, I must say. Rarely do I come across a blog that’s equally educative and
    entertaining, and without a doubt, you have hit the nail on the head.
    The problem is something that not enough folks are speaking intelligently about.

    Now i’m very happy I stumbled across this in my search for something concerning this.

  8. I’ve been browsing online more than three hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like
    yours. It’s pretty worth enough for me. In my view, if all
    web owners and bloggers made good content as you did, the net will be a
    lot more useful than ever before.

  9. Have you ever considered writing an ebook or guest
    authoring on other blogs? I have a blog based
    on the same information you discuss and would love to have you share some stories/information. I know my readers would enjoy your work.
    If you’re even remotely interested, feel free to
    shoot me an e-mail.

  10. I have been surfing online more than 3 hours today, but I by
    no means found any fascinating article like yours.
    It’s beautiful value enough for me. In my view, if all web owners and
    bloggers made excellent content material as you probably did, the
    internet shall be a lot more useful than ever before.

  11. Excellent beat ! I would like to apprentice at the same time as you amend your site, how
    could i subscribe for a blog site? The account
    helped me a applicable deal. I have been a little bit familiar of this your broadcast
    provided vibrant clear concept

  12. I’ve been surfing online more than 3 hours lately, yet I never discovered any interesting article like yours.
    It’s lovely value enough for me. In my view, if all web owners and bloggers made just right content as you probably
    did, the internet will likely be a lot more useful than ever before.

  13. you’re truly a good webmaster. The website loading pace
    is amazing. It sort of feels that you’re doing any unique trick.
    Furthermore, The contents are masterwork. you have performed a excellent process in this topic!

  14. That is really fascinating, You’re an overly skilled blogger.
    I’ve joined your feed and look forward to in the hunt for more of
    your great post. Additionally, I have shared your website in my social networks

  15. Hi, i think that i saw you visited my site thus i came to return the choose?.I am attempting to in finding things to enhance my web site!I guess its ok to make
    use of a few of your ideas!!

  16. May I simply say what a relief to find somebody who truly knows what they
    are talking about on the web. You definitely know how to bring
    an issue to light and make it important.
    A lot more people need to check this out and understand
    this side of your story. It’s surprising you aren’t more popular since you certainly have
    the gift.

  17. I think the admin of this site is really working hard in favor of his site, for
    the reason that here every material is quality based information.

  18. Good info and straight to the point. I don’t know if this is really the best place to ask but do you folks have any ideea where to employ some professional writers? Thanks in advance 🙂

  19. I’m impressed, I need to say. Really rarely do I encounter a weblog that’s both educative and entertaining, and let me inform you, you have hit the nail on the head. Your concept is excellent; the issue is something that not sufficient persons are speaking intelligently about. I’m very joyful that I stumbled throughout this in my search for one thing referring to this.

  20. An interesting discussion is value comment. I think that it is best to write extra on this matter, it may not be a taboo subject but typically individuals are not sufficient to talk on such topics. To the next. Cheers

  21. I?¦ve read a few just right stuff here. Definitely price bookmarking for revisiting. I wonder how so much attempt you put to make the sort of great informative site.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here