Geneva, Switzerland,
2 April 2020
The leaders of the Lutheran World Federation – The world does not need stigmatisation, xenophobia or apocalyptic prophecies
LWF – At a time when the pandemic does not distinguish national borders, the Lutheran leaders ask churches to respond with greater dialogue, understanding, cooperation and solidarity together with the most vulnerable.
The letter sent to churches by the President of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), Archbishop Dr Panti Filibus Musa, and the LWF General Secretary, Rev. Dr Martin Junge, expresses a call to the member churches to observe public health guidelines, but also to condemn stigmatisation and to call on people to support those most severely affected by the spread of Covid-19.
The letter that was sent out to the member churches states that there is “great concern” about communities that continue to gather physically for worship services, mistakenly claiming that they are somehow stronger than the infection. The letter notes that Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness “helps us to understand that faith should never test and tempt God’s power.” Instead, the text of the letter says, our faith “enables us to pass through this time of trial with hope and with a loving heart towards those most vulnerable to Covid-19 and the consequences caused by the virus”.
“God does not speak through a virus”
Addressing the problem of apocalyptic prophecy and predictions of the end times, the LWF leaders note that the tendency to perceive this pandemic as God’s punishment has already led to unrest, xenophobia and the persecution of ethnic or other minority groups, mistakenly regarding these groups as having provoked God’s wrath.
Emphasising that God does not speak through a virus, but through Jesus Christ, as revealed in the Scriptures, the LWF leaders insist that: “The world does not need stigmatisation and violence, it needs cooperation and solidarity.”
The story in which the risen Christ unexpectedly appears among his disciples as they sat in a room behind locked doors, because they were afraid,” looks as if “written for us today.” – LWF President Archbishop Dr Musa and General Secretary Rev. Dr Junge
Acknowledging the pain of isolation and deprivation, felt especially by those who cannot regularly receive Holy Communion, Musa and Junge call on pastors, bishops and church presidents to discuss together, with “deep theological understanding”, and to respond together to the “pastoral, confessional and ecumenical dimensions” of this crisis. Musa and Junge note that the LWF Communion Office is developing materials for the Triduum liturgy, as well as other resources that churches can use in order to experience communion more deeply with the worldwide Lutheran family.
Worldwide solidarity is needed
Calling on the member churches to be present and to support the most vulnerable in this time of crisis, the LWF President and General Secretary say that solidarity and cooperation should reach across national borders, because the virus spreads without respecting borders, into those countries where people face enormous challenges in protecting themselves from infection. This unprecedented situation calls for unprecedented and concrete action, the two leaders note.
The letter concludes with reflections on “the story in which the risen Christ unexpectedly appears among his disciples as they sat in a room behind locked doors, because they were afraid.” The story is “as if written for us today,” the LWF leaders say, noting that the risen Lord calls his disciples to “renew their journey of faith,” and to be “witnesses of love and compassion, witnesses of service, freedom and liberation in God’s name.”
The text of the letter is available in English here.
Source: The Lutheran World Federation news
Photo: LWF/A. Hillert