Questions

Definition

sci·ence

/ˈsīəns/

noun
the intellectual and practical activity encompassing the systematic study of the structure and behaviour of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment.

Lots of Questions

Are we good at distinguishing between guessing and science? Are scientists good at distinguishing between their opinions/guesses and their science (observation and experiment, hypothesis verses settled science)?

Are economists scientists?

Are all scientists equally competent? When, if ever, should we question the science or the scientist?

Are some sciences more credible than other sciences? Are some scientists more credible than other scientists?

Should the question, ‘at what cost and at whose expense?’ enter into the discussion for a pandemic that can kill people?

If our nation’s economists presented a hypothesis where killing the economy will kill more people than the pandemic, would we do anything differently?

Is it impossible to maintain physical separation without closing our businesses (job and income generators)? Is open for business and physical separation mutually exclusive? Have we exhausted all our options of doing both simultaneously? How are the essential businesses achieving this?

Are we applying more brain cells, energy and resources to face masks and ventilators than solutions to the virus?

Has the World Health Organization helped or hurt? Are we better off because the World Health Organization exists?

Is there such a thing as spiritual science (observation and experiment)?
Could this physical virus be the result of God’s judgement? 
Or, could it be Satan tormenting God’s people? 
Or, is it simply one of many manifestations of living in a broken world, where sin has consequences?

Is there a root cause to this pandemic?
 
Would we be willing to accept that sin is the root cause? If so, would we be willing to repent of the root cause (sin)? If so, what does that look like when the virus is world-wide (pandemic)?

If one person repents, does that absolve the sin of the whole world?

If a household repents, does that absolve the sin of the whole world?

If a city repents, does that absolve the sin of the whole world?

If a state repents, does that absolve the sin of the whole world?

If a nation repents, does that absolve the sin of the whole world?

If a continent repents, does that absolve the sin of the whole world?

If sin were determined to be the root cause, are we capable of looking in the mirror and saying to God, I’m a sinner, I have ignored you and your laws, and I repent. Please have mercy on me, extend your grace to me, and forgive me of my sins.

Would we be willing to accept that Satan is the root cause? If so, would we be willing to gird our loins against the root cause (satan)? If so, what does that look like when the virus is world-wide (pandemic)?

If Satan was determined to be the root cause, are we willing to shout from our rooftops, ‘In the name of Jesus of Nazareth, I rebuke Satan and all his demons to the pit. I plead the blood of Jesus, the faith of Jesus and the cross of Jesus over my heart, mind, body and soul.’?

Daniel’s Prayer

Just maybe our day is similar to Daniel’s day, maybe we should pray like Daniel prayed. Is it possible that we have neglected the best tool in our toolbox?

9:1 In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, by descent a Mede, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans— 2 in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, perceived in the books the number of years that, according to the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet, must pass before the end of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years.

3 Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. 4 I prayed to the Lord my God and made confession, saying, “O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 5 we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules. 6 We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. 7 To you, O Lord, belongs righteousness, but to us open shame, as at this day, to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, those who are near and those who are far away, in all the lands to which you have driven them, because of the treachery that they have committed against you. 8 To us, O Lord, belongs open shame, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against you. 9 To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him 10 and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God by walking in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets. 11 All Israel has transgressed your law and turned aside, refusing to obey your voice. And the curse and oath that are written in the Law of Moses the servant of God have been poured out upon us, because we have sinned against him. 12 He has confirmed his words, which he spoke against us and against our rulers who ruled us, by bringing upon us a great calamity. For under the whole heaven there has not been done anything like what has been done against Jerusalem. 13 As it is written in the Law of Moses, all this calamity has come upon us; yet we have not entreated the favor of the Lord our God, turning from our iniquities and gaining insight by your truth. 14 Therefore the Lord has kept ready the calamity and has brought it upon us, for the Lord our God is righteous in all the works that he has done, and we have not obeyed his voice. 15 And now, O Lord our God, who brought your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and have made a name for yourself, as at this day, we have sinned, we have done wickedly.

16 “O Lord, according to all your righteous acts, let your anger and your wrath turn away from your city Jerusalem, your holy hill, because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and your people have become a byword among all who are around us. 17 Now therefore, O our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his pleas for mercy, and for your own sake, O Lord, make your face to shine upon your sanctuary, which is desolate. 18 O my God, incline your ear and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations, and the city that is called by your name. For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy. 19 O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not, for your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people are called by your name.”
– Daniel 9:1-19

My View

In my view (which is subject to being completely and utterly wrong), judgement (individual or corporate) is not the result of sin. It seems that Judgement is only needed/necessary when we refuse to confess and repent of our sin. Sin is necessary, but not sufficient. The lack of repentance is the root cause of judgement (not to be confused with consequences, where sin can stand on its own as the root cause).