Social Distancing Is Not a Guarantee of Spiritual Collapse
Social Distancing Is Not a Guarantee of Spiritual Collapse
A woman experienced twelve years of social distancing. Not twelve days or months, but twelve long years. That’s over 4,000 days of isolation. I cannot even imagine. Probably seemed like forever to her. Quarantined. Alone. Avoided. Rebuffed. And a guarantee of a collapsed faith, or, at least a prescription for a religious dropout, right? We wouldn’t be accused of being too hasty or off the mark if we assumed such. But let’s examine those assumptions. I invite you to observe the impact of long-term social distancing in the case of a woman.
Here’s her story. Because she suffered a prolonged, twelve-year uterine hemorrhage, bleeding non-stop for 144 months, she was considered religiously unclean. That meant that all types of social intercourse—marriage, having children, weekly attendance at the synagogue, family gatherings, suppers, weddings, celebrations, and gathering of friends were strictly forbidden. She had to observe a self-imposed quarantine.
She was forced to live her life alone, socially distanced from all relationships, family, neighbors, or friends. To make matters worse, she was penniless, having spent all her money on doctors. And, finally, after bleeding for twelve years, she was anemic, physically fragile, and no doubt exhausted. And emotionally, well, just imagine the woundedness and hurt she felt after twelve years of societal rejection.
Physically fragile, socially alone, economically destitute, emotionally deprived: sounds like a prescription for a collapsed faith or a guarantee of a religious dropout. Right? Well, we can at least expect a fragile faith, right? Not so. Luke the Gospel writer disagrees and offers us an encouraging perspective about the impact of long-term social distancing. He provides us with bright hope.
Despite her multiple liabilities, Luke considers this woman a spiritual giant. Her faith in Jesus was not weakened or fragile due to social isolation, acute poverty, or relational deprivation. Instead, though physically weak, her faith was stronger than anyone else in the community, especially those who were socially engaged.
Jesus said to her, “Daughter, your faith[1] has saved you. Go in peace.” Luke 8:48
Jesus intentionally addressed this unnamed woman as “daughter” because a man, a socially connected synagogue ruler, a stranger, was listening. His own twelve-year old daughter had just died at home and he was about to hear the tragic news. At that very moment, this father needed a boost of faith, a visible example of a strong faith in action. It was this feeble woman’s robust faith in Christ that became the stimulus by which this powerful, religious man, about to hear the tragic news from home about his 12-year old girl--stayed afloat and kept trusting Jesus. The conspicuous example of faith by a socially deprived woman boosted the sagging trust of a well-known man at a critical juncture in his life. Her example of MVP faith in Jesus was the shot-in-the-arm that he desperately needed.
The woman—banned from the social atmosphere of the synagogue--became the professor of faith. And he—the ruler of the synagogue, socially connected--became the student. Her example saved him from quitting and experiencing the greatest tragedy of his life.
Twelve years of experiencing social distancing did not leave this woman a spiritual pauper or a religious dropout. She didn’t have much in the way of material things, friends, or social status. Doctors has taken all her money. Bleeding had robbed her of physical strength, energy, marriage, children, family, community, and friends. But nothing could steal her faith or hijack her trust in the Savior.
And, remember, it was this woman’s full-bodied faith, marking her out as a daughter of Jesus, that provided the emergency shot-in-the-arm for a well-connected, religious ruler. His hope for his dying twelve-year old daughter was about to take a torpedo to the heart. Her example of faith kept his ship afloat.
Take hope. Social distancing is not a guarantee of spiritual collapse or a prescription for an anemic faith.[2] So, be on the lookout for ways to publicly exercise your faith in Jesus Christ. You may not have much. But if your faith in Christ is muscular, despite social distancing, you’re the kind of man or woman that is needed in these days of uncertainty. You never know who is watching or listening to you, a daughter or son of faith. It may be a family member or a complete stranger that God brings into your path.
You also may be unaware of those who are about to hear tragic news, men and women who desperately need an emergency shot-in-the arm. Your robust faith in Jesus just might keep their boat afloat.
Thank you for reading.
[1] Jesus discerned her covert touch was a touch of genuine faith in Him. The crowd of people were jostling and pressing Jesus from all sides. But no faith in Christ was expressed by the large crowds. Luke is never impressed with large crowds. Crowds love the entertainment, excitement, chills and thrills, and the glitzy show. But Jesus discerned the difference between the touch of the woman’s faith and the unbelieving press of the enthusiastic crowds. He felt healing power exit his body when she only touched the tassel on his garment. But no such power left Jesus’ body when the crowds crushed him. Jesus knows the difference between the touch of faith and the press of the enthusiastic crowds. And it is striking that it is a woman who exercised a strong faith in Jesus while it was a man whose faith needing salvaging.
[2] See the entire story in Luke 8:40-56.