Are Christians Like Viruses?

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” John 15:5-8 NIV

Being on lockdown for two weeks has caused my brain to occasionally spin out of control.  This is especially true when I wake up in the middle of the night.  One or two nights ago I had this thought that Christians are somewhat like viruses.  A virus is little more than a chunk of DNA or RNA wrapped in a protein coat.  It can’t reproduce on its own nor can it join with other viruses to make a muscle or a neuron or an artery.  Recent studies have shown that the SARS-CoV-2 virus that is causing the current pandemic can live in a respiratory droplet or aerosol in the air only about 3 hours, but can live on plastic and stainless steel for up to 3 days (24 hours on cardboard).  HOWEVER, if the virus finds a nice healthy human host cell, like those that line our respiratory tract, then it moves in and takes over like Cousin Eddie on Christmas Vacation.  The virus uses the host cell’s reproductive machinery to make more protein and more DNA or RNA.  When the virus has used everything the host cell has to offer and has essentially killed the host, all the new viral particles leave to infect other host cells.

Now some of us Christians can be pretty obnoxious at times, but the term “Christian” implies a love for GOD and NEIGHBORS.  Few would move in with a friend, eat all his food, spend all his money, shoot his dog, and then leave him to die with nothing.  On the other hand, this collection of cells that I call “me” will last only a few short years, no matter whether I fly around in the air or sit on stainless steel.  Jesus said, “If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit, but apart from me you can do nothing.”  Sounds to me He is recommending that we become like viruses.

The Gospel of John also tells us, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” John 3:16-17 NIV. That certainly makes Jesus sound like a good host for us viruses. We can’t kill him because He has already died for us!

Finally, Jesus prays that all us viruses will remain in Him, and that all of us will go out and bring our virus friends to live in Him also.  “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one - I in them and you in me - so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me” John 17:20-23 NIV. 

So, are we just viruses with a wonderful host named Jesus? It gives you something to think about – at 3 o’clock in the morning. And by the way, please continue to pray for our government leaders, for our healthcare workers, for those heroes who work daily for our benefit, and especially for all those so terribly affected by the illness and death caused by this SARS-CoV-2 virus. Our host would like that.

RBL