Ebola and the Plague of Fear

EBOLA, Togo’s grand mobilization for prevention. The headlines could not be more clear. The full page color add taken out by the Ministry of Health told citizens to report to a medical facility if any of a list of symptoms developed. The instructions were clear and simple.

The Western media churns out reports of more cases and televises opinionated “experts” arguing over what the best response should be.  Even while the bicker millions of people ponder the implications of a disease that has no cure and means almost certain death to anyone without access to the best Western medical treatments.

The local radio reports that cases have been identified in the villages but later admit to a hoax  – just to see how people react. They give on-air recipes of a hot salt water and onion tonic will cure the disease. And the information is taken as fact because people don’t know any different – and after all, why would the radio lie?

Soon those who have begun taking the home remedies out of fear of catching the disease become severely ill from the tonics that were meant to keep them well.  They end up nearly killing themselves and their families trying the different home tonics. The supposed solution is proving harmful.

But even those who are educated face this fear. Patients go untreated and die because the medical staff are  afraid to be near any patient displaying even the most acute signs of Ebola for fear that they will become a victim. No doubt if a true case were to be reported many would not report to work. The missionary staff face a similar choice.  Staying presents a significant risk. If Ebola comes to the area it is almost certain that Hopital Baptiste Biblique would receive patients first.

The people grow apprehensive and confused.   They know there is no cure and little defense against Ebola and that the government is ill-equipped to handle any outbreak.  All the while another disease grows. A spirit of fear grips the hearts and minds of the people of West Africa. Along with fear comes this evil’s natural outlet – anger, hatred, and the eventual natural progression, violence. The crowds demand answers that the government and village elders can’t give.  They do not consider that another far more dangerous and fatal disease is spreading unchecked. They are seeking help that cannot be found in the institutions of men.

So if there is ever question why missionary medical staff would choose to stay, we stay because God has not given us a spirit of fear but of hope in Jesus Christ. We embrace the exhortation of Jesus when he says, “I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in;I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me. …Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.” (Matt 25:31-46).

We stay because the Togolese are watching. They know that the world is content to watch from a distance as a few small NGOs try to battle this outbreak. They want to see if we believe our God is big enough to handle this disease or if we will flee out of fear when circumstances get tough.

We stay because our brothers and sisters in Christ need help and encouragement to stand firm against the fear of the evils of this world. They look to us as spiritual leaders and need to know that we will stand with them during this battle.

But most importantly we stay because there is all the difference in eternity between, “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world, “(Matt 25:34) and “Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matt 25:41).