A well-known group of Christian doctors is encouraging to stop face-to-face gatherings, for now, to help slow down the spread of Covid-19.
On the 19th of November 2020, the Christian Medical and Dental Associations (CMDA) statement showed a record number of daily cases in the United States to show evidence behind its request.
The U.S. set another record on Friday 20th of November 2020 with 193 000 daily cases.
CMDA’s Jeffery Barrows and Christopher Hook stated that the rising tide of Covod-19 cases should be slowed down or the hospitals will be overrun.
They went on to state that the time it takes for the Unites States to have one million cases has dropped from 44 days to just 7 days, and that the pandemic is now hitting with hurricane forces and has reached crisis point and therefore the sector that is suffering the most is the healthcare system, mainly the healthcare professionals who are the backbone of the system.
CMDA encouraged churches to pause gatherings in order to keep people safe.
CMDA’s Jeffery Barrows and Christopher Hook went on to state that the issue is the second greatest commandment which is to love one another as we love ourselves, explaining that pausing church gatherings is not about the fear of contracting the virus but rather about loving one another and minimizing the risk to those vulnerable, going on by stating that as members of the body of Christ, Christians are called to be His ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20).
That means that Christ chose Christians to reveal His love and grace to those around and therefore choosing to put off gathering together as a church is a statement of love.
This therefore allows Christians to make a statement that is not overshadowed by a government restriction.
It shows that Christians care so much for their members, family and friends that they are willing to give up their right to gather together.
It allows each church to make a statement of love, not just by their words, but through the action of no longer gathering together.
CMDA’s Jeffery Barrows and Christopher Hook also stated that it is tragic to see Christians being criticized even more because they do not want to give up their freedom and they see selfish, and they as healthcare professionals will voluntarily give up their freedom for some time to protect their neighbour.
As an association of Christian healthcare professionals, CMDA has urgently requests that churches strongly consider taking their services online and cancel face-t-face gatherings until this current surge of COVID-19 cases passes.
CMDA was founded in 1931 and has a membership of more than 20,000 health care professionals.
