"Stonewall" Jackson and Covid-19

     Imagine being an 18 year old Southern boy in the summer of 1861. Tensions between the North and South have been mounting for months as the two sides prepare to go to war. To a young man wanting to prove his manhood and fight for his cause, the thought of war almost sounds exciting. However, on July 21, 1861 all of those fantasies would vanish at Manassas, Virginia. 

    The Confederates would look up to see over 35,000 Union troops marching their way, shaking the very ground with every step. As the shots began to fly, soldiers began to fall in death all around. The Union soldiers were now within a stones throw, and as they were about to charge, panic began to spread among these green confederate soldiers. They were just about to run for the hills and give up their flank when they looked up to see a man on horseback just sitting there as if he were enjoying a nice Spring day when everything is coming into bloom. Who is this man? Does he realize that certain death is staring him in the face? To their shock, they realized that it is their commanding officer, Thomas Jackson. 

    History tells of how Thomas Jackson's bravery so emboldened his men that not only did they not retreat, but actually charged the enemy and won a major victory at this First Battle of Bull Run. This is where Jackson earned his famous nickname of "Stonewall". General Bee is credited with saying, "There he sits like a stone wall." 

    So, where did Jackson get so much courage from? How could he sit there on horseback and not even flinch as shots whizzed past his head? The answer is simple, Jackson was a firm believer in the sovereignty of God. He had the mindset that the power of life and death is in the hand of the Lord. As the famous evangelist George Whitefield said, "man is immortal till his work is done (though God alone defines the work), and get on with what you know to be God’s task for you here and now.” Jackson, in one of his most famous quotes said, "My religious belief teaches me to feel as safe in battle as in bed. God has fixed the time for my death. I do not concern myself about that, but to be always ready, no matter when it may overtake me." (Stonewall Jackson's speech to Captain John D. Imboden (July 24, 1861) as quoted in John Selby "Stonewall Jackson As Military Commander" (p. 25), 1968.) 

    Jackson was eventually killed in the war. However, his death was the result of complications due to friendly fire. The enemy never did kill General "Stonewall" Jackson. Listen to the peaceful description of Jackson's deathbed demeanor , "Presently a smile of ineffable sweetness spread itself over his pale face, and he said quietly, and with an expression, as if of relief, 'Let us cross over the river, and rest under the shade of the trees.' (McGuire, Dr. Hunter. "Death of Stonewall Jackson". Southern Historical Society Papers 14 (1886). P 162-163.)  Biographer, Robert Lewis Dabney also stated, "It was the fear of God which made him so fearless of all else." Dabney, Robert L. "True Courage: A Memorial Sermon for General Thomas J. "Stone-wall Jackson" 

    Fast forward to 2020. We find ourselves facing another danger known as Covid-19. Is it serious, yes. Has is killed people, yes. Although now that the numbers are out, we know that the death rate is almost nil for everyone except the elderly and the immune compromised. Yet, the Christian response as a whole seems to be one of crippling fear, as so many are buying in to this "lockdown mentality". The question is, what are we so afraid of? Even if the death rate were much higher, are we really that afraid of Heaven? As if God isn't in control of how and when we leave this world. Can you imagine dying of Covid and hearing God say, "well, I wished you had locked yourself in your room so you wouldn't have gotten Covid. I had so much more that I wanted you to do." 

    The worst part of all is that the Christian community seems to have bought into the idea that masks and lockdowns are "loving your neighbor". But is it really? People are dying alone at hospitals, businesses are going under, people can't pay their bills because their livelihood has been taken away, people are forced to demean their humanity with social distancing and masks, many churches have stopped meeting, Christian volunteers can no longer minister in prisons, hospitals, homeless shelters, etc. At what point do we say enough is enough? 

    Could it be that many Christians are afraid of what the world will think about them if they aren't compliant? It's never been the job of the church to get the world to like us. Does anyone think that when this is all over that the world will like us because we chose to wear paper masks and shut down our churches? As John MacArthur said, "It's not the church's job to keep people from getting the flu, it's the church's job to keep people out of hell." 

    History never remembers those who simply go along to get along. History remembers those with courage and integrity. People are scared and looking for answers. They need to see a courageous love in us. We need some "Stonewalls" in our day who won't panic simply because we are told that we should. At some point we must decide that relationships are worth the risks. My family and I have all had the virus, I can promise you that it was no fun. But even before I got the virus, I didn't expect or want anyone to social distance from me, or to wear a mask around me (for my sake anyway). Yes, take steps to protect the most vulnerable. For everyone else, the most loving thing that we can do is get back to living life. If we stop living for fear of losing life, then we have already lost it.