The Burden of HIV/AIDS to the Glory of Christ

AIDS is a real and arduous problem that the church must face today.  In reality, the word ‘problem’ should be replaced with the word ‘epidemic,’ as HIV/AIDS seems to be sweeping throughout nations without so much as a whisper as it destroys lives, homes, communities, cities, states, countries, and even continents.  What is more, statistically many people do not even know they have AIDS.  Whether people live in the United States of America or the African country of Botswana today, the majority of people infected with this disease are walking around without even knowing.  A little background on AIDS is helpful for further discussion.

Short Background of HIV/AIDS:

In 1981, HIV/AIDS was commonly thought to be highly related to practicing homosexuals, hence the early strange name of GRID (Gay Related Infectious Disease), as well as ravenous drug abusers.  The early years of this disease were both frightening and exciting for scientists and doctors as they were attempting with their best abilities to come to conclusions on what this disease actually was, all while witnessing the manifestation of this disease turn into the reality of death for many.

According to David R. Haburchak, by 1984 two things had happened:  1) In somewhat unbiblical but American fashion, the “victims” of the epidemic ignored the stares and mutterings of other people, and began to organize themselves for care and prevention of the disease.  2) Scientists in France and America discovered the virus causing the plague, a discovery still sadly denied by some in positions of authority more than twenty years later.  This led to the ‘epidemic,’ at least in modernized countries, to be restrained from spreading too rapidly as it allowed those with the disease to be diagnosed with a simple blood test. 

25 years later, this disease still has no cure.  Although we have made tremendous strides in semi-quarantined fashion, AIDS is still an epidemic; it is still a problem; it is still a burden. 

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How Should the Church Respond?

As the Samaritan showed compassion to the man who was half dead lying on the side of road, we are called to do “likewise.”  We must, as God’s people, lead the way in caring for the sick and needy.  We must fight the fight against HIV/AIDS with urgency, passion, intentionality, and intelligence.  In doing so we MUST do these things:

1) Educate Ourselves.  We must educate ourselves about this horrible disease.  We must educate ourselves on the history of AIDS; statistics concerning AIDS in our cities, states, and countries; the causes of this disease; life expectancy of people who have this disease; treatments for this disease; preventions for this disease, etc. etc. etc.

2) Teach Others.  Teaching others about this disease is also an absolute necessity.  We must educate others to abstain from sexual activity, delay sexual activity, and be faithful to spouses, although education about this disease and its harmful affects would not be sufficient on its own.  As the church, we must not only teach but we must preach the gospel with urgency and pray that the Holy Spirit would change people and allow them to live lives of sexual holiness.  It is only through the power of the gospel that boys and girls/men and women will be changed from sexual urgencies with partners they do not even know to run to the moral law found in the mighty kingdom of God.  It is only through the power of the gospel that cities and states/countries and cultures/nations and continents will be changed from the craving of vice to the craving of a King. 

3) Live as Christ Did.  It is not enough to simply teach others, this would only be word centered ministry, but as the church we must have a passion and urgency to come alongside of the sick and needy, as Christ did for us, and have compassion on them through love, care, grace, and forgiveness.  This is what is known commonly as ‘word’ and ‘deed’ ministry together.  As we live as missionaries in our cultures spreading the gospel through ‘word’ and show them Christ’s grace, love, and mercy through ‘deed’ we are then modeling the exact ministry of Jesus.  As we are preaching, teaching, and confronting the burden of HIV/AIDS, we must preach God’s love, grace, and forgiveness, albeit not at the cost of excluding his death and resurrection for this forgiveness.  We must preach the substitutionary death of Jesus as he took our punishment on the cross defeating sin and conquering death through the resurrection.  AIDS is in need of the gospel to cover up its iniquities more than ever today.  The church must live out this gospel by both individuals and local church congregations.  As Christ came and lived amongst us (the sick and needy), we too must go and care for those with the burden of this deadly disease. 

As the church, we must point people to Christ.  We must come alongside of the burdened, needy, and sick and live incarnationally with them, as Christ did for us.  Only through the awesome and mighty power of the gospel can the church fight the burden of HIV/AIDS and pick up the man lying on the side of the road… bruised and beaten, robbed and raped, sick and dying…  and carry him to the cross of the glory of a King who saves and makes all things new.