COVID-19 Is Temporal, Not Disastrous Pointer To End Of The World, Shina Phillips Tells Christians

Christians all over the world should see the ravaging novel Coronavirus pandemic as a temporary crisis that would soon pass away but not a disastrous pointer to the end of the world.

There are have been diverse opinions in the Christendom across the world as to the existence of the pandemic and its spiritual meaning at this period in the history of mankind.

Shina Phillips, a seasoned security expert said in an interview that “I would like to lend a voice to the raging debate by some religious leaders on whether this pandemic is pointer to the end of this age or the world as prophesied in the Bible.

“To summarise the arguments on both sides of the divide: some religious leaders hold the view that this is a punishment from God while others believe the pandemic is the beginning of the process of creating a new world order which will exterminate the church and enthrone the forces of evil.

“First, let me say that the Bible is noticeably clear that forces of evil cannot prevail against and over the church of Christ. Jesus Himself, the Head of the Church, said He has built His church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

“Secondly, I think the situation is a win-win for mankind. If the devil and his cohorts are responsible for COVID-19, then we expect victory because it will surely boomerang. If God is responsible as some speculate, then there is great hope because if those that are called by His name shall humble themselves and pray, He will hear from heaven and forgive our sins and heal our land.”

Since Nigeria recorded its index case of the pandemic in February this year and subsequent declaration of President Muhammadu Buhari to lockdown Lagos, Ogun states and Abuja in order to curtail the spread of the disease, governments, companies (private and public), individuals and religious bodies have taken it upon themselves to distribute palliatives to the vulnerable in the society to cushion the effect of the lockdown. 

“Some corporate bodies have done very well. For them, it is a matter of interest. When they donate to government or the people, it is essentially a part of their Corporate Social Responsibility. This is not so for religious bodies,” Phillips said.

“The action of religious leaders who sent relief materials to the government is good, but I can state that it is not expedient. Religious leaders shepherd very many people and are closer to these people than the government. As they say, charity begins at home. By attempting to reach out, they should have taken care of their own first by providing relief materials for their members and thereafter, the community. How many of their members will benefit from the materials they have donated to government? I am not implying that they should not have donated to government; I am only stressing that they should have first taken proper care of their members before reaching out to the government.

“The religious bodies could have approached the government to say ‘we have a register of our members who are also citizens of the state. We have made provisions for them and therefore, the government should not bother to send palliatives to these members.’ The government can then send relief materials to other citizens outside the bracket of church and mosque members.’

“This method of distributing relief in crisis is scriptural. In the book of Acts of the Apostles, chapter 11 verse 27-30: ‘And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch. (28) And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. (29)  Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea: (30)  Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul,” he said. 

Shina Phillips is the initiator of the prestigious Nigeria Pitch Awards and an FRSC Celebrity Marshall; not many however know him as a seasoned security expert known for his professional and in-depth knowledge of security issues. His involvement in security dates back to the late 1990s. He is a regular face on Security Watch Africa Programme on the Africa Independent Television (AIT) every Saturday. He has served as an International Assessor for ‘Security Watch Africa’ and ‘Security Watch Africa Awards’.