My uncle died of this and to be honest it was a blessing that he died because his quality of life had declined to the point where he hated his life. I miss him and on one level you are right it sounds cruel and heartless to say these things out loud. I would never have said them to my uncle even though he knew them to be true himself. He let himself go and with a little effort could have guarded himself against the ailments he suffered in his twilight years. COVID-19 was simply the nail in the coffin for him that denied extra years he did not want anyway. One would hope for a better and more dignified death than he had and even though age cannot be fought many of the things that make it so terrible can be. Statistically many of those dying are like my uncle, people who let themselves go and are now suffering the consequence of their poor stewardship. It cuts me that a man who was once so strong and sporty could be like he was in his last years but you can love a person and know the hard truthes about them at the same time.
I'm very sorry to hear about your uncle.
A medic who sacrifices himself to save others is a heroic figure in my eyes but these and the younger people who die of this are the exceptions not the rule.
Yes, they may be.
Children and teenagers who die may also be the exception; but it's still happening. I was just objecting to your implication that the "fat and old" are being targeted and the Lord is "purging" these people.
This is a disease that targets old, fat and genetically flawed people.
No, it's a disease; viruses, germs and bacteria don't discriminate.
Those over 70, many of whom may have underlying health conditions, are more vulnerable - though there are reports of 80+ year olds who have had this illness and recovered. I wasn't aware that people who are overweight are more at risk. They might be; we have to wait until it's all over, find out the weight of everyone who died and the weights of those who had this illness and recovered, before we can draw a conclusion.
My uncles death so early was his own fault yes, as is the case with many who are dying of this , though not all. It is a hard truth. To be compassionate we start with the truth.
You uncle may have died early anyway - if his weight/lifestyle/lack of nutrients was such that it was damaging his body.
It's hard to generalise. There are no doubt 80 year olds alive today who were bought up on fried breakfasts, smoked, took little exercise and so on, while other people - hard working, fit, no health problems - have died young. Same with this illness; there will be some who have not had a job for years and have "let themselves go", while others, fit, hard working men and women, will lose their lives.
Smoking, drinking, overeating may be someone's choice, and you could say that health problems associated with that are "their fault" - this virus is no one's choice or fault.
Sickness and pain are a part of the Christian experience and from Job to the big names you mentioned that is not always that persons fault. Some truly powerful Christian characters have shared uplifting messages from these kinds of experience. It is how we respond to such pains that defines us. But there is a link over the broad mass of people between good stewardship and disciplined spirituality
Have you got any evidence, statistics or an internet link for that?
It would be interesting to read.
and America has a lot of obese people who deserve to get sick because of their own neglect.
Didn't we debate this in another thread?
Obesity is not always caused by neglect or by wilfully scoffing chocolate bars, cakes and pastries.
God has allowed this Pandemic as He allowed the Spanish flu and the Plague. He is good and just and loving and He always has his reasons but maybe He is also harder than you would like when He wants us to learn something, repent of something or simply acknowledge who He is.
If
everyone who died was an overweight, unhealthy non Christian, there might be a case for saying that a particular lifestyle, or certain beliefs, were being targeted. But that's not the case. Some young, healthy, hard working Christians will die from this. Other young, sincere, dedicated Christians die from other illnesses. There is sickness in the world as a result of the fall. We are all affected, and will all die one day; it happens. But some people get sick, pray earnestly that they will recover, get better and continue their lives, never giving God another thought. Others, who are Christians, pray for someone to recover from illness, and that person dies.
I don't believe that God has allowed/sent this illness to teach us something.
