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| Pastor Tony Evans |
By Leah MarieAnn
Klett, Christian Post Reporter
“Worry and fear have a
way of transferring very quickly from to other people,” Evans, senior pastor of
Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, said in a sermon on Sunday.
"I think that’s
what’s happening with this virus. The virus is not the only thing that
transfers quickly. Our anxiety, worry, and fear is outpacing the problem of the
virus because it’s consumed the mind, the heart, the energy and the emotions of
ourselves, our families, the whole nation and even the world.”
Evans offered two
words to those mired in fear and anxiety: Don’t worry.
“That comes from
Jesus,” he said, citing Matthew 6:25-34, where Jesus says “don’t worry” three
times.
“Stop it,” the
bestselling speaker and author stressed. “You say, ‘How practical is that given
all that we’re facing the unknowns, the crisis the expansion, the speed, the
sickness? Is that a practical expectation of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ?
Well, yes it is, because He commands us not to do it.”
Christians have a
“legitimate right for legitimate concern,” Evans said, but added, “what we
don’t have the right to do is worry.”
“What worry is concern
gone haywire,” the Urban Alternative founder said. “God does not expect us not
to deal with reality. If you’re sick, you’re sick. If you’re struggling, you’re
struggling. But that’s different than worry. Concern you own; worry owns you.”
Evans argued that what
began as concern is now causing us to “tremble” due to the onslaught of
negative headlines and ever-changing statistics.
“It can draw you from legitimate concern from which you should act
responsibly to illegitimate worry,” he said.
“Many people believe
in God and still worry because they have little faith,” Evans said, citing
Matthew 8:26, where Jesus rebukes those of “little faith.”
“The size of your
faith is tied to the size of your God,” he explained. “When you shrink God, you
automatically shrink faith. So if you and I have little faith, it’s because
we’re operating with a small understanding and view of God.”
The way to get more
faith and overcome worry is through “expanding your understanding, view of, and
submission to God.”
“The best way I can
help you to work through this crisis ... is to grow God in your understanding,
in your experience, and in your focus,” he stressed, "because when we grow
Him, your faith will grow with it and your worry will shrink and become
responsible concern.”
Far too many
Christians believe in a God they “don’t understand as a father,” Evans noted,
adding that it’s important to view “God as a father when it comes to not
worrying.”
“This father cares for
you. When you come to look at Him this way, understand Him this way, relate to
Him this way, you begin to experience God the daddy and not just God the
creator,” he said. “God will keep you calm even in a drought, even in a virus.
So I want you to calm down, look at your family members right now who are
seated with you and say, ‘Don’t worry.’”
Evans advised using
handwashing time — a measure recommended by
health officials to slow the spread of COVID-19 — as “prayer time.”
“You always know when
you’re supposed to pray because it’s connected to when you’re tempted to be a
worrier,” he said. “If you’re going to wash your hands all day long, talk to
your daddy all day long, and get your growing focus on God who is able to calm
your fears.”
While we “ought to be
concerned” about the coronavirus and make “wise decisions” about physical
distancing, Evans said, “you don’t live in panic when you know you have a
heavenly Father.”
“If you want to calm
down and stay calm ... then here’s what you do: Seek ye first the Kingdom of
God,” the pastor said, adding that the coronavirus is a “great opportunity” to
choose faith over fear.
There are at least
125,093 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the U.S. and at least 2,149 deaths as
of March 29, according to the New York Times database.
In a previous interview with
The Christian Post, Evans highlighted the importance of trusting in a good God
“even when He doesn’t make sense.” The pastor shared how his faith has
sustained him through a “tough” year in which he lost his father and
his wife and ministry partner, Lois.
“Sometimes you have to
learn to trust God in the dark when there is not clarity, when He becomes
inscrutable. You have to have enough foundation before that happens to weather
the storm when that happens.”
Trusting God when it
doesn’t make sense, Evans said, is a “decision of the will.”
“It's often not
supported by the emotions because you're not feeling what you're trusting,” he
explained. “It’s a decision to act like God is telling the truth, to act like
God knows what He is doing. That’s what we choose to do and continue to choose
to do day by day.”
“It’s important to not
give up on God when life appears to have given up on you. It's easy to trust
God when everything is right, blessings are flowing, prayers are being answered,
needs are being met. That's the fun part of the faith. But sometimes, you have
to trust God when you don’t see the benefits, the blessings, and all the frills
of the faith.”
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