Letter criticising church closures lacked balance and grace

(Rev Kirkland’s letter can be read here: ‘Closure of churches shows the shallowness of evangelicalism and the lack of interest in the public worship of God,’ March 24)

When Martin Luther was dealing with The Black Death plague, he wrote these wise words that can help inform the way we approach things happening in our world now: ‘I shall ask God mercifully to protect us.

‘Then I shall fumigate, help purify the air, administer medicine and take it. I shall avoid places and persons where my presence is not needed in order not to become contaminated and thus perchance inflict and pollute others and so cause their death as a result of my negligence.

‘If God should wish to take me, he will surely find me and I have done what he has expected of me and so I am not responsible for either my own death or the death of others. If my neighbor needs me however I shall not avoid place or person but will go freely as stated above. See this is such a God-fearing faith because it is neither brash nor foolhardy and does not tempt God.’

(Luther’s Works Vol 43, ‘Whether one may flee from a Deadly Plague’ written to Rev Hess)

Mark Patterson, Dromore, Co Down