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Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind... Romans 12:2

The AIDS Alarm Clock

by Herb Tyler

About the author: I have Hemophilia (a blood clotting disorder) and was infected with HIV through contaminated blood products approximately ten years ago. To date I have had none of the major AIDS related diseases but I have watched my immune system steadily decline over the past seven years. This has allowed HIV-related infections with frequent headaches, fatigue, and a general unhealthiness. But "all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose" (Rom. 8:28). Due to HIV, my wife and I have been able to minister and give testimony of the grace of God to other infected hemophiliacs, an ex-homosexual Christian group, unrepentant homosexuals, HIV infected drug addicts and homosexuals in Scotland, and people in general. We also had the privilege in Uganda at Kiwoko hospital to give AIDS counselling and to minister the Gospel to infected villagers. Our three-week effort in Uganda was a drop in the bucket, but we did see fifteen people come to faith in Christ. Praise God!

Is AIDS God's judgment on homosexuals? God is the Sovereign Lord, Ruler, and Judge over all that happens in the Universe. Nothing happens unless it is "according to the purpose of Him who works ALL THINGS according to the counsel of His will." (Eph. 1:11) Therefore, AIDS is God's judgment, but on whom and for what? To answer these questions, we must define three basic forms of God's judgment.

First, as a result of sin, God's universal or general judgment encompasses the world and all who live in it. We struggle with work, pain in child-birth, sickness, aging and finally physical death: each of these being part of God's general judgment of sin.

Second, cause and effect judgment results from breaking God's physical and moral laws. Testing the physical law of gravity by jumping from a high bridge will meet with immediate judgment—give or take a few seconds. Testing God's moral laws will also end in judgment, but the consequences are not usually noticed immediately—unless, perhaps, a man with a gun finds another in bed with his wife! God's judgment of sin is worked out in His good time (see Ps 37). Today, we find ourselves in the midst of individual and societal judgment because of our violation of God's moral laws: millions of abortions, unwanted pregnancies (teens and adults), childhood sexual abuse, and masses of people with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are the result.

If man agrees with God's law, he stands condemned and sees the need for a saviour. But "autonomous" (self-ruling) man seeks to make his own rules and be his own judge so that he can do whatever he pleases. Instead of agreeing with God's word about drunkenness (drugs), promiscuity or homosexuality, individuals are willing to go to any length to avoid an absolute standard. They reason as follows: drug addicts are not responsible but are a product of an "abused" or "co-dependent" childhood; teenagers and adults cannot be expected to be celibate or monogamous but must be taught to use condoms instead; homosexuals are not "unnatural" in their lusts but rather have a perfectly acceptable lifestyle (as taught in our public schools), and anyone who disagrees is a "homophobic," intolerant, fundamentalist Christian and is compared to a Nazi. However, the Word of God says, "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life" (Gal. 6:7-8).

A third type of God's judgment is specific divine judgment. It is directed at a specific group at a specific time for a specific act of rebellion against God or for a group's innate wickedness. If AIDS were a specific judgment against homosexuals, then all homosexuals—including lesbians—would have AIDS. Furthermore, no heterosexuals, drug addicts, or "innocent victims" would have AIDS, but this is certainly not the case. AIDS is not a specific judgment.

AIDS is rather one of many cause and effect judgments and is not absolutely specific to homosexuality. The explosion of AIDS among homosexual men was and is due to rampant promiscuity, the use of sex "enhancing" drugs, multiple STDs, and anal intercourse, all of which hamper the immune system. High HIV infection in heterosexual groups is related to drug usage, promiscuity, and sub-standard hygiene and health care.

So who's to blame? While not wanting to minimize the responsibility of individuals for their immorality and the spread of AIDS, I do believe ultimately the Bible places greater responsibility elsewhere: namely with the Church. AIDS is one of God's wake-up calls to the Church. Jesus said we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. For the most part, we (the Church) have fallen asleep while on duty. Our saltiness—the preservative of God's truth which keeps society from rotting—has been lacking, and our light—the good works which glorify our Father in heaven—has been dim.

What's the answer? AIDS is an opportunity for the Church to arise and shine and minister spiritually, emotionally, and practically to the myriad of worldwide needs that this epidemic has created. The Church was the first institution to establish hospitals and orphanages; its sacrificial care for the poor and needy was revolutionary. What happened? Jesus said, "It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, 'I desire compassion, and not sacrifice,' for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners" (Matthew 9:12-13). "He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and walk humbly with your God" (Micah 6:8).

Consider the following excerpt from David Chilton's book, Power in the Blood—A Christian Response to AIDS:

First, the coming of AIDS tells us that we have reached a new era in human history. History is constantly moving towards the glory of God and complete manifestation of His justice....the Bible does point to a time, before the end of history and toward which history is racing, in which God's justice will overflow the earth, when the whole world will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of God, as the waters cover the sea (cf. Psalm 72; Isaiah 2: 2-4; 11:1-10; 60; 65: 13-25; Micah 4: 1-5).

We must not miss the eschatology of AIDS. When a new disease appears in history, a disease that is both selective in terms of abominable actions and has the demonstrated capacity to flow out into the population at large, it is a manifest signal that Someone is knocking on the cosmic door. The world is becoming more differentiated; the world is looking more and more like an illustration of Deuteronomy 28. God is evidently punishing certain sins more strictly and directly than in past ages. As men are becoming more self-conscious in their rebellion against God, the public demonstration of His justice becomes more evident as well. We are watching an eschatological development take place in our midst: as history progresses, blessing and cursing becomes more pronounced, and less "common"....

Second, the coming of AIDS tells us where God wants HIS Church to move "in demonstration of the Spirit and of power"(1 Corinthians 2:4). Wherever there is a crisis, that is where the Church should be. Obviously, not everyone is called to an AIDS-related ministry. But the fact is this: Since every problem in the world is placed there by God (cf. Psalm 46:8), and since He has designed and destined His Church to rule on the earth (cf. Genesis 1:26-28; Ephesians 1:20-22; Revelation 2:26, 27; 3:21), the fact that there is a problem in the world means that God wants the Church to solve it, for His glory and the advance of His Kingdom into all the earth. We must not—we dare not—throw up our hands in helplessness at the sight of such devastating tragedy. Jesus Christ is Lord, He is the One who heals and saves and rules, and He has committed His ministry and His power into our hands. We have the solution, because we have Christ to offer to the world. Every disaster is an opportunity. There are no accidents.

Are we willing to take on the awesome responsibility of ministry to a dying world? As the late Francis Schaeffer lamented again and again, too often the bourgeois church has chosen the route of "personal peace and affluence" in the face of God's demands....The Church of this generation will either go down in history as the Church that turned around in its tracks and overcame by the blood of the Lamb, by the Word of its testimony, and loving not its own life, even to the point of death (Revelation 12:11)—or it will just go down in history.

We are afraid; but perfect love casts out fear. Some of us will die in this battle; but every battle costs lives, especially when there is something worth fighting for. Besides, we will all die someday anyway. Knowing that, how should we then live?

Obviously, the opportunity for the Church is great. If only Christians would undertake their God-ordained tasks of tending the sick and reconciling the repentant through Word, deed, and intercession, not only would we be able to offer our land the Medicine of Hope in this day of panicky hopelessness, we would be able to live up to the high call of priesthood and discipleship that God has placed on us. We would at last be able to see the Church really being the Church. (pp. 207-208).

The alarm clock is ringing. Are you going to hit the snooze button and go back to sleep or "Awake, sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you" (Eph. 5:14)?

Return to Volume 1, Number 1.