Cedarville Magazine Spring 2020

Clinical Counselor, said the pandemic has intensified the anxiety of those who already suffer from it, and individuals who have not struggled with anxiety before are now displaying it. “This kind of problem can put people over the edge, especially those who need to know the future or have control over everything,” Linnell said. Linnell believes that the nature of the pandemic makes addressing the issue harder. “A lot of times we can deal with trauma because there are people to support us who are outside of that trauma. But in this situation, everybody is affected,” she said. To improve our mental health, Linnell suggested having a routine and regularly doing things that bring comfort, but she emphasized a deeper need: “Christ must be our anchor. We all look to things to rescue us, but what we really need is Christ.” It is that message of hope that Christians can proclaim to their loved ones struggling with anxiety. POLITICAL POWER AND COUNTER-CULTURAL LOVE The chaos of the pandemic affected this year’s November elections. Mark Caleb Smith, Professor of Political Science and Director of the Center for Political Studies, said the pandemic hurt President Trump and the Republicans. “The virus reshuffled the political deck,” said Smith. “It transformed the President into an underdog and put the GOP in a more vulnerable position.” Polls in the months before No v emb e r s u g g e s t e d t h a t Republican voters were more concerned about the economic crisis while Democratic voters worried more about the public health consequences of the virus. That discrepancy led to heated debate about how the government should address the pandemic. “Conservatives tend to value freedom and are more likely to oppose government guidelines when they feel it infringes on their freedom,” Smith said. Democratic voters view government intervention differently. “Progressives see government intervening in the economy and private sector as generally positive. For them, when they see problems, they see government intervention as a solution,” Smith said. Some government restrictions have affected where and how Christians can worship. Smith concedes that “there are a few instances where the government has overstepped on this,” but he does not see a threat to religious liberty post-pandemic. “There’s very little evidence that restricting gatherings are related to animosity toward religion,” Smith said. And then, just a month before the November general election, President Trump contracted COVID-19. He was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, on October 2 and released October 5. The President’s response to the virus generated further headlines on the newswires. “The President contracted a virus that has itself been the defining political issue of the year and, perhaps, his presidency,” Smith said. “The symbolism is difficult to escape for Donald Trump. Regardless of what happens, COVID-19 continues to be treated in almost purely political terms by many leaders across the country. Not even a global pandemic could pierce the overwhelming division and polarization within the American electorate.” Because Christians are citizens of Heaven before they are citizens of the United States, they have an opportunity to love others even when they do not see eye to eye. “We need to love those who disagree with us politically by treating them well, respecting them, and living up to the standards that we are called to,” Smith said. “Right now, that’s very countercultural.” As the culture continues to struggle in multiple ways through a pandemic, Christians have the only lasting hope: a sovereign God who never changes, even in the midst of a healthcare crisis, economic difficulties, mental and emotional struggles, or political strife. Through loving Him and others, Christians can point family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, and the culture at large to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is what people need most. Nick Carrington ’10 is an Assistant Professor of Professional Writing. He earned his Ph.D. in technical communication and rhetoric from Texas Tech University. We need to love those who disagree with us ... by treating them well. Mark Caleb Smith Cedarville Magazine | 19