Christian Response to HIV/AIDS
Yesterday, on World AIDS Day, our Chief Minister, Shri YSR emphasized that all religious leaders needs to spread the awareness about HIV/AIDS – So, I’m following the orders of our CM.
World AIDS Day, observed December 1 each year, is dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection.
HIV--the human immunodeficiency virus--is the virus that causes AIDS or Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome.
AIDS has killed more than 25 million people since 1981, with an estimated 38.6 million people living with HIV, making it one of the most destructive epidemics in recorded history.
Now India has overtaken South Africa in the highest number of AIDS victims.
In India, AP has a number of AIDS patients.
1 in 200 of all adults globally are already infected - and the church in many nations is a major provider of compassionate care for those with AIDS.
1 new infection every 15 seconds.
Young people (under 25 years old) account for half of all new HIV infections worldwide.
Most deaths from HIV are directly related to immune damage (TB commonest cause of AIDS death) or to HIV-induced tumors.
There is still no vaccine or cure!!!
The Red Ribbon is the global symbol for solidarity with HIV-positive people and those living with AIDS.
How is HIV transmitted?
A. Unprotected Sex
B. Healthcare Workers
C. Mother to Infant - Without early preventive treatment (pre-natal drug therapy), the baby will automatically be born HIV-positive.
D. Needles
Is HIV/AIDS a judgment of God?
It is better to see AIDS, not as a specific divine judgment against one type of sin, but as a broad judgment against sexual sin in general (e.g., promiscuity, polygamy, homosexuality).
This view is labeled by Wood and Dietrich as a "cause and effect" judgment.
Such a judgment is portrayed in Scripture as "reaping and sowing," or "sinning against one’s own body."
Proverbs 6:27-29
Paul elucidates this same scriptural principle by stating that "whatever a man sows, this he will also reap" (Gal. 6:7).
Ronald Sider puts it in modern terms: "There is a moral order to the universe and...wrong choices have consequences."
They are clear consequences of the sin in this world [separation from God].
In other words, it is indicative of the world’s evil nature.
God created the Earth, but Satan’s world has sin, darkness, death, and evil power under his authority (Luke 4:6), which he uses to tempt us, to torment us, to corrupt us into following him and separate us from God’s eternal love.
John 10:10
What was Jesus’ Response?
John 8:1-11 – the woman caught in adultery – Jesus was the only one who could throw a stone at her – but He didn’t – but He also commanded her not to sin anymore!
Mt. 8:1-3 – Lepers were considered sinful and thus treated as social outcasts – Jesus touched the leper.
What Can Christians Do?
A. Avoid Sex outside of Marriage
Sexual abstinence--waiting until you’re married before having sex--is the only true way to keep HIV-free as far as sex goes.
But you also have to avoid being infected body fluids if you’re a healthcare worker, or stop to give first aid, etc.
Sex outside of marriage is clearly one of the main causes for the growing number of HIV-positive people worldwide.
The Bible clearly speaks out against premarital sex by heterosexuals as well as homosexual sex, as well as adulterous relationships.
At one time or another, many human beings "want" someone sexually, or lust after someone, whether of the opposite sex or of the same sex.
B. Care and Compassion
If you are a Christian who has misjudged people with HIV or AIDS, you owe it to God to ask for forgiveness from those you’ve hurt and from God if you’ve thought of AIDS as a curse. Christians too can be HIV-positive!
If God was to get rid of sinners by saying, "I will get rid of all the hypocrites," how many of us would be left?
We are not Christians because we are without sin; we are Christians because as human beings--sinners--we are able to go to Christ daily in confession through prayer and God is able to forgive our trespasses, because of His love for His Son and Christ’s work on the cross.
This generation has the opportunity to take care of some real hurting people: the neglected, afflicted, lost, homeless, pained, dying people who have HIV in their veins or AIDS in their bodies.
How we love them will follow us eternally.
Mt. 25:41-46
“Judge not, that you be not judged.” (Matthew 7:1)
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, . . . " (Romans 3:23)
John 3:16-17 – Jesus did not come to condemn the world.
All over the world, regardless of how they contracted HIV, people are oppressed: kicked out of their homes, fired from jobs, abandoned in the streets, and generally seen as trash, or as the least of people.
We need to reach out to them with the love of Christ!
C. Give Them Hope
Share about the love and hope we have in Jesus with the HIV/AIDS victims!
The great thing about being in Christ is that death is just a promotion to glory!
