World AIDS Day Faithblog

Since 1981 the HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) virus has spread throughout the world infecting 33 million people and killing more than 25 million. In North America there have been over 1 million people infected with the virus and over 500,000 people have died from the virus. And it’s not going away – there are about 35,000 new diagnoses reported every year. (Stats from Avert.org)

It all begins with the HIV virus. Illnesses caused by a virus cannot simply be cured by antibiotics, although medicines may help to reduce the symptoms. People who have a virus, such as a cold, usually get better after a few days or weeks because the white blood cells of the immune system, which are responsible for fighting diseases, successfully overcome them. When a person is infected with HIV the immune system tries to fight off the virus and does make some antibodies, but for some reason these antibodies are not able to defeat HIV.

Many people do not feel ill at all when they are first infected. They may have no symptoms for a long time as HIV acts by gradually destroying the immune system of the infected person. After about 5 to 10 years (although much earlier in many third world cases) the immune system becomes so weak, or deficient, that it cannot fight off infections like it used to, and eventually the infected person may lose weight and become ill with further illnesses like persistent severe diarrhea, fever, pneumonia, flu, and even skin cancer. It is at this point when someone is said to have AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).

At the time of my writing this, in spite of millions of $’s spent on cutting edge scientific research, there is no cure for AIDS and so, sadly, it is almost certain that people currently diagnosed with AIDS will die.

HIV is found in body fluids such as blood, semen, and breast milk. It is passed from one person to another – or transmitted – only in very specific ways; through sexual intercourse, through infected blood – for example through contaminated blood transfusions or unsterilized needles and syringes (in most places today blood transfusions are completely safe because the blood is tested for HIV before it is used to treat patients), and from an infected mother to her baby while it is still in the womb, during childbirth, or during breastfeeding.

Unfortunately, due to ignorance and bigotry many urban legends abounded in regard to the victims of HIV/AIDS. For instance, there is an urban legend that HIV can be spread through “casual” everyday contact between people, such as hugging or shaking hands. This is not true. Also HIV cannot be transmitted by coughing, sneezing, or by touching or hugging someone who has the virus. It is not spread in air, water or in food, by sharing cups, bowls, cutlery,clothing, or toilet seats. And contrary to another urban legend, HIV is not transmitted by insects such as mosquitoes. (Avert.org)

In the late 1980′s, early 1990′s, many people were ignorant of such facts and AIDS victims were often vilified and even ostracized. In some Christian circles the victims of AIDS also became the objects of religious bigotry as misinformed and judgmental types believed AIDS to be a judgment from God intended for those who partook in “sexual sin” such as prostitutes, porn stars, homosexuals, and the like. One example of this is the song Fire from Heaven by the Christian metal band Sacred Warrior that includes the lyrics, “Gay rights and porno movies are rampant everywhere, the end result foretold in the disease that they share.”

But is it fair to say that HIV/AIDS is a special judgment of God upon the sexually immoral? Maybe what we should be asking is when bad things happen is it always because of sin?

Let’s look at what Jesus says. “As he (Jesus) went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. John 9:1-3

“About this time Jesus was informed that Pilate had murdered some people from Galilee as they were sacrificing at the Temple in Jerusalem. “Do you think those Galileans were worse sinners than other people from Galilee?” he asked. “Is that why they suffered? Not at all!” Luke 13:1-2

So what would Jesus response to the victims of AIDS be? Would he condemn them like so many have? Or would he have compassion on them? Maybe we can glean some truths from his own encounter with a disease ridden victim of His day?

Large crowds followed Jesus as he came down the mountainside. Suddenly, a man with leprosy approached Jesus. He knelt before him, worshiping. “Lord,” the man said, “if you want to, you can make me well again.” Jesus touched him. “I want to,” he said. “Be healed!” And instantly the leprosy disappeared. Matthew 8:1-3 (NLT)

I like what Franklin Graham said, “When AIDS first came onto the world scene, many Christians had a skewed view of the disease and whom it affected. For various reasons, most Christians, including myself, did not become actively involved in the fight against the disease. That was wrong and I must admit I feel quite differently now.”

In another address Graham said, “Often, when we have gotten involved, it has been to proclaim how to avoid contracting the disease, but we have shamefully little to say to those who are already infected and living with AIDS, usually without hope.”

So maybe instead of hopelessness, we need to offer hope; instead of separation we should embrace; we instead of condemnation, we should pray with and for them; instead of bigotry, we need to love; and instead of spewing damnation, we must speak words of life. Because when all is said and done Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Mark 2:17

And that, my friends, includes every one of us!

For more information on HIV & AIDS visit Avert.org and AIDS.gov

Christian St John M.Div, BChM, ACS
December, 2008

Picture from Bloggers Unite

Bloggers Unite is an attempt to harness the power of the blogosphere to make the world a better place. By asking bloggers to write about a particular subject on 1 day of the month, a single voice can be joined with thousands to help make a difference; from raising awareness for cancer, to an effort to better education systems or supporting 3rd world countries.