Let me start this post by saying that this will be part 1 of I don't know how many parts to address this foolish idea that Jesus promised "safety" in our lives. If you are looking for something "safe" in your life... DO NOT choose a relationship with Christ.
A couple days ago, I talked with a woman that talked about "safety" for herself and her kids like it was some sort of command that God gave her. For some reason, she has decided that "safety" is the highest calling for a Christian and his/her family. She said many things that fall into this idea... including talking like it was a good thing she didn't know anyone that lived around her... because this community is "full of people that we can't trust." She said that she has to "get to know people before she can decide if she likes them or not" but she refuses to take any actions to get to know people... she pushes people away at every opportunity... because she wants to keep her family "safe".
In October, Russ and I walked the people at Church At The Grove through the most important aspects of the church and of ministry in general. In that series, we said that "Our spiritual maturity and relationship with God is determined by how we respond to the people that God puts in our path every day." This lady is a believer, but measures her spiritual maturity and relationship with God by how "safe" she keeps her family. That is a ridiculous idea that I can't possibly address in one post... I will try to cover it in the days and weeks ahead... but since I can't get her comments out of my head after three days... I decided that I had to bring this up.
God never promised "safety"... he doesn't demand it, expect it, or command it... in fact, the life of a Christ-folllower is just the opposite. Following Jesus is dangerous and always has been. If you're looking for "safety", find another religion to soothe your spiritual guilt. But, if you want to live on the ragged edge of life... where God is desperately trying to connect with people that are not "safe"... where Jesus actively demonstrates His love to people that are unlovable... where God found you in the pit of your disgusting sin and rebellion (and where he found me)... then maybe following Christ is for you.
Choose whatever you want when it comes to your spiritual relationship with God... but if you decide to follow Jesus, then (and I say this with all the love and mercy I can find in my heart) shut-up about "safety"... there are millions of people around you that are not "spiritually safe" and every minute you spend thinking about yourself is a minute wasted from thinking about them.
***continued next time
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