Safety Is Not Our Calling
We as Christians are consumed with safety. My question is, why? We aren't supposed to be "safe." Jesus told us that we should expect the world to hate us, because they first hated him (John 15:18).
Our parents, our churches, our other relatives, all want us to do nice, safe mission trips and then settle down for a nice, safe life. I have no idea why. Jesus went from place to place teaching and almost got stoned quite a few times. The Apostles traveled from place to place and were hungry, beaten, imprisoned, stoned, shipwrecked...the list goes on, and many were martyred.
So...tell me again why we need to always be safe instead of using our lives - which are no longer ours, but God's - to bring glory to His name?
No really, I do understand. All parents love their children - just as God loves us, I might add - and want the best for them, which to most does not include having their children die before them or live difficult lives. But...do the commands of Jesus allow for that privilege for parents, family, and friends? If you really search the scriptures, I don't think so.
When Jesus calls his disciples, He says "come, follow me" and they drop everything (Matthew 4:18-22). Did I truly drop everything when I felt Jesus calling? Did you? And if we did, did we pick everything up again later on? That's what I have to wonder. Do we have that true commitment to Christ that, no matter the circumstances, we will follow Him? And yes, we are to love our family, we are to love everyone, and yes, He tells us to honor our father and mother. But, He also says "He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me" (Matthew 10:37). Hmm. Most people don't bring up that verse. There's also this one: "And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life" (Matthew 19:29). Sometimes, God calls us to more than what our parents think is best for us. In fact, sometimes the church doesn't always understand what you may be doing. But we are followers of Jesus, not others.
Safety should really not be such a concern. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying it's ok to do whatever dangerous thing you want and be a dare-devil; no, I'm saying that whatever God calls you to will be worth whatever price needs to be payed, should anything happen along the way. God is good; this is a fact. God loves His children; this is also a fact. Therefore, God will not let anything happen that is not for His glory or for your good - the catch is, you don't get to decide what "your good" is. Trust in God.
Safety didn't concern Paul at all. In 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 he says this: "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then I am strong."
This issue of safety has bothered me ever since my restlessness began growing and I began to feel pulled in all sorts of different directions. For instance, my friend from youth group and I made a list of all the places we would love to go someday, and mine included countries such as India, Israel, China. Now, granted, I'd basically be cool going everywhere and anywhere and my list also included relatively "safe" countries such as all of Europe, but in India I want to help out at the Homes of Hope Orphanage. In Israel I want to see where Jesus walked. In China I want to worship with the people. And yet, my parents were not at all thrilled when I told them all the places I would love to go - "It's not a good time to go to Israel" (Uh....is there ever a good time?) and "India's not the best place to go" (Why? There are children in an orphanage who live there, so....why not me?). That's what I mean - there is a purpose for us here on earth, and it isn't to stay nice and comfy in our homes because we're scared to go somewhere or do something "unsafe." What has become known as "The Great Commission" (Matthew 28:19-20) says "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen." I didn't read anything about safety in Jesus's Great order to His people.
If you've never read Francis Chan's book Crazy Love, then I suggest you do, because he explains this issue of "safety" a whole lot better than I do, along with a lot more on the topic of giving all your love, your whole life to following Jesus Christ. In one chapter he asks the question, "Do you want to see God more than you desire security?" (Chan 113). I would like to answer yes to that without any inhibitions. Is it hard? Yes, obviously, especially to those of us living in such safe, comfortable environments like the United States. But we need to if we want to follow wherever God calls us. Chan also says, "We are consumed by safety" (Chan 133). Yes we are. He continues and says, "Obsessed with it, actually. Now, I'm not saying it is wrong to pray for God's protection, but I am questioning how we've made safety our highest priority. We've elevated safety to the neglect of whatever God's best is, whatever would bring God the most glory, or whatever would accomplish His purposes in our lives and in the world" (Chan 133). When I first read this book, especially that part, it fleshed out my scattering thoughts on the subject perfectly.
Our safety is eternally secured as children of God, and is irrelevant in this world. We needn't consider it overly much because we have a God in control of everything and we are to live for His glory, not our own comfort.
And, as I like to do, here's a song by Bethel Music from their newest album that goes along with this post: No Longer Slaves
Quotes from:
Chan, Francis. Crazy Love. Colorado Springs: David C. Cook, 2008.
Our parents, our churches, our other relatives, all want us to do nice, safe mission trips and then settle down for a nice, safe life. I have no idea why. Jesus went from place to place teaching and almost got stoned quite a few times. The Apostles traveled from place to place and were hungry, beaten, imprisoned, stoned, shipwrecked...the list goes on, and many were martyred.
So...tell me again why we need to always be safe instead of using our lives - which are no longer ours, but God's - to bring glory to His name?
No really, I do understand. All parents love their children - just as God loves us, I might add - and want the best for them, which to most does not include having their children die before them or live difficult lives. But...do the commands of Jesus allow for that privilege for parents, family, and friends? If you really search the scriptures, I don't think so.
When Jesus calls his disciples, He says "come, follow me" and they drop everything (Matthew 4:18-22). Did I truly drop everything when I felt Jesus calling? Did you? And if we did, did we pick everything up again later on? That's what I have to wonder. Do we have that true commitment to Christ that, no matter the circumstances, we will follow Him? And yes, we are to love our family, we are to love everyone, and yes, He tells us to honor our father and mother. But, He also says "He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me" (Matthew 10:37). Hmm. Most people don't bring up that verse. There's also this one: "And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life" (Matthew 19:29). Sometimes, God calls us to more than what our parents think is best for us. In fact, sometimes the church doesn't always understand what you may be doing. But we are followers of Jesus, not others.
Safety should really not be such a concern. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying it's ok to do whatever dangerous thing you want and be a dare-devil; no, I'm saying that whatever God calls you to will be worth whatever price needs to be payed, should anything happen along the way. God is good; this is a fact. God loves His children; this is also a fact. Therefore, God will not let anything happen that is not for His glory or for your good - the catch is, you don't get to decide what "your good" is. Trust in God.
Safety didn't concern Paul at all. In 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 he says this: "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then I am strong."
This issue of safety has bothered me ever since my restlessness began growing and I began to feel pulled in all sorts of different directions. For instance, my friend from youth group and I made a list of all the places we would love to go someday, and mine included countries such as India, Israel, China. Now, granted, I'd basically be cool going everywhere and anywhere and my list also included relatively "safe" countries such as all of Europe, but in India I want to help out at the Homes of Hope Orphanage. In Israel I want to see where Jesus walked. In China I want to worship with the people. And yet, my parents were not at all thrilled when I told them all the places I would love to go - "It's not a good time to go to Israel" (Uh....is there ever a good time?) and "India's not the best place to go" (Why? There are children in an orphanage who live there, so....why not me?). That's what I mean - there is a purpose for us here on earth, and it isn't to stay nice and comfy in our homes because we're scared to go somewhere or do something "unsafe." What has become known as "The Great Commission" (Matthew 28:19-20) says "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen." I didn't read anything about safety in Jesus's Great order to His people.
If you've never read Francis Chan's book Crazy Love, then I suggest you do, because he explains this issue of "safety" a whole lot better than I do, along with a lot more on the topic of giving all your love, your whole life to following Jesus Christ. In one chapter he asks the question, "Do you want to see God more than you desire security?" (Chan 113). I would like to answer yes to that without any inhibitions. Is it hard? Yes, obviously, especially to those of us living in such safe, comfortable environments like the United States. But we need to if we want to follow wherever God calls us. Chan also says, "We are consumed by safety" (Chan 133). Yes we are. He continues and says, "Obsessed with it, actually. Now, I'm not saying it is wrong to pray for God's protection, but I am questioning how we've made safety our highest priority. We've elevated safety to the neglect of whatever God's best is, whatever would bring God the most glory, or whatever would accomplish His purposes in our lives and in the world" (Chan 133). When I first read this book, especially that part, it fleshed out my scattering thoughts on the subject perfectly.
Our safety is eternally secured as children of God, and is irrelevant in this world. We needn't consider it overly much because we have a God in control of everything and we are to live for His glory, not our own comfort.
And, as I like to do, here's a song by Bethel Music from their newest album that goes along with this post: No Longer Slaves
Quotes from:
Chan, Francis. Crazy Love. Colorado Springs: David C. Cook, 2008.
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