i minister in a church surrounded by safe churches. i recounted Steve’s story on 1/25 – and as some of our church has followed up their concern for him, i heard, “you shouldn’t have him in your house because you have small children.” (Again, this is not a habit of mine, but a prompting of the Lord that my wife and i both felt led to pursue). But the larger issue is we don’t want our children growing up with this safe, stain-glassed, sheltered illusion. While we enjoy the blessings of God, and we are blessed, there’s a world in pain, addiction, confusion, and bitterness. i want our children confronted by the hurting in the midst of their happiness that they also may learn first hand what it means to reach out a hand, share, and sacrifice for those with less.
i have become convinced by the lives and ministries of those in my cloud and in my own journey that this safe church stuff was not in the divine plan.
In psalm 23 the shepherd is leading (he leads me beside still waters, he restores my soul) and then all of a sudden, you (the sheep) find yourself in the valley of the shadow of death -- how'd you get there? He's leading (I will fear no evil for YOU ARE WITH ME, your rod and your staff comfort me). You find yourselves in the presence of your enemies – why? – because that's where He's gonna feed us.
In Matthew 10:38-39, one of many instances in the Gospels, Jesus teaches the disciples/apostles, “anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” Have you seen the Passion of the Christ? Even if that were exaggerated by 99% (and I don’t think it is), carrying a cross doesn’t look safe.
In Romans 8:15-17 Paul writes, “For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” How is it that we skip that last part, or are blinded to it – the part that says, “if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory”? Later, Paul writes in v.31, “What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?” comforting, right? But read v.32, “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” Wait a minute, didn’t v.15 and v.17 just say that we’re now sons? Could it be that we’re now available to be of such service to see others come to faith? Obviously, not in the saving of sins, for only Christ can do that, but in the service of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God.
It seems Paul suffered as such, as did the other Apostles, and the early church. Then there’s us…we, um…well, we, uh…
Will we stammer at the throne? Will we have an answer when the King looks for the result of the talents entrusted to us? Will we be among the first or second group to ask, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?” (see Matthew 25:31-46).
i wrestle with these questions every day,
with every person i meet,
every message i prepare,
in every prayer i say for or with my wife and kids.
We need to spur one another on toward love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24-25) – how, who, what has inspired you to live out faith in an unsafe world?
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