PLAYING IT SAFE
All around the world Followers of Jesus are risking their lives and property by following him. When they attend worship, they are at risk of persecution and death. When they publicly declare their faith, they risk persecution and death. When a neighbor sees them pray over a meal, they may risk persecution or death. Costly discipleship! The very thing Jesus predicted for his followers. When we volunteered in the refugee camps, new believers were baptized in secret. If seen their families, back home would be in danger. If you are unaware of the dangers many Followers of Jesus live in daily check out a few of the websites that report on these things.
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Yet in America churches and Christians at times, seem to be risk averse. Currently, as I understand it, many churches have security teams — armed church members who are to be ready to defend worshipers if threatened. They also talk to strangers to determine if they are a threat. Special training programs are held for participants. We want to be assured we are safe when we go to church so we play it safe and have armed guards.
I believe Peter got a sword to defend himself and Jesus, but Jesus told him not to go that direction. What is the difference between then and now except for the level of technology?
Back in the Civil Rights days, most churches were not very vocal. Why? Were they playing it safe? Did they have theological positions that supported treating blacks as second-class citizens? I knew a few pastors who claimed the Bible supported segregation. It was never convincing to me. They were the same arguments used to defend slavery. Maybe they were influenced by the KKK members in their pews. Or were they just playing it safe?
When HIV began to spread, I knew of churches that had policies against allowing infected kids in their nurseries on Sunday. “It might hurt the church” if they did. They played it safe and did not minister to hurting people.
I also know of church staff members who were fired because someone in their family got HIV through a blood transfusion. It was all about optics. Or were they playing it safe?
Now it seems as if the LBGTQ community is targeted by churches and really do not want them in their churches because they are sinners! If churches discouraged other kinds of sinners from attending worship, there would be lots of empty worship centers next week. Some pastors and staff wouldn’t be able to attend. I thought sinners were the people that needed Jesus. The people that Followers of Jesus were to go out into the highways and byways and invite. Since that is a controversial issue, I guess it’s easier to play it safe and discourage them from coming.
Jesus often said, “fear not”. Wouldn’t that be another way of saying don’t play it safe?
Most of society in the US does not have a lot of respect for the church. Maybe that would change if we stopped playing it safe.