One of our biggest problems, is that many have an overwhelming desire to play it safe.  Safety worship may be the idol of the hour.  Safety is an illusion.  Many of us are more cautious by nature.  I was pastoring in metro Detroit when the last major economic crisis struck.  You talk about fear, fear was everywhere. My congregation had quite a few employees in the auto industry.  They were fearful of losing their jobs.  I was wondering will everyone move away?  Will we be able to continue as a congregation?  Fear was in the air and the feeling was palpable!  In my annual report I wrote that I had had it with fear!  My statement was simply,  I do not want to live a fear-based life, but a faith-based life.  Fear comes from many sources, but one of the main culprits is or desire for safety.  Safety is a concern for humans, we want to keep our family safe and protected. This is a legitimate concern.

We need to hear this quote from Oswald Sanders. We must move forward and not live fearful lives but faith filled lives: “A great deal more failure is the result of an excess of caution than of bold experimentation with new ideas. The frontiers of the kingdom of God were never advanced by men and women of caution”. —Oswald Sanders   Sander is calling us to live a faith-filled life.  Our faith is not an escape from reality, but a call to move forward in faith with God. I am finding myself agreeing with a quote I found from C.S. Lewis: “You never know how much you really believe anything until its truth or falsehood becomes a matter of life or death to you.”

 Hans Küng, made a statement about how the church should live. “because A church which pitches its tents without constantly looking out for new horizons, which does not continually strike camp, is being untrue to its calling. . . . [We must] play down our longing for certainty, accept what is risky, live by improvisation and experiment.”

How about making a decision to leave the tents of safety we have built for ourselves and keep our eyes on God’s horizon.  Our faith must direct us to trust God.  Abraham stepped out and minded God and went even when he didn’t know where he was going.  Today we think we know where we are going, and it mostly seems to be in a circular pattern.  Today let us step out in faith and trust the God we serve.  Risk is not a word often associated with people of faith.  The risk is failing to trust God with the blessings and opportunities He has given us, and to shrink back and hide in the corner.  Let us take bold steps and live what we believe.  Are you in?

2 Thoughts to “Playing it safe”

  1. Sharon Petree

    Thank you Dr. Blake for sharing these words, being shy by nature, I needed to read this. I’m always praying for God to help me to be more bold and to get out of my “comfort zone”. Again, thank you.

    1. Thanks Sharon. You and Dean are a blessing to us!

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