Is it possible to be too safe? In our dangerous world, such a question sounds ludicrous. But for the follower of Jesus, there are priorities that are higher on God’s list than our personal safety. And sometimes our efforts at total safely wall us in from what God wants us to do.
Mark Buchanan wrote a very helpful book a few years ago with the challenging title Your God Is Too Safe. The book is subtitled “Rediscovering the Wonder of a God You Can’t Control.”
I had a student recently who thought I was picking on her and her poor English grammar. I emailed her and told her I pick on all my grad students for their poor grammar and was not singling her out. She emailed me back: “Are you trying to hurt my feeling?” (she meant “feelings”).
What makes us Christians think that God is never going to put us in situations where our “feeling” will be hurt? Or our reputations? Or our physical well-being? Explain that kind of God to those heroes listed in the Foxes Book of Martyrs.
P.S. Mark has also written a book with the captivating title Your Church Is Too Safe. Haven’t read it yet.
msadrianrenee
April 5, 2015 at 6:14 am
I personally cannot wait to read the books that you did mention. I have surrendered perfectionism to God. Doing my best is all I can require of myself and all God requires of me. However, the growth process is unending. God is definitely more concerned about our personal spiritual growth than our comfort. We must suffer with Him in order to reign with Him. There’s no Christianity without the cross. At times, many of us are willing to wear a cross but not bear a cross. I appreciatie today’s message.
Esther
April 6, 2015 at 10:42 am
Good word. Amen to that!!
Dr. Larry Dixon
April 5, 2015 at 6:30 am
Thanks for your comments, Adrian. Great point about wearing versus bearing. Blessings. Dr. D.