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blogging, faith, faith and fear, healing, insanitybytes, love, opinion
Pastor Doug Wilson wrote a timely post, Is Church to be a Safe Space? It’s a timely post because for the past few weeks I’ve been speaking of safety, safe spaces, trigger warnings, comfort zones, from both a political and a religious perspective.
Safety is an issue that has been on many minds lately, what is it, where does it come from? What do we mean when we say “safety?” In the context of “safe spaces” on college campuses, we’re speaking mostly of emotional and spiritual safety, comfort zones. One issue there is that people are searching for an external solution to an internal problem. They’re l0oking for the outside world to provide them that sense of safety, by externally removing anything that might make them uncomfortable.
“Safety zones” are are a political and cultural phenomenon that continue to baffle me. We have these gun free zones, drug free zones, trigger free zones, inclusivity zones, compassionate living zones, as if we can just draw lines around certain areas and all other people will simply honor our emotional needs for safety.
I too have been thinking of the Apostle Paul lately, a former persecutor of Christians, and what it must have been like for the early church to not just welcome him in, but to have him in a position of leadership. In Acts 7:58, we read in regards to the stoning of Stephan, “……. and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.” Saul goes on to have a spiritual epiphany, to become the Apostle Paul. I’m going to assume some may have had some feelings about that.
Safety is an important issue for people who have been abused and violated. That loss of safety and sense of control has to be regained in the healing process. I believe in the Great Physician however, in how surrendering to Him can enable one to replace what has been stolen, ten fold. It’s not easy, it’s not comfortable, but people can and do heal, and God can take what has been broken and create something stronger and more beautiful than the original, a masterpiece fused together with gold.
God also took Saul and transformed him into the Apostle Paul, a powerful leader in the early church, one whose words of wisdom continue to lead us to this day. What a powerful miracle that is.
Doug Wilson speaks of safety in the church, of protection and shepherds, and says, “So yes, church should be a safe place. But our safety is in the gospel, and in shepherds who love the gospel, and who love what the gospel does in the lives of people who have been transformed by it.”
Amen! Although one should never underestimate the value of good shepherds, about the significance of protection, provision, good leadership, ultimately a sense of safety is an internal thing, something that comes from spiritual work and the gospel. Psalm 23:4 is the very definition of safety, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”
So, I am of two minds here. While I recognize the need people have for safety, the wounding that comes from abuse, the gospel itself was designed to take us out of our comfort zones. A spiritual journey is not necessary a “safe” journey, in terms of leaving you emotionally unscathed and comfortable. Some people need rest when their souls have been wounded, and yet we don’t do anyone any favors by leaving them there indefinitely. People were designed to go forth and conquer, to overcome the challenges we face, to walk boldly in the world, victorious. I dream of healing, of empowerment, of people who come to replace fear with faith.
The gospel is simply not a “safe place,” nor should it be transformed into one. It causes discomfort, it was designed to. Genuine safety is to be found in the Lord, in His work within us and that is a priceless gift.
Paul said:
Well said IB. It is a very interesting point. For instance Jesus brought Peace to the world, but not to stop fighting. In fact he said that his presence would pit brother against father and so on. Rather he brought the ability for humans to access the peace of the creator through him by dying for our sins. Literally,the BIG PEACE – that feels like a huge spotlight when you find it inside, that allows you to walk through the confusion and temptation of life unruffled., that grounds and justifies you even when all around are losing their heads. The interesting part of this is that when you walk in peace through life, then it tends to eddy around you,making a small little pockets of peace that follow. When I trucked I used to go into some of the roughest neighborhoods in Harlem, the Bronx, downtown Detroit and Chicago, Los Angeles, etc.I never had a problem, never had anything of mine touched, had only positive experiences with the locals. Like I said, find the Peace of the Lord inside and you can walk in peace. In extreme situations where you find yourself in a violent situation that is outside your control, the Peace will guide you to bring it to a successful conclusion – for instance Sgt.York.
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insanitybytes22 said:
“Like I said, find the Peace of the Lord inside and you can walk in peace.”
Amen to that, Paul! I too have walked in some pretty hostile places, gently and well protected. That’s an amazing thing, isn’t it? I’m laughing here, because for someone who has a propensity for trouble, that is actually quite remarkable. 😉
For the most part we really are called to walk in peace, “as much as it is possible,” being the qualifier there. People who can do that do project a sense of safety that is a bit like those ripples on the pond, it helps others to respond in kind.
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Tricia said:
Lots of good stuff here IB. The “safe space” phenomena going on now is a direct result, in my opinion, of society walking away from truth. The further we drift from God, the more we put our faith in external things and the more insecurities grow. The tendency to be OFFENDED by the littlest of things is the natural outcome.
The Gospel is definitely not a safe space as you say. The security of putting one’s faith in God and defining yourself through Him offers the best protection.
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insanitybytes22 said:
“The tendency to be OFFENDED by the littlest of things is the natural outcome.”
I think you’re right. I never really made that connection, but when people are chronically offended over everything, it’s a defensive stance that speaks of insecurity and fear.
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Mike said:
Your well formed morality challenges my situational ethics in a way that frightens and offends me.
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insanitybytes22 said:
LOL! Ha! As if some people’s situational ethics don’t absolutely terrify me. Trigger alert! 😉
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anitvan said:
Not sure I fully agree with that, I think I would actually characterize the Gospel as the ultimate “safe place”!
No matter where I find myself, no matter who I am around or what might be going on around me, my “safe place” is always within me. In all things, the Gospel is my consolation – I have been made right with God.
I believe very strongly that the Gospel is MEANT to be heard as comfort; as pure promise; the Good News that in Christ we have been made right with God, apart from ourselves. When the Gospel is robbed of its comfort, it is no gospel at all.
“If the word becomes an appeal, faith becomes its performance in action. If the word becomes a demonstration, faith becomes insight; if it becomes a statement, faith becomes knowledge. Finally, if the word becomes an expression, faith becomes a ground of experience given with human being as such. Only if the word is promise (promissio) is faith really faith.” [Oswald Bayer, Theology the Lutheran Way, p. 139]
The distinction for me, I guess, is what is the object of my faith? What am I putting my trust in? There is a very real temptation to put our faith in, well, *our faith*, when in truth, our faith, in and of itself, avails us nothing. It is the object of our faith, Christ Himself, who does the saving, entirely outside of us. Our faith is grounded in the objective work of Christ, not in the subjective exercise of our faith.
*shrugs* I don’t know, maybe I’m just splitting hairs…
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insanitybytes22 said:
“*shrugs* I don’t know, maybe I’m just splitting hairs…”
No, you’re not splitting hairs. I too look towards Christ, look to the gospel, and what I see is comfort, protection, provision. But those who do not know Him, even some who are professing to, do not have that same sense of safety. Without an awareness of grace, without being able to trust, people are left floundering, seeking all these external rules and contrived virtues, “safe spaces,” so to speak.
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anitvan said:
Ah yes, that is it, exactly. Trusting in other-than-Christ is always going to mean either looking to self or looking to externals to fill that void, that desire for a safe place.
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silenceofmind said:
Jesus has shown us what life on Earth is for our flesh:
A crown of thorns, unjust beatings and a seemingly endless, bone grinding trek under the burden of a cross specifically designed to be an overwhelming misery.
In three days of Passion, Jesus presented for all those with eyes to see and ears to hear, what human life became after Adam and Eve decided to go it alone, without God.
Church, then, is Sabbath rest for the soul whose mode and means of existence remain unknown to anyone whose primary focus in life is comfort for the flesh.
At church, we confess to almighty God, to our brothers and sisters and to all the angels and saints, that we are sinners (sons and daughters of Adam and Eve).
At church the soul basks in the Word of God.
And then for his own soul’s sake and at the ancient command of Jesus, the disciple consumes the Body and Blood of Jesus:
“This is my body given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” Luke 22:19
“This cup, he said, is the new testament, in my blood which is to be shed for you.” Luke 22:20
Going to church is the most sublime virtue (pursuit of excellence) because it is a celebration between God and man, of man being saved by God.
Church then, would have to be the ultimate safe zone.
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insanitybytes22 said:
Interesting, Silence. I don’t really disagree, I like the idea of how “Church then, would have to be the ultimate safe zone.” I suppose at the root of it all is that recognition that we are all sinners in need of redemption.
In the world however, what you see is people now wanting to edit out the part where we are all sinners, which than edits out the message of grace, which than creates a lack of safety.
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silenceofmind said:
IB,
The Christian worldview is ancient and completely at odds with the now nearly universal postmodern worldview.
“Safe zones,” “a woman’s right to choose,” “gay marriage” are all postmodern contrivances which strip man of his human being.
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insanitybytes22 said:
Agreed, Silence. What a mess it is out there. Safe zone? Heck, I want a backhoe so I can dig a bunker! 😉
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