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Playing It Safe
by Keri Wyatt Kent
One of my favorite radio stations plays Christian
contemporary music 24-7. The only place I have it on is
in the car, but then again, these days, it feels like I
pretty much live in the car.
When I’m driving the kids to soccer or Scouts or
whatever, I like knowing I won’t hear suggestive or even
lewd lyrics.
In fact, I heard one station advertise that it is “safe”
for anyone to listen to. What they mean, of course, is
that you don’t have to worry about hearing offensive or
explicit lyrics, or foul-mouthed disc jockeys. Just
uplifting music.
I’m glad that type of station is available. But that
whole idea of “safe” really got me thinking. Is safe
what the Christian life is supposed to be about? If we
are saved, does that mean we need to try to stay “safe”?
Should “safety” be what we strive for?
After all, the message of salvation is a dangerous one.
If I take the gospel seriously, I will not only receive
from God his comfort, but his challenge. Lately, he’s
been calling me to stretch my faith by obeying him in
ways that feel anything but safe.
I want to protect my children from certain aspects of
our culture, but I want to encourage them to grow in
faith by taking steps that may feel risky, but are
clearly what God is calling them to.
As I listen to Christian music, I am becoming aware that
the “safe” songs, if we take them seriously, have a
hidden danger.
For example, songs that proclaim “God is in control,”
that can be safe and comforting. Except that it implies
that I am not the one in control, which can be very
disconcerting and require me to grow in trusting him.
Here’s another dangerous lyric I heard recently: “We
will abandon it all, for the sake of the call.” If I
take those words seriously, I'll be putting God’s call
on my life before my own agenda, and that doesn't feel
very safe. Instead, I feel uncertain and a little
nervous. But trusting him when I don’t feel “safe” helps
my faith to grow.
What about these lyrics: “Step by step you’ll lead me,
and I will follow you all of my days.” What if he leads
us somewhere we don’t think we want to go? While we are
ultimately safe in God’s care, he may call us to take
risks for him, to be more obedient to him. To me, it
feels a little dangerous to say I’ll follow.
These are “safe” lyrics because they don’t contain
explicit or vulgar messages. But they are not "safe" in
terms of living a comfortable life.
But God does not call us to be comfortable, usually. He
calls me to trust, and if I don’t take any risks, then
I’m not really growing in trust. That is, I don’t get
the chance to see how really trustworthy God is. If I
listen carefully, God will call me to do things that I
could never do on my own. He’s calling me to take risks,
to face challenges that, when I tackle them with his
help, will help me grow. Sometimes I hear what he’s
saying, and obey him. But unfortunately, other times I
just forget to pay attention.
Today, I had a conversation with a friend who told me
she has stopped going to church. Despite the fact that I
used to be her small group leader, I didn’t ask her how
her faith is doing, or even if she still believes. I
invited her to come to church with me sometime, and when
she said maybe, I didn’t push it. I didn’t take much of
a risk. I stayed safe. And I missed a chance to grow,
and perhaps, to help her grow.
But when I start listening to what God is calling me to,
through song lyrics or gentle promptings, I realize that
staying safe is not as important as growing my faith
through obedience, even when it feels very risky and
unsafe.
In C.S. Lewis’ book The Lion, the Witch and the
Wardrobe, Mr. and Mrs. Beaver are describing Aslan the
Lion (the Christ figure in the story) and how creatures
revere and fear him.
“ ‘Then he isn’t safe?’ said Lucy. ‘Safe?’ said Mr.
Beaver. ‘Don’t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who
said anything about safe? ’Course he isn’t safe. But
he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.’ ”
And of course, the story shows us a truth. Christ is
good, but he’s not always safe. He’s likely to, if we
listen, challenge us to do things we could never do
without his help. That’s faith defined.
Maybe you are at the beginning of your spiritual journey
and trying to decide if you can really trust God. He’s
good, he’s trustworthy. But if you trust him, it will
change your life.
And if it wasn’t going to change your life, why bother?
Who would want to fall in love with Jesus if it wasn’t
going to change your life forever?
Maybe you believe in him but you are at a place where
you just want to be comfortable and safe. I don’t know
about you, but I don’t want to look back 50 years from
now when I am 90 (longevity runs in my family!) and say,
“Boy, what a life. I covered my butt the whole time and
took as few risks as possible. And I stayed safe.”
No thanks. I want to pay attention, listen closely, and
dare to follow the One who may not be safe, but is
always good.
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