safety is an illusion.
we get glimpses of that truth every so often. pearl harbor, the oklahoma city bombings, columbine and other high school shootings, sept. 11, 2001, and most recently the events at virginia tech.
there are moments in time when our nation collectively feels vulnerable and exposed. but days, weeks, then months roll by and we regain our swagger. oh we will look back and commemorate on anniversary dates, but we march forward making new laws and regulations, tightening security and enforcing stricter policies.
its the american way. pull yourself up your bootstraps. get up off the mat. learn, adapt, and prevent.
until next time when the gossamer curtain we pretend is a steel wall is ripped down and we find ourselves exposed, vulnerable, and terrified.
why do we put so much trust in this invisible security blanket called "america"? is it because we think we are untouchable? after all, we have always bounced back.
unfortunately, the history of the world is full of civilizations that rose to great power, lasting much longer than our young nation and spreading much further. but where are they now?
if history has shown us anything, no nation has lasted forever. they eventually fail and they fall.
what would happen to our joy if america failed? if in our lifetime the government collapsed (no... i mean really collapsed)?
how would we live our lives if we were not guaranteed any service, provisions, or protection from any local, state, or federal entities because there are none?
what would happen to our faith if our churches were firebombed, our meetings interrupted by gunmen, and our fellow believers were kidnapped out of their homes and beaten, maimed, or beheaded?
what would our faith look like if abortion happened all around us, adultery and homosexuality were the majority and there were either no government at all to change it, or those in power endorsed it?
what if sharing the gospel put you in prison or got you killed?
what would it be like to be a christian in those circumstances?
we could ask our christian brothers and sisters in china, uzbekistan, iran, yemen, and a host of other countries.
from a voice of the martyrs site:
Around the world today Christians are being persecuted for their faith.
More than 70 million Christians have been martyred for their faith
since 33 AD.
This year an estimated 160,000 believers will die at the hands of their
oppressors and over 200 million will be persecuted, arrested, tortured,
beaten or jailed. In many nations it is illegal to own a Bible, share your faith,
change your faith or allow children under 18 to attend a religious service.
Nations where Christians are frequently persecuted include…
Afghanistan
Cyprus , Maldives , Sri Lanka , Algeria , Egypt , Mauritania , Sudan
Azerbaijan , Equatorial Guinea, Morocco , Syria , Bangladesh , Ethiopia
Myanmar (Burma) , Tajikistan , Bhutan, India, Nepal ,Tibet (China) ,
Brunei ,Indonesia ,Nigeria ,Tunisia ,Chechnya, Iran , North Korea
Turkey , Chiapas , Iraq ,Oman , Turkmenistan , China ,Kuwait
Pakistan, United Arab Emirates, Colombia, Laos Qatar, Uzbekistan
Comoro Islands, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, Cuba, Malaysia,
Somalia and Yemen
For more information on these countries and persecution
worldwide, sign on at www.persecution.com
we must be on guard to flee from the idolatry of safety and freedom. god does not love american christians more than christians who live in these other countries. the national language of heaven will not be english. not all christians in the world bathe every day. not all christians in the world eat every day.
we do not have a *right* as christians, to a house, a warm bed, indoor plumbing, clean water, or transportation.
we do not have a *right* to live in neighborhoods where our children will be "safe".
we have no "rights". we live in a country that extends privileges to us, but ultimately, they are no more than that.
if it all were taken away, would the way we cling to christ be an infinitely tighter grip than we now know?
is that o.k.?
god help me for trusting in a false security more than the provisions of christ.
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2 comments:
"god does not love american christians more than christians who live in these other countries."
If God would favor either, it seems like it would be the other way around. God forgive me for my selfishness, my privileged attitude, my shallow faith, and my divided devotion. Sometimes I am ashamed of how little my words and actions show appreciation of God's grace. I pray that God would cause me to have a greater awe of salvation and not to take for granted the mercy He extends to me every day. I'm so thankful for the means we have to learn about Christians around the world and that God graciously reminds us that we are so blessed!
Wow. What a humbling and thoughtful post. I am ashamed to admit that I have never ever realized (although on some level I have always known) that I am in the minority of christians who woke up in a nice bed and had the opportunity to jump in the shower.
I understand that I am extremely rich and priviledged to be a christian in America, but I sometimes fail to think through the implications of that...hot showers, a no-hassle sunday experience, 10 bibles on my shelf, 100 books at my fingertips extolling the greatness of God.
This post is a blessing. I hope I always think through the implications like this. Your blog and your friendship has helped me see that this is important for me, fundamentally, to get better at.
Thanks
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