Spirituality Column #747

March 9, 2021

Common Christianity / Uncommon Commentary

Fair, Safe, and Happy

By Bob Walters

In a memorable Sunday sermon, the preacher employed the literary imagery of Narnia’s lion “Aslan-as-Jesus” to counter humanity’s knee-jerk desire to feel “safe.”

The scene is in the first book of the Chronicles of Narnia classic children’s series by C.S. Lewis.  In chapter eight of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, upon learning the “king” she would soon meet was a lion, young Susan asks, “Is he safe?”

“Is he safe?” the preacher repeated loudly, departing from the book’s gentle but stern voice of Mrs. Beaver.  “Is he safe???” he echoed again. 

“NO!!! Of course he’s not safe,” the preacher fairly thundered. 

And then, quietly, the payoff line: “… but he’s good.” 

Probably nothing has been larger on humanity’s radar screen in the last year than “feeling safe.”  We all (well most of us) politely wear masks, limit gathering with each other, and try to make wise decisions about acceptable risks of everything from family celebrations to vacations to vaccinations.  There is seemingly no more currently ubiquitous or powerful human urge and herd motivation than trying to “feel safe.” 

But that is so weak and human, as opposed to being courageous and Christlike.  Nothing about Jesus’ coming to earth was safe for Him, and no idea Jesus presented about himself or His mission of salvation had any promise of earthly safety for humanity.  We cannot look at Jesus in our own temporal light of is it fair, am I safe, or am I happy?

Those are not the questions to ask Jesus.  The sheltering wings of Christ represent the long game, opening up for us the opportunity to join God in eternal glory, not to have a hedge of safety on earth where all is fair, all is safe, and happiness rules.

When we see safety hysteria en masse – and we’ve all seen a lot of it in the past year; it was a year ago this week (March 11-15, 2020) that “things shut down” – it suggests “safety” is the highest priority of human existence.  We must push past that.

I think of all things that I’d philosophically put way ahead of my own safety – God, love, faith, family, nation, integrity – and pray I’d have the courage at the moment of challenge to summon the same resolve as Jesus: to focus on mission, not safety. 

The lessons of Jesus are the lessons of courage, strength, selflessness, divine love, and obedience to God.  His purpose was not human “fairness.”  Safety? Jesus was wise about his own security until it was time to complete His mission on the Cross.

But it is silly to ask if Jesus became man so He could experience fairness, safety, and happiness.  No, no, and no; the mission of Christ – always – is God’s glory.  In this life Jesus promised us persecution, not safety.  He taught that in loving God and others we find the divine joy of relationship with God and the fellowship of believers, which is our true and highest birthright; the brightest and most shining goal of our Creation.

This isn’t about wearing a mask, distancing, or getting vaccinated; it’s about keeping our heads clear, our courage strong, and our armor engaged regarding God’s righteousness and the ultimate and eternal purpose of Jesus: glorifying God.

As most of our culture prioritizes, pursues, and idolizes the fairness, safety, and happiness – the comforts – of this life, let’s remember that the Lion of Judah is good …

… and righteous.  “Is He safe?” is the wrong question to ask.

Walters (rlwcom@aol.com) notes that compassion, not control, is Christ’s way.