747 - Fair, Safe, and Happy
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.