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Mark Buchanan has written a compelling book, Your God is too Safe . I highly recommend reading it. He is a wordsmith of incredible ability and talent. I don't know how many times I have read this book, but it's been often. Each time his words, his description of those who live in "borderland", this place between two countries...a no man's land, strike deep into my own spirit. In his book he accurately describes a condition that exist in many Christians, that in his mind and mine also, is very real. Borderland is a place between two countries which is claimed by no one. In his analogy of this place, which apparently does exist, Buchanan sees where so many Christians leave the old life of sin to begin a new life of faith in Christ only to be stuck between those two kingdoms. They do not wish to return to the old life, but are too afraid, unsure or divided spiritually to move ahead into the "abundant life" Scripture teaches us to expect.
In the Old Testament, the Israelites are delivered from slavery in Egypt (a picture of the unregenerate life) and are headed for the "promised land" (a picture of the new life in Christ). Because of unbelief, fear and a remaining fondness for the old life, they remain for 40 years in the desert, wandering around in circles, going nowhere, slowly dying. I think this is the present day "borderland" Buchanan writes of.
I have been there. Often I am still there. I make brief forays into the new world, only to rush back to borderland at the slightest sign of danger or discomfort. In one of my other blogs, Doing Life Different , I tell of me and my family's journey towards moving to Honduras. The unknowns, insecurities and risks sometimes overwhelm me. I want to rush back to the safety of that which I know. I don't really like it here in this bland, comfortable, undemanding American version of Christian life, but it's what I know best. For the most part it isn't the personal fear of living in Honduras, I've traveled enough over the years through Central America to be fairly comfortable with that, it's more the unknowns of the future, the demands on my faith which to be perfectly honest...are quite often lacking. I see or read of others that seem to have no doubts, no fears, no questions. I applaud them, but down deep there's always the sneaking suspicion that they're faking it. Putting on the false face we Christians wear all too often. Spewing out platitudes and cliches. And if they're not, what does that say about me, about my faith? Next question please.
Buchanan says we want a God we can control, a safe God, a God who is at our beck and call. He writes this, “God isn’t nice, He isn’t safe. God is a consuming fire. Though he cares about the sparrow, the embodiment of His care is rarely doting or pampering. God’s main business is not ensuring that you and I get parking spaces close to the mall entrance or that the bed sheets in the color we want are—miracle!—on sale this week. His main business is making you and me holy."
The God of the Bible is a God who says, "But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you." He's a God who ask you to do hard things, to be different than those who profess and confess no allegiance to Him.
I want desperately to leave borderland, I really do. I know that there is a life out there waiting to be lived to it's fullest. I've read of some of the great men and women throughout history who have lived that way. There's only one problem, things didn't always turn out so well for them. At least in this life. Read Jonathan Goforth's biography or The Heavenly Man , Brother Yun's autobiography. For that matter, read Hebrews 11:32-40. Many accomplished great things, but many also suffered death and dismemberment.
No, God is good, but He is not safe. In this whole discussion, be it one sided, the question remains, "Does it matter how we live our lives?' You bet it does.
In the Old Testament, the Israelites are delivered from slavery in Egypt (a picture of the unregenerate life) and are headed for the "promised land" (a picture of the new life in Christ). Because of unbelief, fear and a remaining fondness for the old life, they remain for 40 years in the desert, wandering around in circles, going nowhere, slowly dying. I think this is the present day "borderland" Buchanan writes of.
I have been there. Often I am still there. I make brief forays into the new world, only to rush back to borderland at the slightest sign of danger or discomfort. In one of my other blogs, Doing Life Different , I tell of me and my family's journey towards moving to Honduras. The unknowns, insecurities and risks sometimes overwhelm me. I want to rush back to the safety of that which I know. I don't really like it here in this bland, comfortable, undemanding American version of Christian life, but it's what I know best. For the most part it isn't the personal fear of living in Honduras, I've traveled enough over the years through Central America to be fairly comfortable with that, it's more the unknowns of the future, the demands on my faith which to be perfectly honest...are quite often lacking. I see or read of others that seem to have no doubts, no fears, no questions. I applaud them, but down deep there's always the sneaking suspicion that they're faking it. Putting on the false face we Christians wear all too often. Spewing out platitudes and cliches. And if they're not, what does that say about me, about my faith? Next question please.
Buchanan says we want a God we can control, a safe God, a God who is at our beck and call. He writes this, “God isn’t nice, He isn’t safe. God is a consuming fire. Though he cares about the sparrow, the embodiment of His care is rarely doting or pampering. God’s main business is not ensuring that you and I get parking spaces close to the mall entrance or that the bed sheets in the color we want are—miracle!—on sale this week. His main business is making you and me holy."
The God of the Bible is a God who says, "But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you." He's a God who ask you to do hard things, to be different than those who profess and confess no allegiance to Him.
I want desperately to leave borderland, I really do. I know that there is a life out there waiting to be lived to it's fullest. I've read of some of the great men and women throughout history who have lived that way. There's only one problem, things didn't always turn out so well for them. At least in this life. Read Jonathan Goforth's biography or The Heavenly Man , Brother Yun's autobiography. For that matter, read Hebrews 11:32-40. Many accomplished great things, but many also suffered death and dismemberment.
No, God is good, but He is not safe. In this whole discussion, be it one sided, the question remains, "Does it matter how we live our lives?' You bet it does.
