Safe Space and the Gospel

The phrase “safe space” has multiple definitions. When used to describe campus life and culture, it usually means protection from emotional discomfort, according to a recent article in Harvard Political Review.

A poll conducted from May 5 to May 11, 2017 through the polling company Whatsgoodly, revealed that thirty-six percent of college students feel safe spaces are “absolutely necessary.” Between November 8. 2016 and January 21, 2017 we were inundated with a landslide of responses from people who opposed Donald Trump being President of the United States. We heard about everything ranging from pacifiers to Play Dough to guest speaker events being cancelled. 

I am wondering whether this "safe space" mentality is creeping into the church. Maybe it's my old age creeping up on me, but it seems like the character of God, and thus the gospel, is changing with the goal of presenting the church as a "safe space." While God is kind, good, loving, and merciful in dimensions we cannot yet fathom, He is also vengeful, wrathful, hateful, and judgmental. None of these characteristics are out of balance and this is what makes God holy and full of glory. The word "glory" implies weight and when perceived - just a little bit - it will drive us to our knees. A partial verse in James that we love to quote is "Mercy triumphs over judgment." The full verse is "For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment."     James 2:13 

My desire is to keep this blog to a readable length, while still making a point. God's love for us is not the equivalent of a 16 year old who is obsessed with the lead cheerleader. God's love for us is described adequately in these three Scripture verses:

"Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!" 1 Chronicles 16:34

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."    John 3:16

"but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."    Romans 5:8


And while He does draw us unto Himself by His Spirit, there is an aspect of His nature that is a bit elusive; so we are urged to seek Him. 
"Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin: The Lord is with you while you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you."    2 Chronicles 15:2

"Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. ¹³ You will seek me and find me. When you seek me with all your heart,"    Jeremiah 29:12-13


And to those who do seek God and respond in faith to His grace, here is a sampling of the warnings which sound like anything but a "safe place."

"And he said to all, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me."    Luke 9:23

"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple."    Luke 14:26

"Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,"    2 Timothy 3:12

 "For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps."    1 Peter 2:21 


This short blog does not profess to spell out the whole truth, but to counter some of the "safe space" mentality that seems to have corrupted the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. We are called to be soldiers, engaged in a spiritual battle in a world filled with tribulation. Bit fear not, Jesus (our Commander-in-Chief) has overcome the world. (John 16:33)

World News Through the Third Lens: What values Are Being Defended in the Afghan War?

"High-level Interests? Afghan Christian convert's case may be the subject of a U.S. meeting" reads the November 30, 2010 banner to a by-line by Mindy Belz of World Magazine.

"The case of Afghan Sayad Mossa, who has been in a Kabul jail since May 31 allegedly for converting from Islam to Christianity, will be the subject of a meeting between Gen. David Petraeus and Afghan President Hamid Karzai, according to legal counsel who arrived in Kabul this week to assist the 45-year old Mossa."

Belz goes on to state in her article that there have been a number of conflicting reports concerning Mossa's case, who had just last week been able to secure legal representation through Advocates International, a faith-based association with 25,000 attorneys in 130 countries. Belz quoted the prosecutor in charge of western Kabul, Din Mohammad Quraishi, as saying that Mossa and another prisoner, Ahmad Shah, are being detained and charged with apostasy: "They are accused of conversion to another religion, which is a crime under Islamic law. If proved, they face the death penalty or life imprisonment."

The article goes on to point out the tenuous situation in Afghanistan, the touchy issues already on the table following Karzai's criticism of NATO troops and the recent leaks from Wikileaks revealing the US's raw frustration with corruption within the Karzai government.

Through the third lens of Scripture: "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you." (Matthew 5:11-12). "They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony: they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death." (Revelation 12:11). How easy it is to post those Scriptures from the comfort of my office. Nobody is persecuting me today because of the profession of my faith in Jesus the Christ. Yet the day is not over, and because I am about to encourage all Believers through this blog to get ready for what may be in our lifetime a time of widespread persecution of Christians, I expect some to be repelled by the message. However, I am compelled, not by a desire to be liked by everyone, but only to hear my Lord say, "Well done, good and faithful servant," to speak what I know to be the truth on what are often disturbing subjects.

There is a mixed message in this country as to whether the church is gaining in influence and popularity or whether the opposite is true. I suppose the answer could depend on your definition of the church: is it the institution with its outward appearance or is it those who have experienced the new birth and have chosen to walk the narrow road that leads to life? Certain segments of the visible church have demonstrated a continuing willingness to go along with political correctness so as to get along with the powers that be. Homosexuality has been redefined from a moral abomination to a legitimate alternative (and thus a civil right); marriage has been redefined from "one man-one woman-for life" to (well....we've already started down the slippery slope so there's no telling where it will end). To stand up for the sanctity of life or biblical marriage will always invite persecution from somewhere.

And now to speak ill of Islam, or our country's ominous war on terrorism is to probably walk on thin ice also. So be it. How can there be any question that our presidents have gotten it wrong when they label Islam as a "religion of peace?" Virtually every nation on the planet where Islam is in the majority, Christians are persecuted to some degree or another. How could the United States of America, with its Constitution (including the First Amendment) expend so many resources (including human lives where are of inestimable value) to free a country from Taliban rule, only to replace it with a government set up to persecute Christians? What values are our service men and women putting their lives on the line to defend? Could it be a portent of things to come where, even in the USA, all manner of religious expression other than Christian is protected? The best way to prepare for and yes, even prevent such an eventuality is to speak and live biblical truth now, at every opportunity.

Be encouraged in Christ!

World News Through the Third Lens: Federal Flood Aid Denied

Individuals denied federal flood aid as reported by the Norwich Bulletin, April 28, 2010 - commentary by: Les Young

"Home and business owners won't be getting federal financial assistance to rebuild from March floods, a decision Connecticut's governor is vowing to fight. President Barack Obama has denied the state's request for individual aid to New London and Windham County homeowners, renters and employers. The White House on Friday approved aid to municipal governments in New London, Fairfield and Middlesex counties. 'This decision is not only disappointing, it's wrong, and I will appeal it," Gov. Rell said in a press release.'"

Further on in the article, after numerous town officials, business owners and homeowners voiced their consternation over President Obama's decision, one homeowner was quoted as saying, "I accept Obama's decision, especially after a Saturday tornado in Mississippi that killed 10. There are a lot of people worse off than I am," she said.

Through the third lens of Scripture: Don't worry, I am not going to launch into some comparison between the flooding in CT and RI on March 29-30, 2010 and the world-wide flood in Noah's day. Neither am I going to suggest that the flooding was some sort of judgment inflicted by an angry God on the people of southern New England. Jesus himself warned against such tactics in Luke 13:1-4. Jesus does go on to give a warning that is meant for anyone who has ears to hear. "I tell you no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish" (Luke 13:5). So the first point, whenever disaster strikes is to engage in personal judgment, knowing that we have this promise: "For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world" (1 Corinthians 11:31-32).

Another point is to remember the slogan of the Worth Reading blog site: "The bigger the government, the smaller the citizen." Then there are the words of Thomas Jefferson" "A government big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take away everything you have." I don't criticize people in our area for rushing to meet deadlines and filing tons of paperwork in hopes that they might benefit from some government help. I would just hope to remind anyone who might read this blog that in God's order of things, the help pyramid should look like this: God first, then family, then the community of faith, and then maybe the government. In Bible times, "princes" were synonymous with "government, and the Bible says: "It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes" (Psalms 118:9)

The next order was family, and the Bible says this: "But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever" (1 Timothy 5:8). The next ordered source of help is to be the church. "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith" (Galatians 6:10). I don't expect that one short blog is going to change the way the country has gotten used to doing business, but perhaps someone will finally understand that God has a better way than either the Democrats or the Republicans.

World News Through the Third Lens: Socialism and Christianity

Socialism and Christianity by: Les Young

Normally the religious moniker of "Christian" is connected with the political label "Right Wing Conservative." This is not necessarily accurate or flattering. Take, for example, the group named "Hutaree," which means "Christian Warrior." The Bowling Green Daily News today labeled them as bad as the terrorists we are fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. The problem with all of this is that real Christians don't fight this way. On the other side of the coin, "Christians" have been formally connected with socialism for decades. As far back as 1966, in hearings before the U.S.A. House Committee on Un-American Activities on February 26, 1966, Richard Arens, general counsel to the Committee, declared: "Thus far, in the leadership of the National Council of Churches, we have found over 100 persons in leadership capacity with either Communist-front records or records of services in Communist causes. The aggregate affiliations of the leadership is in the thousands."

In the late 1970's, as an independent insurance agent who also had a Master's degree in Forestry, I had put together a special workers' compensation safety group, designed to improve safety and lower insurance costs for loggers. A contact was made with the "social justice" department of a well-known Protestant denomination, headquartered in New York. One of their projects at the time was to try and unionize loggers in Mississippi. Suffice it to say that in dealing with these people, there was nothing "Christian" about their strategies or their language.

As a nation, we have been moving in the direction of socialism for a long time. The biggest steps in that direction seem to come in times of crisis. (The New Deal during the Great Depression, the Patriot Act following 9/11, Federalization of banks, auto manufacturers following the economic crisis of 2008). If the passage of Health Care Reform sticks, we will have made another giant step in that direction. Religious groups seem to be lined up on both sides of many issues, earning them political labels such as: "Progressive Liberals" or "Tea Baggers." Just what are the politics of Christianity when it comes to the economy, labor, management, and profit and what tactics should be employed to effect reform? I can't thoroughly answer those questions in this blog, but I can put forth a few Scriptures that should at least cause us to think.

A Biblical (Third Lens) Perspective:

Concerning management and labor: "Servants, respectfully obey your earthly masters but always with an eye to obeying the real master, Christ. Don't just do what you have to do to get by, but work heartily, as Christ's servants doing what God wants you to do. And work with a smile on your face, always keeping in mind that no matter who happens to be giving the orders, you're really serving God. Good work will get you good pay from the Master, regardless of whether you are slave or free. Masters, it's the same with you. No abuse, please, and no threats. You and your servants are both under the same master in heaven. He makes no distinction between you and them." (Ephesians 6:5-9, Mssg)

Concerning rewarding everyone equally, regardless of effort/results: "...his work will be shown for what it is because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss..." (1 Corinthians 3:14-15, NIV)


Regarding being able to earn from investments as well as labor: "The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more...The man who had received the five talents brought the other five....See I have gained five more. His master replied, 'Well done good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness." (Matthew 25:16, 20-21)


Regarding being able to enjoy the fruit of your own labor: "A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too I see is from the hand of God, for without Him who can eat or find enjoyment?" (Ecclesiastes 2:24-25). And under the perfect rule of the Messiah: "They will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. No longer will they build houses and others live in them, or plant and others eat. For as the days of a tree, so will be the days of my people; my chosen ones will long enjoy the works of their hands." (Isaiah 65:21-22)


All of this seems to be closely akin to the spirit of the Declaration of Independence: "We hold these truths to be self evident; that all men are created equal and are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, among which are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." And while Christians of good conscience have always been willing to take up arms to secure and defend such rights, the normal method of Christian combat (or reform) can be described in these two Scriptures: "The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (Ephesians 6:12). Christian! Fight the good fight of faith!