Sitting in the library with someone today I was amazed when a librarian asked my friend to unplug her laptop, because it hasn't been PAT tested. The library has turned coffee shop, so has an area of tables, chairs, and sofas making it a place to sit, relax, dabble on a laptop or have an informal meeting (as we were in fact doing). As such you would think they would expect members of the public to want to plug in their laptop at the nearby wall-socket.
But no, that is obviously way too risky!
Now as an engineer I understand that technically there is a risk (albeit very small), which could put us or some other member of the public in jeopardy. But this kind of thing just epitomises to me the ridiculously risk-averse culture we now live in.
The problem is that this risk-averse behaviour has affected our faith and our churches too, with negative consequences for mission. Last week at Community Connect, a new group I am working with at Shinfield Baptist Church, we looked at Jn 1 and God moving into our neighbourhood. Two keywords we drew out were that such a venture involved great risk and vulnerability. Quite incompatible with today's attitude to risk, but necessary for the powerful mission of God to unfold.
As Christians are we prepared to accept a degree of risk, especially as God calls us out from the safety of our Christian gatherings? Or do we judge that it is better to un-plug ourselves from the power of God's mission?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
Your question Sir about whether it is better to un-plug ourselves from the power of God's mission because of risk is very sensitive.I will quote Proverbs 4:7 before making any attempt:
ReplyDelete"Wisdom [is] the principal thing; [therefore] get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding."
A Christian ought to understand what it means to be one.We have been crucified with Jesus Christ through baptism;this is where the ministry begins.Avoiding risk means avoiding the dividends of God's kingdom which have been released through Christ's death,burial and resurrection.You asked"As Christians are we prepared to accept a degree of risk".Evangelist Karl,could you please specify the risk? We are not meant to run away from Goliath,but to run towards him;however,we should be able to also ascertain his size before picking our stone(s).Thank you.
Seated Christian Arts: You make a good point, that one should at least evaluate the risk. Yes indeed, I am not calling people to forget common sense. Wisdom is indeed needed.
ReplyDeleteThe risk will depend on the venture, but for Western Christians is typically 'will I find myself out of my depths, not sure of what to do next, not sure of how to answer or work with someone?'.
Your Goliath illustration is a good one. The point is that typically Christians either side with the other soldiers who were too afraid to even consider going out to the battle, or put lots of 'armour' thinking it will be good protection for them.
Cheers.