Safety

The conversation still rings in my ear... "Pastor Bobby, I'm just looking for someplace safe, you know?" Wow... safe!
One of the purposes of the New Testament church was to be a place where the love and peace of God reigned. You were to be able to take a breath when in the presence of God and like-minded individuals. However, I'm not real sure the NT church was a "safe" place. They were told to deny themselves and take up a cross. They were to leave father and mother to follow God. They were sent out as prey and even bait, because there was a lion lurking and they were sheep sent to the middle of the wolf pack. The battle raged so viciously that they were warned to not go without armor and a weapon. I could go on, but you get the picture.
The safe place of God's hand is there, but the world (including the church world) is anything but safe. You see, people are imperfect, and will act imperfectly. The place where the like-minded study together is great until one shows up who is not like-minded and doesn't know to study. In a hospital, there are not only the learned and the healers, but there are also the sick. Actually, without the sick, there is no need for a hospital. Such is the church.
Without the sinner, there is no need for the church; but the sinner makes it all "unsafe." This is the battle.
So, safety cannot be defined as all being perfect and pristine. In fact, safety means nothing without the potential of danger. We must be willing to put ourselves out as the vulnerable in order to rescue another from destruction. The safety will never be from offense or hurt, but can be found in the knowledge that God is sovereign. The safety comes not from knowing God will, but knowing God can and that He will only act in your best interest and His divine will.