Gospel of Safety

We are surrounded by proselytizers for the Gospel of Safety. They use fear tactics to get us to accept the message. They condemn us for the sin of  omission (not adhering to safe practices) and the sin of commission (using unsafe products). They urge us to try to control all circumstances to assure that we and our loved ones are secure.
 
The Message
The proselytizers subtly stir up fear as they advocate for gun safety, carbon monoxide detectors, dolphin-safe tuna, a secure internet, GPS on 1st-graders' cell phones and protection by armed security guards (who use their guns safely.) According to the Gospel of Safety, we should avoid icy roads, the sun, risky investments, cosmetics tested on animals and bacon.

If we do feel safe enough to leave our houses, we can join the Adult Safe Hockey League. This is a version of a sport known for brawling and knocking out front teeth that is supposedly tamed by safety.
 
If something goes wrong in our quest, we need to be prepared. In case someone slips up or loses control of circumstances, she needs numerous lawyers or plenty of insurance or both, just to be safe.
 
The Distortion
For those who reject the Christian gospel, personal safety is becoming one of the last measures of morality. In this view, man has power to make and keep his own rules. For example, some people who see nothing morally wrong with promiscuous relationships view failure to practice safe sex as unconscionable.

Much of the Gospel of Safety can be an attempt to outsmart or manipulate God by taking control of our own destinies. It seems to say that, with some effort, we can avoid messy circumstances, especially death and hell. For example, self-righteous safety seekers may postulate that someone with a terminal illness probably didn't eat "right" or exercise enough.

The Caution
As Christians, we know that living in a fallen world can be scary. However, we must not let our strong desire for personal safety get in the way of godly obedience.

God is king. He makes well-being and creates calamity (Isaiah 45:7). But, in His goodness, He will never guide His people to a place or circumstance that is out of His control.

When we trust God, He may call us to go somewhere or to do some thing that is risky. People may threaten us for speaking the truth.  Our place of service may be war-torn. We might encounter unfamiliar food, aggressive drivers, humidity or unending snow. There might not be any child-safe caps on the medicine or seat belts or smoke alarms. In serving Him, we find that God's ways are much greater than the path to personal safety.

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis gives us a beautiful picture of the great lion Aslan, who is a type of Christ. One of the children asks Mr. Beaver if he is safe. "‘Safe?’ said Mr. Beaver; ‘don’t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King I tell you.’"