Once while growing up, an evangelist came and told us about a missionary family who left the field because they were afraid their children might be bit by the poisonous snakes in the region. Not long after their return to the USA, two of their boys were playing in the yard and unwittingly uncovered a snake nest. They were bitten. The dad threw them in his Suburban and rushed them to the hospital, but to no avail; the two boys died. Then the man came home and, to his horror, discovered that his wife had died of a heart attack because she watched her husband roll over and kill their two daughters when he had backed out of the driveway to rush the boys to the hospital. This kind of story adds to the guilt former missionaries encounter and to the fear many current former missionaries encounter if forced to consider returning from the field (but that's another topic altogether).
The evangelist's point was "it's always safer in God's will." -Which is a nice spiritualized cliché, but is it true?
Well, no. Absolutely not! Just ask the wives of the five Through Gates of Splendor missionaries who were speared by the Auca. Just ask the wife of Tillman Geske who was tortured, slain, and buried in Turkey. Or ask just about anyone familiar with New Tribes missionaries. Or statisticians who work at life insurance policies (who immediately deny policies to missionaries). No, Christ has never given the guarantee of physical safety to His missionaries. Quite the contrary. But He has promised to be with us and give eternal reward, and that's better than safety.
Is God's will safe? NO! Is it best? Yes!
29 December 2009
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5 responses:
this is likely an urban legend and is best treated as such unless verifiable and verified. There is no need to put fear in anyone's heart concerning God's will. It is His stated will that his people receive the kingdom. People who violate God's perfect plan for them are not necessarily "subject to Satan" or any similar trauma. This shows God to be manipulative and controlling which HE Is NOT.
Good points made, David! We live in a day when people want a "safe God." We are safe in the arms of Jesus, but that does not exempt us from dangers that might well be His perfect plan for us. How exciting to let God write the chronicle of your life.
Great thoughts! I love the ref. to Aslan, Barbara, thanks! David, I have grown weary of hearing preaching like this. So much of preaching I hear regarding faith and missions sounds more like prosperity theology. Yours is a needed correction. One area I have been thinking on and questioning is the area of hunger. On the one hand we have Christ's words in Matt 6 which tell us to seek first the kingdom and all these things (what we will eat included) will be added to us. On the other hand, Paul says that he learned to be content whether well fed or hungry. So do God's children suffer hunger or even die from hunger? Some say not. But what about believers in the under-developed world where hunger is prevalent? I would love hearing your thoughts.
Mr. Beaver's words also came to my mind. God is great and good, and we can trust Him!
tgrav,
I have never heard a believer dying from starvation but that may be due to my limited exposure to poverty-stricken regions. There must certainly be believers who face legitimate hunger each day; and I have met believers in meager circumstances who are rich in spirit. And certainly in some nations short on water or food, where believers are discriminated against, they get the crumbs and are called to rejoice at being persecuted for Christ's sake.
I can hardly write these words without being convicted every time I complain about something silly.
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