Are You Comfortable?

20 Nov Are You Comfortable?

If you answered “yes”, you might not want to read this.

I enjoy a good debate, and I enjoy hearing the different views people have on a variety of subjects. This has led me to spend a bit too much time on social media. Lately though, it seems that the majority of what I see being posted are comments and articles that take a strong stance on some political or religious event or subject.

One of those really prevalent issues that is flooding social media recently is the issue of refugees and what to do with them. I have no desire to weigh in on this topic from the standpoint of whether Western countries should take them in or not. I think there are some really great points and arguments to be made on both side of the issue: Is it safe? Where’s the compassion? Something has to be done?

What I’m more interested in is what God is doing. Most of the Christians I know would say that God is sovereign over all things; which would include the events we see taking place that is causing the refugee crisis. And since this is the case, we ought to ask the question, “Why is God allowing this?” “What response does God want from His people?”

That brings me to the question, “are you comfortable?” The most basic human necessities are shelter and security. Along with food and water, shelter is our most important need, with security and safety closely following it (see Maslow’s Hierarchy of Basic Needs). When these things are threatened we become defensive and are ready to fight to protect these needs.

I think it is safe to say, that as we see the refugee crises expand, there are those in the Western world that are feeling as if their security is being threatened. We don’t like the idea of losing the comfort we have.

So here we are in the Western world seeing our level of comfort eroded by people groups that have different values and worldviews then our own. Again, I’ll ask the questions “Why is God allowing this?” “What response does God want from His people?”

As I consider the history of God’s interaction with His people, there is something that He always makes clear. That is, His desire for all the nations to know Him.

“Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all people.” Ps 96:3

“(God) wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” 1 Tim 2:4

One of Israel’s responsibilities after settling in the promise land was to become a place where all peoples, all nations would be able to come and see the glory of the Lord. They didn’t do a very good job of revealing God’s glory, because they didn’t seem to be awed by it themselves. So the Lord allowed other nations to rule over them. And interestingly enough, God always brought them out of their captivity, and in the process the Lord showed His glory and was seen to be lord of lords by these other nations. God will be praised!

In the New Testament just prior to Christ’s ascension, he gives his disciples (and us) a command, “go and make disciples of all nations.” Matt 28:19 “Be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8. But they were slow in moving out into the nations (I’m guessing they were comfortable in their homeland). So what does God do? He scatters these new Christians, at the hands of the Romans. These early followers of Christ were not doing what they were told to do, proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ to all nations.

No matter how we feel about refugees, or immigrants for that matter, moving into our areas of comfort and security doesn’t really matter. Ultimately, it is God who is doing this, not politicians, it is the Lord who is causing it. Could it be that because the church (believers) have been ineffective in reaching out to some of these hard to reach nations, that God is sending these people to us?

I am deeply impacted by the life of A.B. Simpson, the founder of the Christian and Missionary Alliance. He struggled with his congregation’s complacency in reaching the immigrants that were coming into the U.S in the 1880s. So, he left his secure pastorship and salary to go and reach out to these people.

God does not promise us comfort, in fact Jesus told his followers that they would face persecution (Matt 10:22). Persecution is far from comfort. Some may argue that Ps 67:1 (“May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine on us”) is an argument that God wants to bless us. And yes, He does, but verse 2 says… “So that Your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations.” If we are blessed by the Lord, it is for the purpose of being able to making the Gospel known.

Jesus says in John 10:16, “I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen, I must bring them also…” Today’s church is to carry the message. If we can’t get into some of these hard places to spread the Gospel, then wouldn’t it makes sense that God will send them to us? God’s goals trump our own, he will bring about His purposes.

I don’t particularly want to leave the comfort of the U.S. to go to East Africa, but God’s call is clear, and if I stayed he wouldn’t let me be comfortable anyways. I know that because as many times as I thought it was time to move on from it, God brought it roaring back to where I couldn’t ignore it. Comfort and security is not a blessing, it is a distraction.

Whether it is people from the Middle East, Africa, Asia, or Central and South America, God will see these people reached over allowing us to live in comfort. We can choose to go to them, or have Him send them to us.

How will the church respond? Would God have His people be cold and callous, or should we find a way of reaching these people? If God wants them here, they will be here. Let’s not argue over whether or not to take them, let’s strategize on how to reach them!