When are We Safe- At What Level Do We Risk Ourselves

30And why do we endanger ourselves every hour? 31I face death every day, brothers, as surely as I boast about you in Christ Jesus our Lord. 32If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus for human motives, what did I gain? If the dead are not raised, Let us eat and drink,

for tomorrow we die.” (1 Corinthians 15)

But my righteous one shall live by faith.  If he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.  (Hebrews)

Thoughts: Safety is important.  Many things are done in the name of safety.  People who do not adhere to the same level of safety as we have are looked down upon today. 
     But for Christians, from the very beginning, we risk safety.  Abraham left the safety of a very urban city of Ur to answer the call of God as a pioneer to the promised land.  Jacob went back to the promised land at risk of war with his brother Esau.  Moses faced Pharaoh- definitely not a safe thing to do.  Gideon faced a mighty army with a pared down army of 300.  David fought Goliath when everyone else who was a regular soldier would not.  The prophets like Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Jeremiah all spoke against kings who had the power to kill them in order to say what God wanted them to say.  John the Baptist spoke against Herod though it would cost him his life.  Jesus went to Jerusalem even though he knew he would die there.  Stephen faced stoning. Paul faced stoning, prison, lions,  whipping, governors and emperors because it was important to get the Gospel out.  He wrote the words of our passage above.   Eleven of the twelve disciples died for their faith.  The early Christians faced persecution and yet continued to meet in homes or catacombs.  In the 1960- 1990 Cuban Christians had their names written down for going to church and could not get a better job, send their children to college or buy a car/house/apartment if they went to church.  Today Christians in China are arrested for worshiping in house churches.  Missionaries have faced cannibals, warring tribes, deplorable conditions to bring the gospel to others. 
      No one wants to purposefully die- and to seek physical death.  Yet, sickness and death are not the worst or only thing for us.  Jesus said it like this, "If anyone wants to follow me, let them deny themselves, take up their cross and follow me."  Denial to self (and the idea of sacrifice for others) flies in the face of safety first.  We should never seek to die, but that does not mean we never risk.
       In our state, people have a higher risk of dying of many things compared to covid19.  Driving is most dangerous and remains one of the leading cause for teen deaths- but we do not ban teens from driving. 
       We ask others to risk.  We ask people to risk to provide and buy groceries;  we ask healthcare workers, first responders, and nursing home workers to take risks for a greater good.  But is there a more eternal- greater good than serving God.  If the answer to that is "yes" then we will just disagree. 
       I say this at this time because I have talked to several Christian pastors who do not want to push at all for meeting together.  They would see the church as the last thing that should open up- "out of love for people."  Church gatherings, for them are not all that important.  Church gatherings, after all, could spread germs.  But in a state where salons, tatto parlors, bars, gymnasiums, in dining restaurants are open, are churches willing to "take the heat" and open up? 
       Opening up does not mean that everyone HAS to come.  It does mean that there is an opportunity to worship in person for those who wish to "risk" it.  People who are sick should please stay away.  People who are severely at risk should also stay away until things calm down more or a vaccine is in hand. 
       The other side of this should be that churches should open up with mega safety measures in place- as any business would have: limited capacity; social distancing; not encouraging touching or passing items; wearing masks;  Churches should not be picked on as non-essential icing on the cake- when Jesus said, "Seek First His kingdom and righteousness."  Let us be safe, but safety is not the only factor here.
     What do churches provide for a secular world?  A moral foundation; Benevolence to the poor that keeps the government from having to do it (think We Care or Goodworks);  Peace, courage, strength and hope for those who come; networking; community definition; support for the sick; support for the grieving; support for those who lost their jobs; But in addition to all that love for neighbor, love for God and eternal hope and eternal life.  Safety is important, but it is not the only factor in opening up a church.

Prayer: Lord, may we be safe but also people of faith,  Give us great courage and strength.