Myth Busting

The Christian myth states: The safest place to be is in the center of God’s will.

The first problem with that philosophy is that personal experience seems to prove it wrong. Unsafe things can and do happen to people who are doing the right thing. We ought not assume, whenever something unsafe has occurred, that those damaged were somehow not acting within the will of God.

The second problem is that scripture does not support it. Those who are in God’s will are promised both peace of heart and divine attention; He cares for us. Yet safety is mentioned as something that unjust men trust in and enjoy as often as something that is provided by God to the faithful (IThes 5:3, Ez 39:6, Is 30:2-3, Job 21:9). The complaint is lodged that the righteous do NOT enjoy safety, and that the unjust do (Job 5:4, Job 21:9, Ps 37, Ps 73). God promises to give safety at some time in the future (sometimes implying that the present time will be dangerous). (Ps 12:5). In other verses, safety is to be provided only at the end of the age. (Jer 32:37, Jer 33:16, Hos 2:18) All of this does not add up to a scriptural promise of day to day safety on the condition that we are doing His will.

“’Course he isn’t safe. But He’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”
C.S. Lewis The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe

Being in the will of God isn’t safe. But it is right and good. And God is able to work the often unsafe consequences out for the good.

October08

October is a month of decreasing light in Afghanistan, just as in the USA. Summer is undeniably over and there are hints of an approaching winter. Hints like electrical power available only for a few hours at a time (spoiling food, because the window sills aren't yet cold enough to refrigerate). Hints like the rats moving in off the coldening streets (we put traps out and have been catching two or three per day in our kitchen).

There was a 10 day fall break in courses (corresponding to the end of Ramadan). In spite of the heavy (and impolite) guard, we have been blessed with many guests. Local government officials crashed our gate on a particularly busy day, thinking that we were running an undercover guest house (and intending to charge us extra taxes). We invited them in for tea, but they declined - seeing the group of children playing with our new dog (Puppy Jaan) in the garden, and a small family reunion going on in our pia khana (side houses that we now sub lease to a dear single lady friend - the lawyer we mentioned).

The Taliban surround the city, but life goes on within. Please pray for us.