The Safest Risk in the World
Americans are obsessed with the idea of safe risk. Millions of dollars are spent by companies like Disney, Universal Studios, and the like to create the thrill of risk without the consequences of risk. Feel the thrill without any real risk. This is thrill-ride theology and there is no place for it in the true Christian life. Or is there?
Billed as Canada’s tallest and fastest roller coaster, Leviathan at Canada’s Wonderland outside Toronto, is a 3-minute thrill-ride featuring a 306-foot plunge at an angle of 80 degrees while reaching speeds of 148 km/h. Watch it in action here.
And what’s even more exciting than driving a Formula One car? Riding on the world’s fastest roller coaster that’s built above a Formula One racetrack in Abu Dhabi. Designed to resemble the Ferrari Formula One car, the Formula Rossa cars accelerate to 240km/h in under 5 seconds and a G-force of 4.8Gs. Watch it in action here.
Oh, then there’s the world’s steepest roller coaster. Built with a hump that’s perpendicular to the ground, the Takabisha in Japan features a 121 degree drop and has seven stomach-flipping twists. Watch it in action here.
Exciting, isn’t it? It is a safe risk. People line up to ride these, provided you’re the right height. Strapped in with 4/5 point seat belts or stiff shoulder harnesses and pressed firmly against the seat and you’re good to go.
Is there really such a thing as a “safe” risk?
As soon as there’s an issue with any single roller coaster, it shuts down. If someone gets hurt, or worse killed, the ride shuts down. Millions of dollars spent to make it thrilling AND safe but as soon as “safe” is compromised, the ride is over. Dismantled. Replaced. Sold off for parts.
The thrill is still guaranteed but no one wants to take the chance of actual risk.
Jesus said, “Follow me.” No seat belts. No harnesses. No net. No parachute. Just, “Follow me.”
You cannot safely follow Jesus.
You must accept the risk involved and embrace it as an inevitable fact to truly follow Jesus Christ.
Google this phrase… “Christianity is now the most persecuted religion in the world.” Now, start reading why, bearing in mind that most of these articles are from the secular mindset. (Huffington Post, Breitbart, etc.) Then read from Relevant Magazine here. Pretty much in agreement, wouldn’t you say?
[bctt tweet=”Jesus said, Follow me. No seat belts. No harnesses. No net. No parachute. Just, Follow me.” username=”@1billmcconnell”]
American safety is overrated.
In America we safely go to church, safely meet in our small group, safely pray and read the Bible, even in a coffee shop. For now, at least. The rest of world may not have such safety. In too many countries, Christians live each day for Christ knowing that if caught, they will be persecuted and they may die. They live each day without a net.
One of two things will happen to the self-proclaimed safe American Christian if faced with the real risk of standing firm in the faith of Christ as the worst parts of the world already experience.
Either a person will be quick to back off, become quiet, passive, strap on a seat belt and blend into the accepted culture… or they will stand up, stand firm in their faith, no net, no harness and step out in faith believing.
I believe Christians will rise to the challenge. God will be glorified. Phil. 1:21… Live this way.
Hebrews 11 … All of them jumped without a net, harness, rope, whatever. All of them lived to honor Christ. That’s faith. All are examples of safe risk at it’s finest; trusting God no matter what.