Having Faith in a Risk Averse Society

In preparation for the trip, I’m reading books about short term missions. One, Mack and LeAnn’s Guide to Short Term Missions, brought an interesting point about our society that also touches on service last night.

Mack writes that he was once called by a parent whose child wanted to participate in the missions trip. The father demanded of Mack to give a guarantee of safety. Mack said “no”. He would not. He could not. And, suggested that his daughter not go on the trip.

It’s impossible when traveling to foreign countries to guarantee safety. But even more so, one of the purposes of a missions trip is to experience God. How could we ever have an experience of faith or even hold fast to our faith (Hebrews 4:14) if we never take a chance? When we refuse to act on faith, we have a belief system not faith.

It occurs to me, in America we are so wrapped up in managing risk, in reducing risk. We are risk averse people. We have insurance for everything. We don’t share the gospel unless we’re sure the person will be receptive. We don’t talk to strangers for fear that they may hurt us. We’re paralyzed by fear and our innate desire to minimize risk.

But, if we never risk anything we never gain anything. Like the servant in the parable of the talents we bury our treasure and then loose it.

Tristan at coffee last night used the word, “aggressive.” I like that. Not in the sense that we are called to be a bull in the china shop. But that we are proactive, taking risks when we feel the Spirit’s guidance.

Take a risk and rely on faith!