On the Cutting Edge

On the Cutting Edge

Hebrews 11:32-38

            The quote I remember most clearly from my church history professor is, “The seed of the church is the blood of the martyrs.”  The church tends to grow stronger when it’s under pressure.  When its members are co-opted by society they grow fat, comfortable, and lazy.  I think even those who are fighting in defense of a false version of Christianity understand this principle.  This is why they keep setting up straw opponents and see devils at work in cultural changes that are making society more human—and therefore more Christian.  If they can feel like martyrs they can pretend they are on the cutting edge of Christianity when they are really fighting backwater battles in a war that has moved ahead of them.

            Ralph Bukiewicz must have had this principle in mind when he said: “If you are not facing risk, could it be that you are not close enough to where God wants you to be?  Because where God is, there is always risk.”

            That’s a different take on Christianity!  We sing about being “happy in Jesus.”  We pray for the “peace that passes all understanding.”  We talk about being “at rest in God.”  We’d rather avoid the risk of being on the front lines.  After all, that’s where people get hurt.  When we begin our spiritual journey I don’t think many of us consider the dangerous aspects of the road.  This is especially true in our society, where to be a Christian is to be a part of the majority.  No matter how vocal our opponents may be, we know there are fewer of them than there are of us.  The physical perils associated with being a Christian are for other times and other places.  No need to worry about that kind of danger.

            When we read the words of today’s Scripture passage the first thing we notice is that it’s about physical danger.  According to the writer of Hebrews, many conquer in the name of God, but many are tortured, beaten, imprisoned, stoned, sawn in two, killed with the sword.  Those things don’t happen in our society.

            But there are other punishments, and there are other forms of torture than to the body.  Some of them can be even more devastating than physical abuse.  What other types of risk might a Christian have to endure on the cutting edge?

            There is the risk of ostracism.  Sometimes that ostracism comes from other Christians.  If you live where God wants you to live, those culturally comfortable Christians aren’t going to like it.  You’ll make them look bad because they aren’t as committed as you.  The worst part is that it might not be you that suffers.  When people become vindictive they often take their anger out on our family members because they know they can hurt us more that way.

            There is the risk of retaliation.  When Christians stand up to the powers that rule this world they unleash the dark forces behind those powers.  Businesses can respond by making your life financially difficult.  Government agencies can target you for retribution.  Employers can not only terminate you but make it difficult for you to find future employment.  Again, the targets may be not just you but those you love.

            There is the risk of religious reprisal.  If the powers you stand against involve a church, be prepared for some of the worst possible abuse.  No one can be quite as ugly as religious people when challenged.  Look at Martin Luther.  Look at Paul.  Look at Jesus.

            But Bukiewicz is right.  To be where God is means to encounter risk.  To be where God is means to serve the disenfranchised, the dispossessed, the “least of these.”  God risked God’s Son for our salvation.  Can we avoid risk and still call ourselves Christians?