What's the worst that can happen?

On nearly every missions trip that involves travel, there's at least one person that feels anxious about traveling, fear of flying.  In reality, it's not a fear of flying but a fear of crashing they're struggling with.  I try to assure them that I've been on many trips, traveled in many planes, been on boats and I've never died in crash.  Then I typically follow up by saying something like, besides, really, if something did happen is that the worst thing?  We just get there quicker, right?  Perhaps not the most reassuring thing to say in the moment, but I believe it's true.  I've heard stories of missionaries and met pastors who have had their days cut short for the sake of the gospel.  Did they fail?  Of course not.  I'm in no hurry to enter the other side of eternity, but I know that it's a reality for me (as well as every other person).  And quite frankly, I do look forward to the "not yet", experiencing God without the limitations that I currently have.    

John Wimber used to say, when it's all said and done dying is the last, worst thing that everyone of us will face. As Christians, we need to recognize that it's also the best thing.  Going to heaven is what we signed up for, right?

Truth is, recognizing and reaffirming that death no longer has the final power over you goes along way in defusing the anxiety that exists around the issue.  The pain in a loss carries another burden to it tho, doesn't it?  We question if God's good, does He care ?  There are times when God chooses to do things that seem contrary to what we believe His will toward us ought to be.  By accepting the tension between what we know and what we don't know yet, we can begin to let go of the anxiety.

Freedom defined?

When we think of freedom, as Americans, we tend to think of freedoms spelled out by our Constitution (freedoms that I personally value and enjoy). How do these constitutional rights relate to "Kingdom" freedom? Meeting folks in different places in the world challenge our notion of freedom. Meeting a small group of Christians who live and minister in the (garbage) dump of Mexico City, literally unable to leave without threat of violence and possible death. They create a church building out of pieces of sheet metal. Here, they reach their "community" with the message of the gospel, that Jesus loves them and that even though they are confined in this area and basically live like slaves to the drug lords who run the property, they can live in freedom, in Jesus.

Visiting a settlement on the outskirts of Durban, South Africa called Mayville. Many Zulu's and other nations living in huts and shacks. Meeting a pastor in this area named Simon, who perseveres in growing the church, in this settlement, under the threat of xenophobia. You can't chase Simon or his church out because they love Jesus and they love the people in this settlement. They are making a difference. They are seeing lives changed, drug addicts and alcoholics freed from their addiction, prostitutes freed from living a life of self degradation (as they come into the knowledge that Jesus has a plan and purpose for their lives, they are not disposable). Most of these people will never live outside of Mayville or similar circumstances, but in Jesus, they can live in freedom, fulfilling the purpose that God has for their life.  Historically, those changes bring about social change.

Truth is, as I've visited some of these places, I've been greatly influenced by the people that I meet and the friends I've made. I often walk away wanting "some of what they have". Not material stuff, but their passion for Jesus and the ability to follow Him and do what's right in the most difficult circumstances. I sometimes think that our right to pursue "happiness" can become like a shackle and chain, depending on how we define "happiness".

Happy 4th of July and remember to consider those who have sacrificed so that we can live and worship in freedom. Let's also remember what defines freedom, it has more to do with a cross than a constitution.