The Lie of Security

In a recent article from Salon.com, their "Ask the Pilot" columnist ranted about the farce of airport security. He was bemoaning the nonsense of making sure his liquids were in the proper ziplock bag and recounts "the story of a test in which TSA screeners are presented with a suitcase containing a mock explosive device with a water bottle nestled next to it. They ferret out the water, of course, while the bomb goes sailing through." Airport security, you see, is a farce.

Don't get your knickers in a twist, though. The truth is that security is a farce. We spend billions of dollars on security and spend billions of hours worrying about safety, and you have to wonder just how effective it really is. With all that they do to protect us from identity theft, people are still having their identities stolen. Automobiles with five-star safety ratings still end up with dead passengers. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics "There were about 661,500 police officers, sheriffs, and detectives in 2008", and still there is crime being perpetrated every day. I remember the story of a woman who was killed by lightning in her bedroom. Or how about a more recent event we all know? A well-known criminal in a well-protected compound with razor wire, high walls, security cameras, and armed guards was shot to death in his bedroom. It doesn't get much more secure than that.

We tend to worship comfort and security, it seems. We don't want to take risks, whether it be physical or emotional or relational or financial. (Sometimes I think physical risk is our least concern. Consider extreme sports, bungee jumping, and the other "fun" things people do that entail physical risk.) We think that we can find a place where there is no risk. So without saying it we think that old widow in the temple who gave her last pennies to God was just a bit crazy. I mean, good for her and all, but don't expect us to put ourselves out on that edge. Or maybe it's not financial risk. Maybe it's relational risk we avoid. For shy people that's a serious problem, but it's not just theirs. You know, it would just be a lot easier if you didn't broadcast to all your coworkers that you are a Christian. Worse, they don't need to know that you think that self-identified "gay guy" over in the other cubicle is sinning for his actions. No, no, let's just get along. That's unnecessary risk to tell the truth there.

We don't even think about the spiritual risks we take every day. We hang on tightly to visions of safety and security and comfort as if they're actually attainable and sacrifice basic spiritual health in doing so. We know "it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in Him but also suffer for His sake," but we still try to avoid it. We are plainly aware that Jesus said, "woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation", and still we cling desperately to our riches thinking that we are safer managing our own money (as if it is our own money) than following Christ in how we handle our finances. You know, "woe" is not a good term in Scripture. "Woe" is a bad thing. But we think that a "woe" from the lips of Christ is less risky than the possibility of running out of money. And it's clearly more important that we have our cable TV and cellphone data plan than that we take the risks with that which we have as Christ would demand.

But ... I'm meddling. Here's my point. When we think that we can achieve comfort and security in this world, we've bought the lie. It is a farce, an illusion. We should, of course, take precautions to be safe. That's called stewardship. But when safety and security becomes our god, that's called idolatry. On the other hand, when we take reasonable precautions, then step out to obey Christ in a risky world and place our trust in the Sovereign of the Universe, that's called wisdom. Remember, we are more than conquerors (Rom 8:37). As such, don't you think that too much effort spent on safety and security is a waste of time? Remember Job. "The Lord gives and the Lord takes away; blessed be the name of the Lord."