The Problem of Problems

We, as a race, like safety and security. We like peace and comfort. If there is to be conflict, let it be on TV, not in my neighborhood. Better yet, let it be some fictional TV event and we can all watch like the audiences of gladiator battles in ancient Rome and be safe and entertained. Just don't bring it to my house.

When we encounter a disruption to our sense of safety and security, we often take measures ... drastic measures. In small terms, it used to be that no one locked their front doors because no one had a sense that they weren't safe if the door was closed, but we all lock our doors now. In larger terms, when terrorists flew aircraft into American buildings, we surrendered a great deal of personal freedom in exchange for a greater sense of safety and even termed it "The Patriot Act so we felt like we were safe and patriotic in doing so. Now (as an example) Arizonans are faced with not being able to get on an airplane because their driver's licenses don't meet new federal guidelines ... put in place for your safety.

The question is how far we will go for safety and security. Benjamin Franklin said, "Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." Now, he's not saying all liberty regardless of security. He spoke of "a little temporary safety". But we don't often do that evaluation, do we? No, like sheep, we see the crowd running for safety and we all go along. And without even paying attention we sacrifice liberty without even gaining temporary safety. Our aircraft are hardly safer now than before 9/11. We're still wrestling with terrorists, and they're showing up in our own backyard. The president recently assured us that "there’s no greater threat to our planet than climate change." How much freedom will we surrender to solve that crisis? When we're assured that conservative Christians are a threat to society because they won't cater gay weddings, how much freedom will we surrender to solve that crisis? And so it goes. Problems can be real problems.

On the other hand, James says we should "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance." (James 1:2-3) Indeed, there have been lots of benefits from crises. Most of the New Testament was written to address error in the Church. The doctrine of the Trinity was clearly stated at the Council of Nicaea not because it was new then, but because it was challenged. The canon of Scripture was laid out because of those who tried to make something else Scripture. Paul declared, "I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Cor 12:10)

Problems abound. It's the nature of our existence. And we humans tend to surrender much good in order to gain freedom from problems. It is often a poor trade. On the other hand, God clearly uses problems in order to accomplish His plans. Perhaps surrender isn't the best option. Perhaps embracing the difficulty works better. Perhaps.