Safe

Is it safe there?

This is probably the most common question people ask me when they hear I'm going to Burundi. It's a difficult question to answer. Burundi has been relatively stable for the last 5 years or so since their civil war ended, but relative means a lot in that part of the world. Compared to living in suburban America, there probably is increased risk of robbery, rebel activity, disease, and war. But in residency in 2009, my house was broken into and my computer was stolen in Birmingham, Alabama, so location doesn't mean everything.

It's interesting to me, though, that safety is the first thing most people think of. And I consider it as well and take precautions as much as possible - leaving valuables behind, not traveling after dark or alone, taking malaria prophylaxis and getting vaccinated for diseases like rabies and yellow fever.

But why is safety such a big concern? Does the Bible speak to this? I realized this week that the reason Peter denied Jesus was because of concern for his own safety - legitimate concern, too, as one of the people who asked him if he knew Jesus was a relative of the guard whose ear Peter had cut off. I'm guessing they would have been happy to crucify Jesus' followers along with him. But Peter was afraid of harm, so he fell to temptation and denied knowing his Lord. The result: Peter went out and wept bitterly. Jesus, of course, knew this would happen, but his response was to pray for Peter that his faith would not fail, to die for even that sin of prioritizing personal safety over declaring belief in Christ, and, after his resurrection, to demonstrate his love for Peter in giving him the responsibility to care for his flock.

Shortly thereafter Peter preached to thousands, was imprisoned for his faith, and ultimately was crucified. Read Peter's words below, likely spoken just a month or two after he denied Jesus.

Acts 4:9-12, 19-20

            Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, 9 if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. 11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”...But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”

So what made the difference? Peter sounds like a different person, fearless and full of faith, unconcerned for his safety. A sermon I heard in Boston recently answered this question for me: the dramatic change in Peter was a direct result of the Resurrection. If we truly believe that Jesus conquered death and was miraculously raised to life again, our lives will look different. In faith we will trust and boldly proclaim that death has been conquered and thus it now lacks its sting. As a popular Easter song proclaims, "the glory of God has defeated the night."

I'm not suggesting we cancel our health insurance or wander around in dark alleys unnecessarily, and I still intend to get vaccinated against meningitis before heading to Burundi, but I am considering more these days what it means to count the cost. What does it look like to follow Peter's example and disregard personal safety for the Kingdom of God as a result of belief in Jesus' resurrection?