Hidden Dangers

All dangers are not equal. Some are more dangerous than others. Hidden dangers are far more dangerous that those which are visible. This blog will focus on two dangers that are often hidden, immediacy and partiality.

There are times when immediate action is necessary and expedient. If you are sitting in your house watching a movie and suddenly realize the house is on fire, an immediate response would be wise. The problem arises when every need or even every want is treated like a housefire. If we broaden the scope of our consideration beyond housefires, there are many times when wisdom would lead us to look beyond the immediate moment before we act.

Reality unfolds in the present but until God decides otherwise there will be a future. The danger of immediacy is confining and restricting reality to the present. Nothing matters except the present. This results in a paralysis of the present where nothing matters except immediacy. This attitude translates to what could be called "The Tyranny of the Immediate." Charles Hummel coined the term "The Tyranny of the Urgent" in the 1960's. The purpose of Hummel's term was to cast light on the things that are urgent and the things that are important. Things that are urgent demand immediate attention. Things that are important often require more long-term consideration. There are more important things than urgent things in life.

There is an interesting story involving Esau and Jacob, the two sons of Issac and Rebekah, in Genesis 25:29-34. Esau was a mighty hunter and a man of the field. Jacob was a mild man, more of the indoor type. One day Esau came in from the field famished and weary. He saw a red stew that Jacob had cooked. He asked Jacob to feed him with some of the red stew. Jacob whose name means supplanter or trickster saw an opportunity, not one based on immediacy but rather one that would reward him in the future. He told Esau, "Sell me your birthright as of this day" (Genesis 25:31). Immediacy dominated Esau's response and he said, "Look, I am about to die; so what is this birthright to me" (Genesis 25:32)? Esau sold his birthright, a future, long-term consideration, for a bowl of red stew, an immediate satisfaction. Genesis 25:34 summarizes Esau's actions, "And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then he ate and drank, arose, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright."

Many of the people that I encounter in the routine of my life are commenting on the present state of our world. I fully understand and share many of their concerns. The apprehension connected to our presidential election, an attempted assassination of one of the presidential candidates, wars raging across our world, domestic issues such as immigration and inflation and natural disasters are all fuel for reasonable and responsible concern. The seriousness of all these situations we are facing is the very reason we should be extremely cautious about a response of immediacy. There are definitely immediate needs. Yet, solutions that only consider the immediate needs without any consideration to the long-term realities will only kick the can down the road or apply band aids to potentially mortal wounds. Hopefully, we have leaders who have the concern, compassion and wisdom to address both the immediate and the long-term.

When it comes to immediate and long-term, our relationship with God merits the upmost attention. Mark 8:36, 37 speaks succinctly,

"For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?"

As a follower of Christ and pastor, I am sincerely concerned about people's spiritual needs. The whole realm of spirituality is a place where it is easy to get caught up in immediacy and ignore the future that will reach into eternity. The immediate desires, often desires of the flesh, dominate life while spiritual considerations are dismissed or ignored to possibly be considered later. This is a dangerous and foolhardy approach to life.

Partiality is similar to immediacy in the sense that in life we have to give deference and make choices. In a general sense, we should be partial to the right over the wrong and good over evil. If life along with the choices we have to make could be reduced to two clear cut option without any messy complications, any future implications or complicated scenarios, a partial choice would always be in order. Everyday millions of people in our world experience anguish and desperation because partiality is not a solution. Rather than two clear-cut, unvarnished options, we are faced with numerous voices screaming to be heard and multiple, conflicting portrayals of arrogant ideology claiming absolute certainty.

What do we do to sort out the confusion and exercise a legitimate Christian response?

• The first thing we must do is to give up on the idea that choices can be reduced to a simple partiality where we choose one option over another. This does not mean we need to be receptive to any voice or influence that comes our way. Discernment is crucial.

• The second thing we should do is allow the Bible to shape and ultimate dictate our choices. The Bible is God's infallible, inerrant word. It is truth without any mixture of error. Our human understanding and limited ability to understand what it says, what it means and how we should properly respond to it and apply it to our lives does not change or diminish in any way what the Bible is. The way the Bible has been distorted and used by readers to manipulate and achieve selfish agendas has nothing to do with the inspiration of scripture and everything to do with the fallen nature of man.

• Thirdly, we need to be diligent and patient as we navigate our way through life. In the course of our lifetime, we will have to make many choices. Every choice will not prove to be the wisest or best choice. Some will bring great rewards while others will result in loss. We will rejoice in some and regret others. Following the Bible, as I alluded to above, will not eliminate all failure or disappointment but following the Bible will provide a constant compass to guide our journey. It will supply wisdom and inspiration for each step we take.

"What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: 'For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.' Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor heights nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:31-39).

I think a loud "Hallelujah" is in order. How wonderful to know that as we transverse a lifetime that sometimes has hidden dangers and still be confident that we will reach the heavenly shores triumphant. We anticipate gathering around the throne with all the redeemed and for all eternity praising the Lamb who has conquered all.

Brothers and sisters don't grow weary in well doing. Watch out for the hidden dangers, especially immediacy and partiality, but journey on! "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 15:58).