According to the latest Scientific American, “When people feel safe and secure, they become more liberal, when they feel threatened, they become more conservative.” This helps explain one reason why elderly people tend to become more conservative as they age. As we age and realize we are not as strong as we were at thirty we begin to feel vulnerable. That’s why Granny has more than one lock on her door. If what Scientific American says is true, Christians should be the most liberal people in the world. And why not? The mightiest being in the universe has promised to care for us. He is our Rock and we abide in the shadow of the Almighty. We are eternally secure. Yes, bad things could still happen to us here. But God knows and He will more than make it up to us. Another reason for Christians being liberal is Jesus’ story of the sheep and the goats where He says to the sheep, “I was hungry and you fed me. I was naked and you clothed me.” We are our brother’s keeper. If we see our enemy in need we must offer Him aid. This is Jesus’ way. Matthew 25:31.
It comes down to trust in the one who gave Himself for us. I love Romans 8 where Paul writes, “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” One of the great messages of Scripture is for us to fear not. If we really understand and believe how can we not but want to share, want others to rise to our level of comfort or rejoice if they surpass our level.
Written by Roger Bothwell on August 3, 2012
Spring of Life Ministry, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
Rogerbothwell.org