Part 8 - Safety Nets

I want to jump out here for a moment and talk about the concept of “safety nets”. What I mean is that we’re talking about some really radical stuff here – a way of living that really goes against the norm and is to a certain extent not part of any model that we see operating in the church. Effectively, we’re talking about taking some principles that were laid down a long time ago and getting them back on the road again, and so we’re having to “re-blaze” a trail that has become overgrown and infrequently travelled for some time.

There are risks associated with doing this, not the least of which is that we could get it wrong and end up following something that really isn’t scriptural – and that scares me to death.

Fortunately, and unsurprisingly, God looked ahead and knew that we might face this situation, which is why He established the principle of the safety net.

1 Thessalonians 5:19-21 Do not quench (suppress or subdue) the [Holy] Spirit; do not spurn the gifts and utterances of the prophets [do not depreciate prophetic revelations nor despise inspired instruction or exhortation or warning]. But test and prove all things [until you can recognize] what is good; [to that] hold fast.

We are not supposed to take things on face value. Testing what is being said and done is part of what we should be doing to make sure that it’s right.

The safety net involves being accountable and open to others that we trust to give us a nudge when we go off the track, but we also need to be highly self-critical.

Galatians 6:2-5 Bear (endure, carry) one another's burdens and troublesome moral faults, and in this way fulfill and observe perfectly the law of Christ (the Messiah) and complete what is lacking [in your obedience to it]. For if any person thinks himself to be somebody [too important to condescend to shoulder another's load] when he is nobody [of superiority except in his own estimation], he deceives and deludes and cheats himself. But let every person carefully scrutinize and examine and test his own conduct and his own work. He can then have the personal satisfaction and joy of doing something commendable [in itself alone] without [resorting to] boastful comparison with his neighbor. For every person will have to bear (be equal to understanding and calmly receive) his own [little] load [of oppressive faults].

2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine and test and evaluate your own selves to see whether you are holding to your faith and showing the proper fruits of it. Test and prove yourselves [not Christ]. Do you not yourselves realize and know [thoroughly by an ever-increasing experience] that Jesus Christ is in you--unless you are [counterfeits] disapproved on trial and rejected?

Paraphrased, we’ve all got issues and we’re got to help ourselves and each other through this stuff - we have a responsibility to do this.

Accountability = transparency

Being transparent is a hard thing for most people. I personally don’t like admitting to everyone that I have faults, or that I have got it wrong, or that I have caused some problem and I need to “come clean”.

I don’t think the intention is that we have to tell everyone that we’ve made mistakes – that would simply not be helpful, and may in fact present a stumbling block to some.

I do think however that God is establishing an order in the church, and identifying people that are exhibiting God’s characteristics and attitudes, and it is these people that we can turn to for support and safety. I am not suggesting that we lean on these people instead of God – what I am saying is that God sets us people and works through them to provide a “covering” – they are people we can be accountable to and transparent with because they command (not demand) trust and confidence.

We’re trying to push the boundaries of spiritual experience here – we need to make sure we keep an eye on one another as we start swimming in deeper water.

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