Safe Spaces

There is a lot of talk about safe spaces today.

At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, "Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you." He said to them, "Go and tell that fox for me, 'Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work. Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.' Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you. And I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, 'Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.'" - Luke 13:31-35

Jesus knew the safest space for him was outside the city of Jerusalem.

Inside the walls of the sacred city, is a trap for him. What they claim to be a safe place for all who are faithful is actually a danger for Jesus.

Jesus talks about this when he says that loving those who love us is no different from what criminals do.

But we do it all the time, don't we? Don't we make sure the space we create is safe for those we want to be there?

But what about everyone else?

By definition, safe spaces are exclusionary. Someone has to be excluded, left out, the ones we fear.

Jesus' advice seems to be to stay away from the unsafe spaces until you are ready to face the consequences of going there.

That's good advice, isn't it?

But how do we know what spaces are unsafe?

The only way to truly know is to go there and find out. But that could be dangerous.

More to come...