Hiding Behind God

One of my favorite sayings that Christians have is something to the effect of, "God made it known to me that I shouldn't be doing this or doing that".   I went to a small Christian college and BOY! was this an AWESOME tool for us to use when breaking up with each other, navigating old friendships, and making life choices.  I mean who can really argue if GOD says so?!?!  
           I always chuckled when I would hear my peers using this.  I'd chuckle because in some instances it was plain as day that they were hiding behind God.  I chuckled all the way until the day that I used that sentence in a breakup.  I didn't laugh at the irony in that.  In a smart game of chess you gotta use your best play sometimes and sometimes in life the best play is God.  We take comfort in the excuse that God provides.  When we invoke His name there is this loud clap of thunder that no one wants to challenge or play with! It's such a sound excuse for a solid Christian.  Rarely, if ever, will someone challenge what you interpret is the voice of God in your life.  
           So here we are; allowed to hide behind the almighty shadow and safe net ourselves in fear.   Because truly, it has to be fear that keeps us from being honest with ourselves and others.  Truly, it has to be fear that holds us back from stepping off a ledge with an unknown landing.  But isn't that faith?! 

            Faith says, "I don't see the bottom but I know the risks and I will jump anyway".  Faith says,  "I'm scared, but I trust you won't let me parish".  God says, "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love". - 1 John 4:18      The good and wonderful news is that God loves us with that perfect love! Only God can love us with that perfect love and through each other in community with that perfect love.  And so it is....our charge is this...do not use God as your mask to hide behind fear.  Do not allow yourself to be disingenuous with each other because God seems like a good excuse.  We aren't called to be fearful but to be a light for boldness, love, honesty, respect, and faith.   

You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. 14"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; 15nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.…   - Matthew 5:13-15

Don't be the shy follower in the shadow of God but rather be the light on the lampstand and tread bolding where God calls you.