As a pastor, I've had to grapple with this question many times in my ministry. When love is at stake, we're often faced with a difficult choice between safety and freedom. On one hand, we want to protect the ones we love from harm, to shield them from the dangers that lurk in the world. But on the other hand, we also want to give them the freedom to make their own choices, to live their own lives, and to experience the world in all its beauty and complexity.
The Bible teaches us that love is not opposed to justice, but rather, it is a fundamental aspect of justice. When we love someone, we want to protect them, to care for them, and to give them the freedom to live as God intended. This means that we must strike a balance between safety and freedom, between protection and empowerment. As a father, I want to protect my children, Joshua and Rebecca, from harm, but I also want to give them the freedom to make their own choices, to learn from their mistakes, and to grow into the people God has called them to be.
Ultimately, the choice between safety and freedom is not a zero-sum game. When we love someone, we are not forced to choose between these two competing values. Instead, we can choose to love in a way that is both safe and free, that protects and empowers, that cares and gives. This is the kind of love that Christ models for us, a love that is willing to give itself up for others, even in the face of danger and uncertainty. As I reflect on this question, I am reminded of the words of 1 Corinthians 13: "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."