An Abundance of Caution

(Note the Warning)

The world has become increasingly perplexing.

I’m sitting here with a cup of coffee at McChurch—McDonald’s—thinking about a conversation I recently had with a fellow believer. She said, “We need to show an abundance of caution in all things.”

That phrase immediately took me back to the pandemic years, when “out of an abundance of caution” became a cultural refrain. Many of us noticed that precautions initially framed as temporary or commonsense gradually became expected—sometimes without much reflection.

Once the cultural zeitgeist was established, compliance became the norm.

And that’s where I find myself stuck.

As an old-school pilgrim, I try to live in the world guided by an abundance of common sense, not an abundance of caution. Common sense keeps me grounded in reality. An excess of caution, on the other hand, can slide toward fear—or even neurosis.

Perhaps one’s orientation toward earthly matters means little to God.

But here’s the concern that won’t let go of me.

If I approach the world either through caution or common sense, shouldn’t I approach God the same way?

After all, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10).

If God’s Word is clear about sin, then out of an abundance of caution, shouldn’t I defer to His good judgment? That seems like common sense to me.

And yet, I notice something troubling.

Why is it that some who insist on an abundance of caution in worldly matters suddenly adopt an “it’s all relative” posture when it comes to biblical matters—especially sin and repentance?

That shift feels dangerous when applied to one’s own life.
It feels potentially damning when blatant sin is affirmed or encouraged in the lives of others.

If I support lifestyles that run counter to God’s Word but align neatly with cultural norms, am I “causing one of these little ones to sin”?

If so, Luke 17:2 leaves little ambiguity about the seriousness of that responsibility.

Out of an abundance of caution, I think I’ll continue to defer to God’s Word.

How about you?