“Come suffer with us!” Maybe that should be what we advertise on our church signs. It would be more honest than much of what we see out there.
The New Testament makes it clear that suffering is part of the Christian life. It may not be the part that we like to talk about, but it’s an integral part of who we are.
Jesus said, “In the world you will have tribulation.” (John 16:33) That’s pretty clear. When Paul and Barnabas went around encouraging new Christians, they told them: “through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” (Acts 14:22)
It’s pretty straightforward. Still, we get surprised when bad things happen to good people. We ask “Why me?” “Why them?” and “Why that?” There are dozens of passages that say that Christians will suffer. Hard times aren’t a sign of God’s disfavor. Paul wrote to the Corinthians: “Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.” (2 Corinthians 1:7) He told the Romans: “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.” (Romans 8:16-17)
Suffering isn’t fun. But it’s definitely part of the Christian life
Now, lets be “Honest” about this, you mean when you suffer pain and sorrow, just like everyone else, it has nothing to do with whether or not you are a “Good Christian” ? :)
Nope — not quite. Christians should be dealing not only with the normal day-to-day pains and sorrows of life in a broken world, but also the very specific and uncommon pains and sorrows of being a combatant in a war against the gates of hell.
Can I just say,”Amen?”
The questions of “why” and feeling of anger and disappointment, especially towards God, are natural because no matter how much we might accept the possibility of suffering at some point in our like, nothing can prepare us for that moment when we do begin to suffer deeply. With that being said, it is my opinion (based on theological reflection and my own personal experience of deep suffering) that we live in a culture that wants to euthenize (believing it can) any and all pain derived from suffering. We think we need to fix everything. Just look how quickly we the nation as a whole turned from deep grief to “what can we do to fix this” after 9/11. Why is this? While there might be a number of reasons, I believe that by avoiding the seat of suffer by all means allows us to live under the allusion that we are still in control of our life, that God is really no more than a deistic deity, and that we don’t need to actually hope (and not just give lip service too) for redemption beyond this broken life.
Grace and peace,
Rex
laymond, I think I get what you are saying.
but also consider that many people think they shouldn’t have to suffer the things that others do just because they are a Christian.
Brian, to be “honest” my first comment was kinda “tongue in cheek”
“Honest Church of Christ”
No the Blood of Christ don’t protect us from (pain and suffering) as the blood on the door protected those of Moses time. That said I don’t see being a Christian as a burden, I see it as a privilege, a gift from God. Even if I do have a toothache now and then.
Nick, I think we should take those orders from the high command, as a pleasure, not something to dread and suffer from. Ware the uniform proudly. But to each his own.
Thanks to all for the comments. I’d tweak Nick’s comment to read “gates of Hades” and not “gates of hell,” but that’s getting picky. :-) You can’t get some people out of the KJV.
Tim,
I wish every church were this honest. There are so many hurting believers. At our congregation we have single mothers, addicts, alcholics, divorcee’s, those who have been physically and sexually abused, those who are in marriages that are abusive, we have women who’s husbands who are in jail and prision. We suffer together. I love the church I am at know because of the loving and caring attitude that everyone has for each other. Every Sunday we have countless repsonses for prayers for healing in everyway you can imagine. The elder pray over them and it is a supernatural experience for all in attendance as we share their burden with them. I wish the world and new believers would understand that just because you are Christians doesn’t mean that life is great, easy and perfect. Just the opposite. Yet we rejoice in our trials! My prayer Tim is that we will be honest to ourselves as believers and to the world that do suffer…Yet we have a Savior who suffers with us. He joins us on the ash heaps of life.
Hello Tim,
As I read your post, I think about the different kinds of suffering one can go through. Not sure how to label suffering but one is sickness of the body and of mind and the other is persecution for the sake of Jesus. As you know, Joey is dealing with cancer and we in our minds are dealing with all that comes with our child’s condition. And it’s so true what Rex said, “nothing can prepare us for that moment when we do begin to suffer deeply”. At times I feel lost, stuck in a hotel room most of the day looking at the beautiful day but unable to enjoy since my son feels sick and wants to stay indoors, even when we go through the ordeal, arguments within family occur about decisions, frustration occurs, duties are calling and who wants to fulfill them, all kinds of worry at the slightest headache …you get the picture. And then I look at what Paul says in the verses you quoted, and that kind was: tribulation, affliction, being hard-pressed, troubled and his experienced was because of his allegiance to the gospel.
Whatever kind of suffering we go through I have realized its to make us rely on God and to further his plan. Difficult experiences forces us to look internally rather than externally and as we receive comfort from God we have the experience to help others in their time of need.
Thanks Kinney and Bob. I know that each of you has been through a lot. It’s always risky to talk about suffering because it’s easy to come off somewhat flippant. That is, if I’m not going through a time of suffering, it’s easy to say, “Let’s just accept it as normal.” We need the voices of those who have gone through deep suffering or are in the midst of such suffering.
Blessings on you both.
Grace and peace,
Tim Archer
Life on planet earth equals pain and suffering…our walk with Jesus helps us pull through it. I have met some “heartless Christians” who blow off pain and suffering and preach to those enduring it, telling them they need to get over it and move on. I have a special love and care for those in pain, had a few dark days myself and never do I want to face them alone.
One can have all the right answers and right doctrines, but when it comes to pain and suffering all that matters to most is the presence of love and care from Jesus and then from others in their lives. How dare we “preach” to those in pain!!…Those who are among the heartless, I will morn with you the day your eyes are opened…..love…
Trent
(I apologize for perhaps the “soapbox” seen in my comment, but I have seen a lot of ridiculous actions done toward those in pain lately, I truly mean it out of pure love)
Both Kinney and Bob point out what is so true, deep suffering comes in many forms. Plus Bob also recognize that often when deep suffering occurs, the suffer often extends beyond the one form (i.e., sickness, abuse, etc..) of suffering. Suffering seems to calculate, causing trouble in other parts of our lives. Why do 50% of the couples who have lost a child under the age of 18 divorce in a year? It is bad enough to lose a child but then to lose each other…suffering calculates, one wall comes tumbling down then the next seems to follow.
As far as helping those who suffer…obviously I believe God is the foundation they need but I also believe the church (believing people…not programs) must become the walls of support for them. This begins not by the church always pretending that everyone has had a joyous week and is ready to “praise” God. Instead, it means creating spaces for those who mourn and grieve alongside of those who are full of praise and thankgiving. Biblically speaking, this means restore a place for lament among our worship and fellowship, a place for the church to bear the burdens of those who cannot bear their own. Without such a place in the church, the church only becomes part of that calculated suffering and I am pretty convicted that Jesus did not intend his church to be that but the former.
Grace and peace,
Rex
P.S., Thanks for the good post Tim!
Rex, great point in your last paragraph. Thanks for the observation!
Great post Tim!!
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i usually make the distinction between suffering for Christ and suffering because of this fallen world, but I think there is some grey area.
If Satan is prowling around, if he can touch our body and make us physically sick ( Job), some of the things that might seem random, could really be an attack from Satan, and he will definitely use whatever happens to attempt to pull us away from God.
Whether a disease come directly from Satan or from chemicals, there is a spiritual component.
Tim,
i can’t get the “subscribe by email” link to work. i’d love to read this blog regularly, i forget to look at blogs that i can’t subscribe to directly.
help please?
–Guy