 Posted Thursday, August 28, 2003 8:07 PM
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Suffering in the Christian life is discussed in many of the books in the New Testament. Some of the reasons for suffering which were highlighted in the books specified in Acts and the Pauline Epistles can be divided into four categories. First, we may suffer for our own growth and edification. Second, we may suffer for the sake of other people. Third, we may suffer for the world's sake. Finally, we may suffer for the sake of Christ. This list of references is by no means exhaustive.
There are many reasons why suffering may benefit each individual personally. 2 Cor.1:8-9 illustrates man's need to learn to trust God.
"For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life; indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves in order that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead;"
Man cannot always understand the ways of God, and God does not always will to reveal them to him. Therefore, our belief must continue to rest on God's continued providential government in the world. He is omniscient. We must accept that His justice works, because He is just and holy. How can we question His wisdom? We must glory in that wisdom and majesty, even when we're troubled or confused and unable to comprehend His ways. Man's obvious inability to control or interfere with the course of nature, should cause man to sense his need for God's constant care. Human reason cannot grasp the depths of God's acts in heaven and on earth. Therefore, wherever there is full understanding there can be no true obedience. True obedience clearly requires acting without full understanding. Indeed, there can be no higher point in the Christian life than that wherein God is completely trusted. Man's suffering can teach him to abide in God. As man shares His life, he will learn to draw upon the strength of God. Man cannot make himself holy. Nonetheless, if he surrenders himself to the Lord, accepting the painful process and trusting that His will governs all, he will see growth in grace. God will provide conditions for man which will make man fruitful.
C.S. Lewis once said, "When we open ourselves to the workings of the only true God, we must expect the unexpected and trust the one who never relinquishes control. We must let God be God, and discover all that His providence means."
We often say we trust God, but our trust in Him is tested when difficult circumstances threaten our security. It is during these times that we wonder if God is really listening, if He really cares, if he is punishing us, or if He's too busy to notice our pain. Yet, if one really trusts God, even the most painful events will have meaning and His blessing.
Acts 14:22 points outs that suffering is a condition necessary for discipleship.
"strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and
saying, 'Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.' "
The disciples did not always understand how God was fitting together a good many things, or how a given trouble would accomplish anything. Yet, they were willing to have Him do anything He wanted with them in order that God might be glorified. They understood that the believer has no worldly rights, and that Jesus commands that man be at peace in spite of suffering. It has been said that it is a merciful Father who strips man when he needs to be stripped because He will finish that which He starts in him. Whatever loss the disciples suffered served to help them to lose hold on the visible things, in order that the invisible could become more precious. Remarkably, only faith has the power to lift one out of himself, and equip him to follow Christ in closer fellowship.
Shelley Chapin tells readers that sometimes we must accept pain and grow in its wake. She believes we must yield to God's plan even when it seems counterproductive to our own. Her personal experience has taught her that we must step out in faith even when there seems to be no light to guide the way.
2 Timothy 2:4 teaches us that suffering is required of soldiers.
" No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he
may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier."
Hannah Hurnard seems to express this notion best in her book "Hinds Feet On High Places."
"But the high places of victory and union with Christ cannot be reached by any mental reckoning of self to be dead to sin, or by seeking to devise some way or discipline by which the will can be crucified. The only way is by learning to accept, day by day, the actual conditions and tests permitted by God, by a continually repeated laying down of our own will and acceptance of His as it is presented to us in the form of people with whom we have to live and work, and in the things which happen to us. Every acceptance of His will becomes an altar of sacrifice, and every such surrender and abandonment of ourselves to His will is a means of furthering us on the way to the high places to which He desires to bring every child of His while they are still living on earth."
Suffering will qualify man for the kingdom of God as developed in 2 Thess. 1:4-5.
"therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure. This is a plain indication of God's righteous judgement so that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering."
Man must learn to hold fast to God, for in due time, he shall see him, hear him, and receive his reward. God uses affliction as a purifying test to try man in order that He may put man to further use in His kingdom. All suffering is done in light of another kingdom or another world. It gives man a new way of viewing this present darkness.
C.S. Lewis includes the advice of Thomas Moore when he discusses the kingdom of God. If we make indentures with God how much more ye will serve Him, ye shall find ye have signed both of them yourself. Law in his terrible voice, said, 'Many will be rejected at the last day, not because they have taken no time and pains about their salvation, but because they have not taken time and pains enough' ;....If you have not chosen the kingdom of God, it will make no difference what you have chosen instead.
C.S. Lewis points out that those are hard words to take. "Will it really make a difference whether it was women or patriotism, cocaine or art, whisky or a seat in the cabinet, money or science? Well, surely no difference that matters. We shall have missed the end for which we are formed and rejected the only thing that satisfies. Does it matter to a man dying in the desert, by which choice of route he missed the only well?"
2 Timothy 2:12 reminds one that man must suffer to reign with Christ.
"If we endure, we shall also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He also will deny us;"
If we suffer, He suffers. We are His body here on earth. As Jesus takes up residence in our bodies, we are afforded the privilege of helping to carry the burden He must carry. When we enter into this suffering with thanksgiving, we enter into an ever-deepening fellowship of His sufferings.
C.S. Lewis discusses the need to surrender all in order to reign with Christ.
"Christ says, Give me all. I don't want so much of your time and money and so much of your work: I want you. I have not come to torment your natural self, but to kill it....I will give you a new self instead. In fact, I will give you Myself: my own will shall become yours."
Acts 14:22 explains that our faith may be strengthened by suffering.
"strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and
saying, 'Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.' "
Experienced Christians know that trial does the Christian good. Strong winds of opposition help man to strike deeper the roots of his faith in God. Gardeners know that vines must be pruned. Only well pruned vines will produce good fruit. The life of the vine is strengthened in one part by another part being cut away. Likewise, suffering is never senseless. Jesus was honest about what man was to expect. Man would face much suffering. Man would also be hated and persecuted. Nonetheless, there is a much deeper fellowship into which the Christian who suffers may enter. It is the fellowship of Christ's suffering.
Suffering will also test and refine one's faith, as described in 1 Cor. 3:13.
"each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it, because it is to be
revealed with fire; and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work."
Trials are often called God's goldsmith's. They deepen a Christian man's divinity. The heat of the furnace is meant to purify, not to harm or destroy. Whatever the test, Jesus is able to help us meet our test. He was made like us. He had to be in order to die and break death's power. His was a surrender, not to a fate He could not avoid, but to His Father. Likewise, it is not the external circumstances themselves which enable us to reproduce the pattern of His death, but our willingness to accept the circumstances for His sake. Relinquishment is always a part of maturing.
It is indeed difficult to yield control to that which seems to be an enemy, but we must remember that death is no longer the enemy and that pain is used by God to mold and mature us, developing within us a faith that is purer than gold. (1 Peter 3:7)
Paul writes that God's power comes to its full strength in our weakness in 2 Cor. 12:9.
"And He has said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in
weakness.' Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the
power of Christ may dwell in me."
It comes as no surprise that men are all human and subject to human frailties. Furthermore, there are those who advocate escaping from suffering through drugs, divorce, abortion, suicide and the like. The truth is that if we choose to escape our trial we may never experience the power of Christ's resurrection in our weakness. Finally, to experience weakness puts us in the position of seeking another's strength. Clearly, this is the position in which man is most beneficial to God.
Ann Kiemel writes of her own suffering and the strength she now knows in a candid and humble way.
"in a way, in the last two years, i lost so much of what all my life i had worked desperately, with driven spirit to accomplish. God took it all away, to give me something better, abandonment of myself that has brought true freedom and healing.
now, with glad, reckless surrender, i have come to peace, the process of pain and testing has led me to a holiness i never before was empty enough to receive. it makes me free to love you so much better. and myself. and walk more patiently with God. no questions. no clenched fist. no stubborn will."
One must begin this journey toward growth with acceptance of suffering. We cannot grow when we refuse to accept our situation. Furthermore, we cannot mature when we despise the process God has chosen.
Finally, suffering can benefit each individual personally by producing joy and generosity within that individual, as characterized in 2 Cor. 8:2.
"that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality."
God's ultimate purpose in all suffering is joy. Scripture records songs of praise which come out of great trial repeatedly.
Christians also suffer for the sake of God's people.
It is important that we understand hope. Hope gives an eternal perspective to even our deepest sorrows. We are going home, and what we have learned and how we served God here does make a difference. Paul told the Corinthians that our bodies are merely tents, not our permanent homes, and that we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling. (2 Cor. 5:1-2)
Indeed, the whole essence of hope lies in grasping that which can never perish, spoil, or fade. We are eternally alive in Christ.
2 Timothy 2:10 reminds one that the Christian must suffer in order that the nonbeliever may obtain salvation.
"For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal joy."
The truths in this paper do not make the circumstances and pains of this world easy, but they do give purpose, meaning, and hope to our existence. We are here to give glory to God in all things and to share with a hurting world the comfort and perspective of eternity.
We also suffer in order that grace may extend to more as Paul points out in 2 Cor. 4:15.
"For all things are for your sakes, that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God."
If we view pain as a companion, we begin to look through suffering's eyes at a world which lives in pain. We begin to see what God sees and learn to care the way He cares. I have met people who have chosen this route, but their joy is undeniable. Their eyes gleam with a grateful awareness of God's love and a sense of perspective."
Hannah Hurnard shares this perspective in the following quote.
"We feel we would give anything if only we could , in actual experience, live on the high places of love and victory here on this earth and during this life- able always to react to evil, tribulation, sorrow, pain, and every wrong thing in such a way that they would be overcome and transformed into something to the praise and glory of God forever. As Christians we know, in theory at least, that in the life of a child of God there are no second causes, that even the most unjust and cruel things, as well as the seemingly pointless and undeserved sufferings, have been permitted by God as a glorious opportunity for us to react to them in such a way that our Lord and Saviour is able to produce in us, little by little, His own lovely character."
Our suffering may produce a generosity which blesses others as noted in 2 Cor. 8:2.
"that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality."
Suffering also helps one to understand what is truly significant in this world. We want to possess and conquer, trying to gain our significance from that which we can control. We imagine God's ways to be our ways, but in so doing, we miss Him.
Pain has taught me more about grace, forgiveness, love, patience, endurance, and comfort which so characterize God's nature. We learn more about who he is and what He desires. We are here to please God, honor Him, and abide by His plan. We are here to love Him and His people and give our lives for that which is truly life.
Corrie Ten Boom puts it this way,
"Side by side, in the sanctuary of God's fleas, Betsy and I ministered the Word of God to all in the room. We sat by death beds that became door ways to heaven. We watched women who had lost everything grow rich in hope. The knitters of Barracks 28 became the praying heart of the vast diseased body that was Ravenshruck, interceding for all in the camp-guards, under Betsy's prodding, as well as prisoners. We prayed beyond the concrete walls for the healing of Germany, of Europe, of the world- as mama had once done from the prison of a crippled body."
Third, suffering in the life of the Christian is beneficial for the world.
2 Cor. 4:10 points out that the life of Jesus may be visible in ordinary human flesh.
"always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our mortal flesh."
In conclusion, we suffer for the sake of Christ.
The following passages make this evident to the believer.
"for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name's sake." (Acts 9:16)
"And indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." (2 Tim.
3:12)
"You also became imitators of us and the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit," (1 Thes 1:6)
"For indeed when we were with you, we kept telling you in advance that we were going to suffer affliction; and so it came to pass, as you know." (1 Thes 3:4)
"Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, or of me His prisoner; but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God." (2 Tim 1:8)
"For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison." (2 Cor 4: 17)
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Posted Friday, August 29, 2003 6:32 AM
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Whoever posted the, "Suffering in the Christian life-----," thank you so much for that. I have printed it off and will use it for a long time. Wonderful material and I plan to share with my spouse, children and save for my grandson! Although I am almost 66, I am a fairly new Christian and appreciate what I have just learned from your post.
Temperance
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Posted Friday, August 29, 2003 9:05 AM
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Dear Scientist,
Thanks for the information on Stephens ministries!
I've somehow overlooked it until today, but I'll certainly follow up.
I didn't actually belong to a church since I had left CS, needed a break to just concentrate on bible studies and some time ago started attending several churches in my area. Just short-listed two of them and, praying, get a decent push to one of them. Have contacted the pastor of that church regarding membership and, well, then take things up with him from there.
God bless you!
Marion
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Posted Friday, August 29, 2003 6:38 PM
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Thank you and my wife wrote the article on Christian suffering and I thought it was quite good also.
A Scientist
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Posted Saturday, April 23, 2005 11:35 AM
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Has anyone noticed that Spirituality.com eliminated their discussion boards?
As part of the site reconfiguration, the discussion boards have been taken down. We truly appreciate the support and enthusiasm you've shown for the discussions. As always, you're welcome to share your thoughts about articles by using the "Send feedback to the staff" link at the end of each one.
Anyone know when or why that happened?
Do Go Be Man
<><
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Posted Monday, April 25, 2005 1:16 AM
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Do go,
I've noticed it last week, no idea how long that has been.
Marion
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Posted Tuesday, May 03, 2005 4:59 PM
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TMCL is pretty plugged in. Can you help us out here, buddy?
(PS--I'm in a big secular research on another matter, so give me a little time to validate Dates & Bittemore (ulp!). Maybe I should have said that Bates was fervent in his belief in CS, but critically separated the flaws of the "Discoverer" from the end-product. Fascinating how some people can be so objective, and yet stubbornly close their eyes at a certain point. But let's not get into that on this thread!
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Posted Tuesday, May 03, 2005 6:11 PM
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followingHim,
Ernest Sutherland Bates was not even a Christian Scientist!
Regarding spirituality.com, I have little interest in it. I've only glanced at its home page a couple of times, and never looked at the discussion boards. I heard that the discussion boards were discontinued, but I don't know why.
tmcl
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Posted Monday, May 19, 2008 6:58 AM
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