;)
Why Suffering Is Necessary
Posted by Chris Johnson in Bible & Theology, Church & Missions
The thought of suffering for Christ may be a foreign concept in the minds of the present day Christian as well as the past few generations …at least; where the absence of the expectation for suffering reveals a lack of love for Christ and His Church. The reason for this increasing lack of understanding among the contemporary generation stems from the lack of living out the doctrinal substance of suffering,… since most believers merely explore religion in this age of opulence and programming for easy salvation. It is not a mystery though, and of relative no surprise why the youth in our day are abandoning their understanding of the church. They have been taught by a generation of leaders to run from suffering, without any embrace for persecution, where more often it is more profitable to shun suffering and steer clear of needed trials. Especially, if there are other things that can be defined as more pleasing and palatable in the growing array of new religious activity. Yet, the question still looms,…. Is suffering a reality of Christ’s call to His children? He tells us it is… Should we trust Him?
Suffering: Fact or Fiction
Power, love and discipline accompany much suffering among the Saints. But, do we teach suffering as an expectation. Do our sons and daughters see the profit of suffering? It is abundantly clear these days that suffering is not a well known experience among our generation. If it is experienced,…suffering is typically realized as something to avoid instead of something that is embraced.
This reality is seen quite clearly in most church settings these days. In many venues the younger generation passionately lives out an entirely separate life from the body, learning less about suffering and more about selfish desires. If young folks think it is “suffering” to endure the fellowship with their parents, as compared to a high energy night of sensory impulses in another building, then they simply misunderstand suffering for the Saints and need to learn a different doctrine. The Apostle Paul on the other hand demands that we live in fellowship with the body,…where suffering for the body is a healthy endeavor. Paul embraces the fact of suffering, and his goal is to explain why suffering and trials lead to joy. If we do the same, and teach these same principles, the glory of the church will be experienced in the midst of the youth and young adults. And this will only happen as they see this same wisdom lived out by those leading and teaching this great truth.
2 Timothy 1:7-14 For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline. (8) 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, (9) who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, (10) but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, (11) for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher. (12) For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day. (13) Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. (14) Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you.
How many times are you encouraged to suffer for the gospel? Are your sons and daughters encouraged to “join” their brothers and sisters and parents in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God…or do you give out a more glossy approach to ministry, never revealing the real cost of taking up a cross?
Suffering is a fact. Teaching the fact of suffering will bring benefit to your children. As for now,…suffering is more of a fiction in our churches. Why? Because leaders and teachers find it unappealing to teach suffering as a fact of the cross …. And that unappealing omission only crushes the hearts of the young or immature Christ followers as they begin to face the reality of suffering before the gaze of a sinful and dying world.
-
Three Encouragements for the Church
Never Apologize for Suffering
Don’t mistake or confuse the “feeling” of doom and gloom with suffering. Suffering is a positive acclamation of a known victory. Some folks like to put on the gloomy face or they like to moan a bit to signal their suffering for Christ. Many a Pastor has claimed woe is me,…I am not paid enough,…If only I had members like yours….I am not appreciated enough,…I am not ____________(you fill in the blank of the selfish desire). That is not suffering! That type of behavior is not even close. All of that kind of bleating stem from fear and selfishness,…but, we are confident that such has not been received from God. The Spirit testifies much differently than our flesh. It is a mistake to apologize for suffering. If you express regret for suffering or reveal false suffering,…all of your followers will too.
Romans 8:14-18 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. (15) For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” (16) The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, (17) and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. (18) For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
Embrace Suffering as from God
Get a grip on suffering. Be prepared to suffer as a privilege in the activity of teaching and preaching the gospel. Count it all joy as you share the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ in the world. What a sweet smelling savor it truly is. Do your sons and daughters understand it is a joy and a sweet smelling savor to suffer for Christ, or do they only hear you grown about the privilege? Most of the rejoicing we see these days seem to only be evident in conventions, conferences, or marriage workshop weekends. When is the last time you and your family rejoiced after being thrown out of someone’s house when explaining the gospel of God? Learn to teach the Saints how to embrace suffering as from God!
Act 5:37-42 “After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census and drew away some people after him; he too perished, and all those who followed him were scattered. (38) “So in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or action is of men, it will be overthrown; (39) but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God.” (40) They took his advice; and after calling the apostles in, they flogged them and ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them. (41) So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name. (42) And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.
Realize That Christ Builds His Church through Suffering
The Apostle Paul and the Apostle Peter give us excellent instruction concerning the building up of the body through suffering. How many times have you wondered why a certain man or woman that you always have trouble with has to be in the church? I mean…wouldn’t the church be much better off without them? Or, at least you would. But if we conduct ourselves according the gospel, we are compelled to understand suffering. Even our opponents will understand the intent of God in “our oneness” when we are “in no way alarmed” by them (our opponents),…but willing to suffer for one another in Christ’s church. We have been granted a great privilege…. A privilege to suffer for one another and for Christ’s sake. So, do your sons and daughters see and hear your distain for some members of Christ’s church and your unwillingness to suffer for them? Do you teach them the benefit and wonder of suffering for one another? Realize the value of Christ and His church!
Philippians 1:27-30 Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; (28) in no way alarmed by your opponents–which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God. (29) For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, (30) experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me.
1 Corinthians 12:20-27 But now there are many members, but one body. (21) And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” (22) On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; (23) and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, (24) whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, (25) so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. (26) And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. (27) Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.
1 Peter 3:17-20 For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong. (18) For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; (19) in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, (20) who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water.
Never apologize for suffering,… embrace it, ….teach it,….and realize the fact and value of suffering. ….. “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, (17) and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.” What a glorious reality!
Blessings,
Chris
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
A hearty “Amen!” May I be ready for the privilege of sharing in His sufferings.
Not quite the message comfortable American, Christians or atheists, want to hear. Well done.
Andrew and Rick,
If only more men and women that affiliate with the SBC took the approach of teaching suffering as a fact,…I believe we would see a marked difference in how theology is approached.
Rick, your comment brings out yet another angle as well. Atheist and other opponents of the gospel would get the picture much more clearly from the SBC if she understood this doctrine. It appears to me these days that atheists and the like are ever more comfortable with those in the SBC….and our youth and young adults because of our teachers in the church seem to like it that way. It makes the SBC seem like a kinder, gentler group of fundamentalists.
-Chris
Chris,
I don’t have much to add, and I do have much to learn regarding what you have written here. Thanks for helping us to reflect on what the Word of God really teaches on this important topic.
Chris,
That was enjoyable to read, believe it or not. The hearing of the truth is most pleasing even though the truth has that discomfort sting that we need.
I told my Sunday School class that praying for patience is similar to praying for strength, too. When we pray for patience we can expect tribulation since tribulation brings forth patience. Our lesson that Sunday encouraged us to pray for strength and I took them to 2 Corinthians 12:10 “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” I told them that by praying for strength they would be praying for suffering because the flesh must be abased in order for the power of God to rest upon us. If we do not suffer then there is too much flesh remaining in our walk, in our service and in our ministry and that gets in the way of Christ revealing Himself through us. May we rejoice in our sufferings.
Timely post. Thanks, Chris.
Brother Bruce,
You taught your folks well. The Apostle Paul echoes this teaching concerning the normal life of suffering that accompanies a believer throughout his epistles. How have we come to believe anything different?
Suffering for and with our brothers and sisters in Christ….really will demonstrate that we do love them, and even more than that….that we understand the love of the Father for them in the context of His Son’s Church.
There is a great deal of poor ecclesiology that has emerged from the lack of suffering in the church.
Blessings,
Chris
Serious students of Suffering and the Way of the Cross I’m convinced will explore Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the biography of him coming out next fall by Charles Marsh.
For starters they can acquaint themselves with Marsh’s sublime lecture from Berlin in March of 2010, earlier this year, easily googled.
Martin King, Oscar Romero, Dorothy Day, Beyers Naude; folks whose story you seldom learn of in the Sunday Schools of the BFM 2000 branch of the Southern Baptist Convention.
Explore Bonhoeffer, then explore the story of Fannie Lou Hamer as told by Charles Marsh. Explore the witness of Will Campbell and Martin England, grand Baptists whose later years overlapped with many of us.
Grand examples of the blog study here. Love to hear a report of how many of you are familiar with these folks.