“Our failure to teach a biblical theology of suffering leaves Christians unprepared for harsh realities…” Randy Alcorn… Founder and Director of Eternal Perspective Ministries. This was a statement made recently by Randy on his Facebook page.
Why is this “failure” occurring in our churches today? Why does it seem Christians avoid the topic and many times the experience of suffering? Why do Christians seem to avoid suffering at all costs?
- A life long friend had breast cancer and chose a double mastectomy without reconstruction. She told me that many of her friends counseled her to have the reconstruction so she would get back to “normal”. They did not want her to experience what they perceived to be the shame and suffering her decision might bring.
- Last year before my heart transplant my wife and I were completely prepared for me to die. In fact, we were more prepared for my death than my getting a new heart. Yet, when we would express these beliefs to friends you could almost see them cringe with discomfort. This cringe was usually followed by a well meaning attempt reduce the suffering we were encountering and would face in the future.
- A form pastor confessed he prayed for years that his young boys would not experience suffering and that their life would be free of distress. He told me with tears in his eyes that he had recently come to understand his prayer of protection from suffering was short sighted. He came to believe that in order for his son’s to experience the fullness of God’s grace and mercy they would have to experience suffering.
There is an alternate “theology” to suffering today and it is the “theology” of peace, pleasure, well being, wealth and health. This “theology” is penetrating society and the church. I am not speaking about the wealth and prosperity theology found in some churches but rather the wide spread thinking that life should not include suffering.
- We are taught ways to avoid suffering, ways to achieve wealth, peace, pleasure and health.
- We even envy the person who’s life seems to be characterized by the lack of problems.
- I have found many people are surprised and angered by suffering when they encounter it. Sometimes the anger is easily traced to be anger toward God and His failure to prevent the suffering.
- We feel sad and pray for those who suffer. We are privately glad we do not have their lot in life. Sometimes our prayers are for their suffering to cease.
Yet, suffering well brings about sanctification, personal growth, closeness to Christ and an unshakable belief of God’s sovereignty and goodness.
For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 1 Peter 2:21 EVS As we follow Christ’s sacrifice on the cross into eternal life we are to follow Christ’s example in suffering. We are called to suffering?
In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will Eph 1:11 EVS How could a sovereign, loving God include in His predestination and the counsel of His will allow suffering?
Suffering well brings about our sanctification and God’s Glory. Embrace it? Next…
This is well written perspective on suffering from an author who knows what it means to suffer – both Peter and you. I agree with you Dave that we stay away from suffering, we’d rather deny it, move away from suffering, and look to alleviate it as quickly as possible. One perspective on suffering I think is interesting is when volunteers are asked to step into a bucket of cold, cold water by themselves, they stay in the water about 1/2 as long as those volunteers who can have someone merely standing beside them – not even talking – just having someone near. This experiment on cold water “suffering” is a great reminder that when people are suffering, sometimes, just being there with them helps them endure the suffering immensely.
David,
Thank you for starting your blog. I am in agreement with what you wrote on suffering- I read the following in my devotions the other day:
A lesson from nature reveals what happens when we trade the good fight for an easier way and walk away from our struggle. I recently read a biologist’s study on crabs, creatures that live in a rough, dangerous environment among jagged rocks. Crabs are dashed about daily by waves and attacked on every side by creatures from deeper waters. They battle continually to protect themselves, and over time they develop a strong shell and powerful instincts for survival.
Amazingly, some in the crab family give up the struggle for life. Searching for a safe haven, they take up residence in the cast-off shells of other ocean creature. These crabs are known as hermit crabs. Settling for safety, they retreat from the battle and escape into secondhand houses that are ready-made.
But hermit crabs’ “safe houses” prove to be costly and ruinous. Through their lack of struggle, crucial parts of their bodies deteriorate. Even their organs wither due to lack of use. Over time the hermit crab loses all power of motion, as well as vital parts needed for escape. These limbs simply fall off, leaving the crab out of danger but useless to do anything except exist.
Meanwhile, crabs that continued the struggle grow and flourish. Their five pairs of legs become meaty and strong from resisting the powerful tides. And they learn to hide from their predators by skillfully scuttling under rock formations.
This law of nature, too, illustrates the law of the Spirit. As believers, we get tossed and pounded by wave after wave of difficulties. We face vicious predators in Satan’s principalities and powers. But as we fight on, we grow stronger. And we come to recognize the devil’s wiles when he employs them against us. We discover our true refuge, the “cleft in the rock,” by trusting in Jesus. Only then are we truly safe in the midst of our battle.
David I will look forward to reading the blogs to come, I have always appreciated listening to what you have to say and learning from you.
This is so true. A great book that has really helped me with my perspective on suffering is – “A Path Through Suffering” by Elisabeth Elliot.
I observe that the pre-modern Christians wrote from quite a different perspective than do we: Here is a prayer from The Book of Common Prayer, “For the Sanctification of Illness:”
“Sanctify, O Lord, the sickness of your servant that the sense of his weakness may add strength to his faith and seriousness to his repentance; and grant that he may live with you in everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”
Sanctification?
Repentance?
Seriousness?
Hmmm…was Bonhoeffer correct in his book, “The Cost of Discipleship?” –That we live in an age of easy-believeism. Bonhoeffer says that Christ calls us to follow him and to die: to self, to this world, etc.
In reading your blog on suffering the scripture that came to mind of Jesus words to the suffering John The Baptist:
Matt 11:6: “Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me”.
Sometimes we assume that The Lord is going to bail us out of suffering as long as we trust in Jesus and when it doesn’t happen, we walk away. Jesus says that he who doesn’t is blessed. Amen. God’s ways are not our ways, even Jesus knew that.
David – what a marvelous article on suffering! In fact, this is the very subject that I am attempting to write a book on – with way too many chapters to go yet before completion. I love your words “suffering well” and “embrace”. Suffering certainly is something that someone does not desire, but when faced with it . . . whether it be physical, emotional, mental or spiritual suffering . . . one can only come closer in finding and then RECEIVING all that God has for them. It is in those times of suffering that one draws near in faith and comes to fully trust and rest upon God’s grace, mercy, strength, comfort, hope and healing power. One becomes more focused on the goodness and sovereignty of God – who He is and what He says that you are as His child. Yes, it is true that God wants us to embrace life and enjoy it abundantly. Yet, perhaps part of the embracing and the abundance can only be found through suffering. May sound strange to far too many, but those who have “suffered well” have come to realize the truth in this. Romans 8:28 “ALL things work together for good, to them who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose.” Suffering in some ways could be likened to a gift – in that when one RECEIVES all that there can be in it – they will reap the rewards of total surrender to God and see first hand His faithfulness and healing power. It is really that simple – and sometimes the simpliest things in life are the most difficult to grasp hold of, much less receive. A good example is our salvation. SIMPLY TRUST in Jesus Christ ALONE for your salvation. David, I look forward to more of your articles. Blessings to you and Sharon, Martha