The Lost Principle of Suffering
Sep 1st, 2009 by Steve Highlander
It is an understatement to say that for millions of Christians the modern American version of Christianity is a gospel of personal comfort, if not prosperity. Capitalism and politics have slowly been integrated into the evangelical gospel message to the point we can’t separate them anymore. In light of the “God loves me and wants me to be happy” gospel, the question begs to be asked: “What about the concept of living sacrificial lives for the sake of the Kingdom of God?” The reality is God loves you and wants you to be holy.” Your happiness is of secondary concern to God.
At least a few people just clicked off to another web site because I slew their sacred cow of personal comfort and convenience. If you’ve read this far I commend you. I encourage you to read on.
Earlier this year God instructed me to become involved with Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) a Christian organization dedicated to helping persecuted Christians around the world by informing Christians and getting them involved and by providing direct support: emotionally, physically and spiritually to Christians who have been wounded, had family members murdered or lost homes and property to severe persecution. I highly recommend you check out this ministry for your own sake, as well as participating in the suffering of Christ around the world. They have several free resources you can request. http://www.persecution.com/, More on VOM in a future blog.
Honestly, participating in VOM has shaken me somewhat. I am forced to remember that as Americans we have many freedoms and privileges afforded us through our constitution (for which I am thankkful). For most of us, the idea of suffering involves the temporary loss of some comfort or convenience. When I read of the accounts of Christians in Viet Nam or Iran or Pakistan (the Bible is illegal in 57 countries) being murdered or maimed and their property stolen and houses burned (without any legal protection) it makes me wonder if the American version of Church and the gospel would make much of an impact over there.
We might tritely claim that if we were there it wouldn’t happen to us because of our faith. Do we really think these people have no faith? If that is so how come Christian evangelists continue going into areas where they are repeatedly beaten and persecuted. How come widows continue to believe in God after having watched their husbands hacked to death and perhaps a child maimed. A young evangelist in Pakistan was recently asked how many times he went into a certain Muslim area to witness. He counted on his fingers and answered. Then he was asked how many times he had been persecuted and suffered beatings there. Once again he counted on his fingers, then said with a smile, “only 1/2 as many times I as I have gone.”
To much of the Christian world the Americanized version of the gospel just wouldn’t make sense nor ring true. If you get a bunch of preachers together in America, you will ultimately be asked, “well, how many people are there in your church?” This is the litmus test of success comparison. Our validity as ministers often hinge on the size of our church. You can tell because those with smaller churches will say something like, “Well we have 120 on the membership roles.” (Meaning about 40 show up every week.) However in China when leaders get together they ultimately ask, “how many times have you been in prison for preaching the gospel?” There is a a bit of a different viewpoint on what successful ministries all all about.
The bottom line is this: The gospel of comfort is not the gospel of the Bible. I am concerned for American Christians because I see the tide turning economically and spiritually. I am not at all sure the American church is ready to survive, let alone thrive in days ahead. Yet it was just this environment that was the seedbed of early Chrsitianity. They turned the world upside down in the midst of a pagan culture with a government that was hostile to them.
Too many people have made comfort their god and convenience their message. It is time the Church of Jesus Christ returned to a Biblical message of living for the kingdom, making personal sacrifices (beyond a bit of inconvenience) and commit to walk with God come what may. Jesus said, “If you suffer with me, you will also reign with me.”
As a pastor and counselor I have seen way too many people get mad at God and turn away because they didn’t get something they wanted. They are the “seeds sown on stony ground” Christians (Matthew 13). Christians that are shallow and have no depth; no root. Their Christianity is self-centered and self-serving. Jesus said of these Christians, “for when tribulation (difficulties) or persecution arises for the Word’s sake, they wither and die.” If it isn’t comfortable they are not interested. If it doesn’t somehow enrich their overall life they are not interested. If it is not convenient they are not interested. If the costs outweigh the personal benefits they are not interested.
I am wholeheartedly committed to the concept of spiritual reformation in the Church. One thing that must be reformed is the message being preached. It is not one of doom and gloom, it is one of standing strong for the sake of the Kingdom, serving God and reaching a lost generation with the life-changing message of Jesus Christ, no matter what the personal cost might be.
I realize this is not a cheery, feel good message, but it is a necessary one.
II Timothy 2:9-13
“I’m suffering disgrace for spreading this Good News. I have even been put into prison like a criminal. However, God’s word is not imprisoned. For that reason, I endure everything for the sake of those who have been chosen so that they, too, may receive salvation from Christ Jesus with glory that lasts forever. This is a statement that can be trusted: If we have died with him, we will live with him. If we endure, we will rule with him. If we disown him, he will disown us. If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful because he cannot be untrue to himself.”
Paul’s great faith didn’t provide a cushion against inconvenience or discomfort. More often than not it caused his problems, but it also allowed God to work mightly through him to reach others and comfort him when no earthly thing could.
I commend you to the grace of God. AMEN!
With you in His service … Steve
Steve, well put. I have only a thought or two to share, well ok may be more but they will be short and to the point providing two to three witnesses.
First point
How is it that we could ever be above our master and if he suffered, and was made perfect in it? Will we some how escape being made perfect the same way?
“but we do see Jesus crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death was made a little less than the angels, so that by the grace of God He might taste of death for all. For it was fitting for Him, because of whom are all things, and through whom are all things, having brought many sons to glory, to perfect Him as the Author of their salvation through sufferings.” Heb 2:9-10
This says Jesus was perfected through the cross. And you and I are encouraged in Matt 10:38-39 to take up our cross daily. How is it that the Son of God could be perfected? Wasn’t he already perfect?
And again…”though he was a Son, yet learned obedience by the things which he suffered; and having been made perfect, he became unto all them that obey him the author of eternal salvation; ” Heb 5:8 -9
Jesus the Son of God had to learn obedience? To be made perfect? How is it that you and I, “sinners”, would be made perfect, without learning obedience if the Perfect Son of God had to? Again Jesus is our example of how to be made perfect, perfect through suffering.
“The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee. And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.” Luke 13:31-32
“so be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matt 5:48
“The disciple is not above his teacher: but every one when he is perfected shall be as his teacher.” Luke 6:40
If we are to be formed into the image of Christ, then we will be required to know suffering, to be perfected. If you “form” something it goes through much suffering “pressure and change” to become the finished project.
The pay off is in the end, being formed to the image of Messiah.
“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Rom 8:16-18
“Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” Rev 2:10
In Matt 10:38-39 is Messiah saying that if you don’t suffer you are not worthy of him???
“And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.” Mat 10:38-39
The cross is the place our Messiah suffered, how do we pick up our cross daily if it is not to be in suffering like our Messiah? ? ?
Second point Another example to follow as he follows Christ, is Paul who was greatly persecuted, and suffered much for the cause of Messiah.
“But you have closely followed my doctrine, the conduct, the purpose, the faith, the long-suffering, the love, the patient endurance, the persecutions, the sufferings, such as happened to me in Antioch, in Iconium, in Lystra, what persecutions I bore. And the Lord delivered me out of all. And, indeed, all desiring to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. “2 Tim 3:10-12
If “all desiring to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” is the inverse also true then? That if you are not persecuted, are we living Godly lives?
I wonder?
“And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;” Php 1:28-29
“That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto. For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.” 1Thes 3:3-4
“Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:” 2Thes 1:5
Suffering is part of the True Gospel message, prosperity come after the suffering. Messiah himself says, prosperity is found in following him
“Then Peter said to him, “See, we have left everything and followed you. So what will we get?” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne in the renewed creation, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, governing the twelve tribes of Israel. In fact, everyone who has left his homes, brothers, sisters, father, mother, children, or fields because of my name will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.” Matt 19:27-29
Everyone who, I believe that fits everyone who does the required, to suffer lose.
Again look at the cross and see that if we don’t carry our cross daily, we are not following after him the requirement for the 100 fold reward above.
“And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.” Matt 10:38-39
Just a few thoughts you provoked with the blog, thanks for the pricking of our hearts, may we find it all joy to be found worthy to be persecuted like Jesus!!!
Excellent points Mike. RE: Christ being perfected through sufferings and Christ learning obedience through suffering I offer this explanation. Remember the dual nature of Christ - wholey God - wholey man. Neither being perfected, nor learning obedience is not in the sense that he didn’t have it and therefore needed it, but rather that the outworking of his inherent inward perfection and obdience HAD to be demonstrated through his physical body and in his human experience. The perfection is in a sense of completion. Christ’s perfection would not have been complete with the reality of demonstration.