Thoughts from Marianne...
It's not a very popular topic, but I've been thinking a lot about suffering. In particular, I've been thinking about why Christians not only do suffer, but according to the Bible, we must suffer. Why?
Christians suffer for many reasons. We may suffer persecution because standing with Christ means standing in opposition to the world, and that invites the world's reviling. We sometimes suffer trials to build endurance and character. At other times, we simply suffer the natural consequences of our own harmful choices. And like everybody on earth, Christians are not exempt to the suffering that comes from being innocent bystanders of hate, sickness, and often senseless tragedy in this fallen world.
But some Christians never suffer persecution to any large degree, and seemingly have very few trials in comparison with others. People on the outside looking in may see that these people have a pretty good life. And yet, the Bible says not that we may suffer as Christians, but that we will. Why?
I think that part of the answer is that suffering is a "natural consequence" of a growing intimacy with Christ and the Father heart of God. That is because it's impossible to grow in intimacy with God and not to grieve over the fallen state of this world, and our own flesh. Loving God involves grieving for our world - for broken relationships, destroyed environments, wayward or oppressive governments, traumatized or apathetic societies, and the selfishness of our own human hearts, not yet touched by God's grace. Love and grief go hand in hand. As our love increases, our grief also increases.
And so I have a choice. Will I avoid grief at all costs, and also miss the fullness of Love (with a capital "L")? Living outside the Western world among a people with values different than the ones I grew up with has made me realize how entrenched this has become in Western culture. We in the West do everything we can to all forms of pain, sadness, suffering, and even awkwardness. Do I want to invest in avoiding grief? Or will I welcome the pain that comes from my heart being stretched, and share in the Father's heart.
What will you choose?
I choose Love.
Christians suffer for many reasons. We may suffer persecution because standing with Christ means standing in opposition to the world, and that invites the world's reviling. We sometimes suffer trials to build endurance and character. At other times, we simply suffer the natural consequences of our own harmful choices. And like everybody on earth, Christians are not exempt to the suffering that comes from being innocent bystanders of hate, sickness, and often senseless tragedy in this fallen world.
But some Christians never suffer persecution to any large degree, and seemingly have very few trials in comparison with others. People on the outside looking in may see that these people have a pretty good life. And yet, the Bible says not that we may suffer as Christians, but that we will. Why?
I think that part of the answer is that suffering is a "natural consequence" of a growing intimacy with Christ and the Father heart of God. That is because it's impossible to grow in intimacy with God and not to grieve over the fallen state of this world, and our own flesh. Loving God involves grieving for our world - for broken relationships, destroyed environments, wayward or oppressive governments, traumatized or apathetic societies, and the selfishness of our own human hearts, not yet touched by God's grace. Love and grief go hand in hand. As our love increases, our grief also increases.
And so I have a choice. Will I avoid grief at all costs, and also miss the fullness of Love (with a capital "L")? Living outside the Western world among a people with values different than the ones I grew up with has made me realize how entrenched this has become in Western culture. We in the West do everything we can to all forms of pain, sadness, suffering, and even awkwardness. Do I want to invest in avoiding grief? Or will I welcome the pain that comes from my heart being stretched, and share in the Father's heart.
What will you choose?
I choose Love.