It has been a world-shattering couple of weeks as I have tried to piece together my theology of suffering, and I can in no way say that I have learned everything there is to know, nor have I included everything that I have learned. I have truly been humbled by the revelation of God's Word, and hope that you will open your heart to this truth as well. I am not sorry if I offend you. My only concern is that I am not offended by God on that day when I stand before Him...
But before we talk about suffering, we must talk about humanism. I didn't even realize how humanistic my worldview was until my study. I was disgustingly shocked and convicted when I realized how much of my Christianity was centered around myself. It's as if I was willing to be God-centered?as long as God was willing to be me-centered. Humanism says that the end of all things is happiness. This is FALSE! The end of all things is the glory of God. That is why in Hebrews 11, the great men and women of the faith can still proclaim, "God is good!", and trust Him even when they did not receive the fullness of His promises to them. Would we even dare to do the same?...
Suffering is foundational to being a true follower of Christ. It is NOT abnormal! But don't just take my word for it. Read this,
"TO THIS YOU WERE CALLED, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps."-1 Peter 2:21
"Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the SAME ATTITUDE, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin."-1 Peter 4:1
"I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead."-Philippians 3:10-11
How can we expect to receive the resurrection from the dead if we never participated in the sufferings of Christ Jesus? In the Kingdom, death comes before life...
I am not saying that we must go look for suffering and persecution. I am saying that we need to repent of our "me-centered" mentality, and devote ourselves to prayer and fasting. In America where we do not experience an onslaught of physical persecution, this is a practical voluntary form of participating in Jesus' sufferings. As a result, when we do experience real persecution, it will not phase us. Our goal should be the glory of God, not our own comfort. You will soon find that the hardships of this life decrease in your eyes as God increases...
"The problem of evil is raised more often by spectators of life than actual combatants. You will hardly ever find that the great sufferers are the great skeptics."-James Stewart
"Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed."-1 Peter 4:12-13
So why would this even concern you? It wouldn't, unless you truly wanted to follow Christ. And why would I even be concerned in laying this out before you? It is because God is going to start shaking things on earth, so that only what is eternal will remain (see Hebrews 12:27), and He is going to start with the Body of Christ (see 1 Peter 4:17), and I want to see you standing firm in that day-unshakable in your faith and commitment to God. Remember that this is not about us. We live and die for the glory of God. And oh how He loves us!...
I understand that this doesn't explain everything on this subject fully, but if you have questions or comments, I would love to dialogue. Most importantly, I hope that you will take this, and continue to study into it and pray about it, and may it change your perspective on life and transform the way you live.
