No one (least of all myself) likes to talk about suffering.
However, I’ve come to realize over the past several years (especially, I guess, through the “Season of COVID”) that there is a great need to discuss it within the context of Biblical Theology.
Watching a number of folks over recent years walk away from faith in Jesus deeply burdens my heart.
I’m not just talking away from the church, rather a complete falling away from following Christ and what Scripture teaches in general.
Of course, the church represents the Body of Christ, so I find myself lamenting body-parts that have been removed…
Others have written articles explaining this phenomenon, and as I’ve read, there seems to be ONE MAJOR recurring theme (albeit, amidst several other reasons):
There is a perceived notion that followers of Jesus should not have to struggle with hardship and suffering. There is a problem reconciling a good God (whom they’ve been taught has their best interests at heart, who loves them deeply, and who died to save them) with trials and tribulation. In fact, not only is He not good, He is downright mean…and, He lies when He says to us, “Ask whatever you will according to my name, and I will do it…”
Plus, there’s a consensus of thought that says, if you “trust enough” you will be spared difficulty…
?
So, it’s no wonder that when the going gets tough, those in the middle of pain and problems, also get going…but in the wrong direction.
This reminds me of what I consider to be one of the saddest passages in the New Testament.
Paul is writing to his beloved son-in-the-faith, Timothy, from the darkest, rankest, most disgusting prisons in history (Maritime prison in Rome).
In order for Paul to survive prison and stay alive for his upcoming trial before Nero (an excellent opportunity for him to share THE GOSPEL one more time), he relies on friends to bring him food and necessities.
Paul asks Timothy to do his best to come to him soon…
(here’s the sad verse)
For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica…
(2 Timothy 4:10)
Paul goes on to say that only Luke is still with him.
Others have gone on to further the ministry.
Not so Demas, whose name meant “popular.”
What that tells me is Demas loved the razzle-dazzle of Paul’s ministry, the popularity of it all, but when it took a turn, so did he.
He loved the world and its comforts too much.
Demas did not finish strong.
This is not a current-age-problem.
This leaving is an age-old-problem.
It broke Paul’s heart; and, it breaks mine.
What does it say to the lost in need of a Savior about our Lord?
Here’s the bottom line…
I’m convinced; we, the church, need to do a better job teaching a theology of suffering.
So, a week ago, as I finished up speaking to a group of global workers aboard the Independence of the Seas, I spoke on the need to finish strong as Jesus-followers.
In just a short snippet, I shared my belief in the need to teach a stronger theology of suffering, and gave a few of God’s promises straight from His Mouth (His Word) to our hearts.
As evaluations were written, several women mentioned how they wished we could have dug more deeply into this concept of building a Biblically-based-doctrine on difficulty.
While it would make a full retreat series and still never cover everything, it’s not a subject I would really want to teach on a retreat; but, I can work on some devotional thoughts that I develop here.
I don’t know how long I’ll spend, but over the course of the next few weeks, I hope to do some exploring, some digging, some reading, and some writing that might assist in the process.
Even I need a better theology.
How’s yours?
