Christ Suffered, Therefore We Must Also Suffer... huh?!?

There is one question that has been asked repeatedly throughout the generations by Christians (and by non-Christians trying to discredit Christianity).

Why does God allow suffering? 

This question often plagues us, especially when we're going through our own suffering, or when we witness a grand-scale tragedy. The suffering we see makes us doubt the great love and compassion of our Lord, and so we try to find an answer to this age old question. We know there must be a reason He allows it - there has to be a reason. Otherwise, we're all just pawns, and our suffering has no purpose, and life has no real purpose.

We turn to our Bibles. We turn to our Church. We turn to theologians who've also battled with this question. We turn to our Pastors, Priests, Preachers, teachers, ministers, elders, friends. We turn to God. And we find answers that calm our souls, or at least make sense.

It's part of God's plan. It's a test from God. 

These are two of the most common reasons I've heard. I've addressed these before in previous posts. But to summarize - I do not believe God's plan for us on Earth includes making us suffer. And I do not believe God causes or lets us suffer to test our faithfulness. Both of these make God seem a cruel master who doesn't already know the existence and strength of our faith.

Christ suffered, and therefore so must we.

This is the most recent one I've heard. It's worded differently, by different people, but basically amounts to this: Christ suffered on the cross for us, and therefore we must endure suffering as well so that we can be more Christlike.

There are some major flaws (in my opinion) to this. First and foremost - it takes away from the wonderful gift of salvation we have received through Christ's death and resurrection. We have eternal life - a life free from suffering, with our Lord - because of what was done for us. We don't need to suffer to receive that. The suffering was already done. The debts are paid.

Additionally, it implies our suffering is because of Christ's suffering. This is flawed right from the start because suffering was occurring long before Christ came to Earth. And well, it reminds me of something I heard as a child... "I beat you because I was beaten." Basically, it's saying that Christ wants revenge - He had to suffer, and therefore, so shall we.

Suffering brings us closer to God.

This is often a subset of the other rationalizations. It's hooked to them in some way:

• "God has a plan for our suffering, therefore we must have more faith in Him and His plan, which will bring us closer to Him."
• "By testing our faithfulness with suffering, we're brought closer to God." 
• "Christ suffered, so we also suffer in order to make us more like Christ, bringing us closer to God." 

Basically - God is abusing and hurting and tormenting us so that we love and trust Him more. Or, God is allowing us to be hurt and abused and tormented so that we turn to Him out of love and trust.

Am I the only one who sees the flaw in that reasoning? A child who is beaten by a parent does not learn to love and trust that parent more. And more-so, a parent who watches and allows her child to be beaten is not loved and trusted more. In fact, it is worse. The parent who lets it happen often causes more damage to a child's ability to love and trust than the parent actually doing the abusing.

So why does God allow suffering? 

I don't know. I know only my own opinion on the matter, and that is that God never promised us a life free from hardship. He only promises that eventually, when we are with Him, that we will have a life free from suffering.

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. (Rev 21:4)

And, I also know that even in the hardest moments of our life, even when we don't feel His presence, He is there with us to comfort us.

Can good come from suffering? 

Yes. Of course. Suffering gives us the opportunity to grow in love for each other. It gives us the opportunity to pray together. It does give us the opportunity to grow in faith towards God. It gives us the opportunity to personally grow in strength.  (Oddly enough - these opportunities are always there, through suffering and through times of joy. God is here to help us take advantage of these opportunities at all times.)

While I don't believe God simply allows us to suffer with the intention of us getting closer to God, or more Christlike, this does not mean I don't believe suffering can't have the potential of creating good. And, I do believe God has a hand in that.

Your suffering can have purpose. But don't assume it's God testing you or trying to strengthen you. Just know God is there beside you to give you comfort and strength, and some day our times of suffering will be over. Until then, we can only do what we can to help ease the suffering of those around us. 

Spiritually Dead or Spiritually Dry?

Yesterday, I made the comment to someone that I was spiritually dead. He corrected me, saying he didn't believe I was spiritually dead, but that rather, I was spiritually dry. What's the difference?

The main difference I see, is that spiritually dead means you're separated from God. And, you don't really care, or don't really notice. Spiritually dry is exactly that... a dry spell. A temporary drought where there is little to no passion for Christ.

"For you will be like an oak whose leaf fades away or as a garden that has no water." Isaiah 1:30 

I find it rather interesting that the signs of being spiritually dead or spiritually dry are quite similar:

1. We do things because we are supposed to, not because we want to. We give to others out of obligation rather than desire.

2. Sermons, scripture reading, hymns - they're all given, listened to, sung with a lack of passion for the words.

3. There's a lack of passion for Christ. Our faith is supposed to be contagious, but when there is no passion behind that faith, it is not contagious. People aren't motivated to move towards Christ because we have no motivation to show them the joy God brings us.

I'm probably missing a few signs here, but I think these 3 sum it up pretty well.

So, what causes us to become spiritually dead or dry? To a degree, I think some of what I am about to list can be causes of spiritual death or drought...

1. Depression
2. Worry
3. Anger
... These three block us from being able to see the grace of our Lord, and keep us from feeling the joy that grace can bring us. Depression makes us unable to see the joy; worry drains us emotionally, and eventually spiritually, making us weak; and anger makes our hearts hard, and keeps us from giving and receiving love from anyone - including God. Each of these can bring about a dry spell, which, if left untreated for long enough, can bring on spiritual death.

4. Sin
... Yes, we are all sinners. But some of us reside within sin so much, and are unaware or uncaring. It becomes so much of what we seek, that we become separated from God. One of the biggest sins (in my opinion) which can cause this separation is pride. We get so wrapped up in what we want and how we want it - in how we know it should be - that we lose sight of God and His will.

I saw one really good article on how to know if you're spiritually dead, and it talked about the Church - how those who are spiritually dead don't care if their church also dies. They'd rather fire a pastor who was bringing about change and growth, than allow themselves and the church to continue growing. They'd rather see the church die. This is the type of pride I am talking about. (5 Signs You're Spiritually Dead)

How do we move forward if we find ourselves in a dry spell?

"So let us know, let us press on to know the Lord.  His going forth is as certain as the dawn; And He will come to us, like the rain, like the spring rain watering the earth."  Hosea 6:3

1. Give your worries to God. Place them at his feet.
2. Repent
3. Let go of anger. Forgive whomever you're angry with.
4. Pray

I realize these are all so simple - too simple. And they aren't as easy as they sound. But we must "press on to know the Lord." 

I Hate Funerals

This may seem like a rather "Duh!" thing to say that I hate funerals. I can't think of too many people who actually enjoy them. Funerals mean someone you care about has left this earth. Or someone close to someone you love. It means grief and hardship and tears - either from yourself or from someone you love.

Yesterday I attended my fourth funeral. Yes, while I have lost many people in my life, I have only been to 4 funerals. In general, I prefer to say my goodbyes in private - not in a funeral home or church. But, I did go to four - and these were more to be there for the family and friends still alive.

In all four of these cases, while I was close to 3 of the 4 who passed away, I was especially close to the family and friends of each of them. We had shared a lot of laughter and tears, hugs and prayers. And sitting in a funeral service, all you can do is watch each of these loved ones in visible pain. 

And this is what makes funerals difficult for me. It isn't just knowing I've lost someone. It's watching others whom I love in pain. I hate seeing people hurting. I hate knowing there really isn't much that can be said in that moment to make things ok. Yes, we offer condolences and hugs. We say those beautiful things like "he's in a better place now." But really... in that moment when we lose a cherished member of our family (this includes those close friends as well), we know they're in a better place. But that doesn't change the fact that they have left us. Yes, we know they're looking down on us. But that doesn't change the fact that we can no longer hold their hand or hear their voice.

What can you say to someone who has lost a spouse or a parent or a beloved friend? How can you help take some of that pain away? The truth is, in my opinion, there is nothing that can be said or done which will, in that moment, ease their suffering. However, what you say or do will be remembered - or, rather, the sentiment and love behind your actions will be remembered.  This is why the words you say aren't that important. The fact that you were there for them is what is important. Send a card, give them a hug, bake them a dish, offer to take care of their kids. And always remind them God is with them in this trying time. Yes, they may not believe it in that moment, but it's still good to hear.

Where was God?

Yesterday morning, a young man entered an elementary school, opening fire. He killed 6 adults, 16 six year olds and 4 seven year olds before killing himself.

This senseless act that stole so many innocent lives has left me, and many others, wondering why. Wondering where was God. Wondering what it takes for someone to commit such a horrible act.

Whenever something good happens - a child is born, a life is saved, etc - we praise and thank the Lord. But when something evil happens - a monster opens fire in an elementary school, for example - we pray for the families of the lost. Why doesn't anyone speak up and say the question we're all wondering - Why the hell did God allow this to happen in the first place?

Don't get me wrong... I do pray for the families of the lost. I pray they find peace. I pray the survivors find the courage to return to that school, and can overcome the fear and loss of their sense of security. But I also find myself wondering why.

I have tried asking a few people this question... and of course, the question is ignored. No one has the answer. It's easy to say God did wonderful things and that we should thank him. It's easy to say that God can do wonderful things, and that we should pray for these things. Apparently it's not so easy to answer the question "Why did God let this happen?"

I've heard and read that it isn't that God makes bad things happen. Bad things happen because God gave mankind freedom. So basically, man is to blame - or the devil - when bad things happen. But then why is God to be praised when good things happen? Or why doesn't God step in to stop bad things from happening?

Where was God when some monster pulled the trigger, killing 20 six and seven year old children?