Why Christians Suffer: One Perspective

Why did God allow this to happen?

This is the question that inevitably comes up whenever someone is suffering or some tragedy has occurred. The problem seems even more difficult when the tragedy occurs in the life of a Christian who is supposed to be God’s child and has access to Him in prayer. What is more, we know that God is sovereign over all things and so we cannot avoid the fact (although many try) that God not only allows His people to suffer but that He actually purposes at times to bring suffering to them. Consider the following verses which are just a few of many that we could turn to:

“I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the LORD, who does all these things.” (Isaiah 45:7 ESV)

“…and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.” (Romans 8:17 ESV)

“For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake” (Philippians 1:29 ESV)

“Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.” (1 Peter 4:19 ESV)

For the Christian this is not a question of justice. We know that nobody suffers unjustly and that God has a right over His creation, especially sinful people to do with them as He pleases. Even so, knowing His love for us and His goodness we may still wonder why our loving Father wills suffering to be part of the lives of His children. Once we are in Christ and our sins are forgiven why should suffering remain in our lives?

We know that God is not cruel or sadistic and He does not bring suffering simply for His amusement. Rather, He purposes suffering in our lives because He loves us. I realize that this is an answer that is absolutely incompatible with our natural way of thinking. In fact, it will sound insane to anyone operating from a purely human standpoint. The Bible, however, teaches that God has a loving purpose in the suffering that comes into our lives. Peter explains in his first letter:

“In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:6-7 ESV)

Peter tells us that God is purifying His people in the way a metalworker purifies gold. The impurities are burned away and the dross is removed until pure gold remains. By this process the metalworker “proves” the gold. Once the impurities are burned away a proof mark is applied which is a stamp verifying that it has been tested and confirmed genuine. Peter is explaining that God brings various trials to bear in our lives so that we are likewise purified. The “dross” of our lives is removed and the genuineness of our faith is proved and is thereby marked as genuine. Peter says that our faith is even more precious than gold and that if we endure, our faith will result in praise and honor and glory at the revelation of Christ Jesus.

Even if we accept Peter’s answer that the Lord works this way, it may still not be obvious to us how suffering leads to a more pure faith. Why would God work this way? I do not claim to know why God does all that He does but if we meditate upon what makes up most of the trials and suffering in our lives I think we will notice something interesting.

Most trials are difficult because they involve the want or loss of something we value or desire. It may be material possessions, a job, our health, a particular relationship, or even our life or that of a loved one. The withholding or loss of anything that we want to have or anything we do not want to lose can bring stress, grief, and pain. The pain results from our desire to have something better than what we have. It results from our evaluation that things should be different. It results from our thinking that we have been denied something of value.

Surely our lives, health, etc. are valuable to us but in an ultimate sense they are of far less value than what we have in Christ. We possess fellowship with God Himself which is a gift of immeasurable value and in comparison all other things appear worthless. This is Paul’s point when he says “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.” (Philippians 3:8 ESV) It is important that we do not miss the force of this statement. The word translated as “rubbish” is the word skubala which is the word for animal excrement.

He is saying that he will allow nothing else to compete with Christ in his affections. Compared to Christ all other things are as worthless as animal filth. In our weakness we are often tempted to love even good things so much that our desires for them can can overshadow our trust in God and our submission to His will above all else. We easily lose sight of the immeasurable value of what we have in Christ and mourn for temporal losses of far less value. God, however, is not content that we should be of a divided mind.

In His mercy and love God prepares us by purging all idolatry from our hearts. Through each trial he asks us if we love these other things more than we love Him. In each trial He asks if we truly trust that He knows what is best for us. Through each test He demonstrates that He is sufficient for us and that He will never abandon us. Notice also that He graciously reminds us that the trials and suffering are temporary; they are “for a little while”. Nothing is ultimately withheld from us and we lose nothing that we do not recover in greater measure. We are therefore encouraged and strengthened in the hope of His promises.

We see then that at least one of the reasons for God using suffering in our lives is that to be complete and “proved” is to be wholly dependent upon God. God lovingly prepares these temporary trials to draw us closer to Him, strengthen our confidence in Him, and leave us with nothing but Him. It is a gracious and loving thing that He removes any idols from our hearts. He never brings more than we can bear and if we trust Him we will be perfected through suffering. It is this reason why James can make the amazing statement that we should “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2-4 ESV)

I do not claim that this is a complete answer to the question but I submit that it is at least one of the reasons the Bible gives us. Secondly, understanding this truth does not mean that the trials are any less real or any less painful when we encounter them. I pray, however, that knowing that our suffering is a means that God uses for our own good and His own Glory will strengthen us and by God’s grace (as James says) provide us with a sustaining joy in Christ even when our happiness has fled “for a little while”.

How to Preach & Teach Relevant Messages

As someone who teaches and preaches the Word of God I have often thought about the relationship between the message that is being taught and the method of communicating that message. I am not an expert on the subject but through the years I have heard, read, or participated in a number of conversations about the need to make the Bible “relevant” to classes and congregations. This debate about contextualization and relevance has permeated virtually every discussion on worship and preaching in our generation.

The Bible as God’s Word is by definition relevant. There is no message that is more important or practical in the lives of people than the Gospel. Since all have sinned there is no person for whom the message does not have immense relevance. What most people who use those terms mean, however, is that we need to capture people’s attention and get them to see that this message has direct application in their lives.

Many have argued that since conviction of sin, conversion, and repentance are the work of the Holy Spirit there is nothing any person can do to make the Bible more or less relevant. While I agree with this in an objective theological sense there is a sense in which the teacher or preacher is responsible for ensuring the “relevance” of the message. We have all suffered through teaching that was excruciatingly difficult to follow. We have all heard preachers who have droned on without ever clearly explaining the Gospel. Every preacher or teacher is responsible for communicating the truth and also for communicating it clearly.

How then should someone who has complete confidence in the inherent power of the Word prepare so that they may give a relevant message without resorting to worldly marketing, entertainment, or other inappropriate kinds of contextualization? First, the minister must study. There must be a disciplined approach to knowing what the Bible says. Through study, the teacher accumulates all of the information from the text. He observes what it says and how it says it. Second, the teacher must meditate upon the Word. This involves careful thought about the information uncovered in study. Not just a quick consideration but deep thought about what is said in a particular passage and how it relates to every other passage and how it addresses and redefines the experiences in his life and the lives of those around him. The minister must think carefully about how all those details come together into a unity of truth.

It is through this process of meditation that the pastor/teacher uncovers biblical connections and realizes the significance of various details in the text and how they connect to the fundamental categories that the scripture deals with. These categories; sin, holiness, redemption, reconciliation, etc. provide the basis for connecting the truth of the Bible to the spiritual needs (conscious or not) of the hearers. These connections also allow the teacher to highlight the relationship of difficult passages with those that are clearer. By knowing the material well and how it addresses universal themes the pastor/teacher can present a message that is relevant to any person regardless of their particular subculture or context.

Finally, after all of this it is necessary that the preacher clearly communicate the message. In order to do so the preacher must understand some basic information about the people to whom he is preaching or teaching. For example, it would not be very edifying to preach a great English sermon to a Chinese speaking congregation. The Word of God is powerful but it does not function as a magical incantation. It must be intelligibly articulated. It must be cognitively understood before it can be morally transforming.

The issues related to doing this are the same ones we repeatedly see in the scripture. There are questions of vocabulary, dress, and other side issues that we must take notice of so that the preacher himself is not a distraction drawing attention away from the message. Paul, for example shows us that our dress and approach should not be offensive. If people are to be offended let them be offended at our message not our appearance or behavior (1 Cor. 9:20-23). We see indications that there are basic things that must be taught and understood before we expect people to understand more complex doctrines (Jn. 3:12, 1 Cor. 3:2, Heb. 5:12). Obviously we must pay attention to the fundamentals of effective communication but because of the nature of the message of the Bible the best thing a teacher can do to help people see the application of the scripture in their lives is to know the material well enough to explain it clearly.

The concern about “relevant” preaching and teaching is not itself wrong. Our desire whenever we preach or teach is that people’s lives are changed. We recognize, however, that it is the Holy Spirit that works through the message to do this. Because of the universal sinfulness of humanity the message is already relevant. Our part is to prepare properly so that we are able to communicate it clearly. This may involve some of the external contextual type of things that many people focus on but the primary emphasis should not be on presentation but on the method of preparation. If a pastor/teacher wants to be relevant then the best thing they can do is to know the material so well that their explanation and application of it flows naturally from the text.

I pray every time I preach or teach that if anyone should discuss the message later on with family or friends that the conversation would be about the text. If I have done my job properly I will fade into the background and the listener will be fully engaged with the words and message of the Bible itself. If they are discussing anything about me then I have done them a disservice. As count Zinzendorf so eloquently said, the job of the preacher is to “preach the Gospel, die, and be forgotton”. If you have a faithful preacher or teacher who consistently leads you into the Word of God and helps you to see the glory of Jesus Christ in its pages I pray you would take the time to thank them and encourage them in that task this week.

Gendercide

Many advocates of legalized abortion on demand have long argued that their position is protective of women and women's rights. It seems, however, that at least in some cases the basic concern for women is actually less important than promoting a particular perspective on pregnancy that completely disregards any and all the interests of the child for the absolute control of the mother. It is ironic that at the heels of the Civil Rights Movement in our country that we would ignore the most basic civil rights, even the right to life itself, of these children.


The video that follows speaks for itself. I warn you, however, that it is disturbing to watch on a number of different levels.

Book Review: D.A. Carson- The Cross and Christian Ministry

The Cross and Christian Ministry By D.A. Carson / Baker What can a first-century view of the cross teach us about Christian leadership? Plenty, says this respected New Testament scholar. In his thorough exposition of 1 Corinthians, Carson explores factionalism, servant-leadership, shaping "world" Christians, and other issues to help you gain a better understanding of what the death of Christ means in ministering to God's people. 144 pages, softcover from Baker.

When I pick up a book by D.A. Carson my expectations are always high. He has consistently written books whose combination of scholarly insight and practical application are of the highest quality. This book is no exception. This is not a new title from Dr. Carson, it was written (or at least copyrighted) in 1993. I probably would never have read it but I received a free copy when I attended the 2012 Together for the Gospel conference in Louisville. I wish I had read it a long time ago. 


 Carson examines five different elements related to Christian leadership and the implications of the Cross of Christ regarding them. The wonderful thing about this book, however, is that it is not simply a good book that deals with these issues on a topical level. There are many Christian books that make wonderful and Biblical points but do not demonstrate the methodology by which their conclusions were derived. Some others give glimpses of their methods of interpreting but do so only through short or varied passages. That is not the case with this book. Although the book is dealing with application to a particular topic it does so though a sustained exegesis of Biblical passages. He is not pulling out verses, rather he is working through complete teaching segments from 1 Corinthians. The five topics are therefore derived from Paul’s argument rather than using parts of Paul’s argument to supplement his own. The sections are as follows: 


 1) The Cross and Preaching: 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5 
2) The Cross and the Holy Spirit: 1 Corinthians 2:6-16 
3) The Cross and Factionalism: 1 Corinthians 3 
4) The Cross and Christian Leadership: 1 Corinthians 4 
5) The Cross and the World Christian: 1 Corinthians 9:19-27 


 In each of these sections Carson walks the reader through the implications of Paul’s timeless argument for the Church in our day. At the end of each section he includes a handful of questions that draw the reader to examination and reflection on the Biblical text. The questions are basic who, what, when, where, how, and why questions that allow the reader to trace Carson’s use of the text to develop each of his main points. The organization of the book, and its brevity make it a great resource for those who are looking for a study guide on Christian leadership or ministry. I found the chapter on Christian leadership to be particularly insightful and helpful. 


 This is an excellent book. It is exegetical in its approach, clear in its presentation, well organized, and practical in its applications. As usual, Dr. Carson demonstrates a keen ability to make insightful observations in the text and draw out their significance in a way that is instructive and encouraging. It was the best book I have read in quite some time. I highly recommend it.

Was Eve Created Because Adam Was Lonely?

Quite often our summaries of the creation story make it sound as though Eve was created because Adam was lonely. The common telling is that Adam was naming all the animals and realized that all of them had companions (male and female) but none were suitable companions for him. This made Adam sad and lonely. Then God recognizing Adam’s loneliness put him to sleep, took his rib, and fashioned Eve.

The summary above sounds plausible because it contains a number of true elements but it is an oversimplification that unfortunately makes it seem as though the creation of Eve was merely a response to Adam’s needs. As we will see, this is an unhelpful summary of the events that misses some key points in the narrative.

There are certain truths that this kind of summary calls attention to. It is true that the Bible teaches that Eve was made for Adam (1 Cor. 11:8). She was to be a companion and helper to him (Gen. 2:18). None of the previously created animals would be suitable (Gen. 2:20). Adam was very happy to see her and his language “at last” indicates that he was, in fact, waiting for such a companion (Gen. 2:23).

None of this, however, demonstrates that Eve’s creation was primarily a response to Adam’s desire for a companion. I do not doubt that Adam came to desire such a companion but that God is responding to a desire that initiated within Adam is unlikely based upon what the Bible actually says.

In the first creation account in the first chapter of Genesis we see that on the sixth day God creates livestock, creeping things, and beasts of the earth.

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”        

(Genesis 1:26-28 ESV)

First, notice that both Adam and Eve were created on the same day. In his unfallen state it is doubtful that Adam could have experienced loneliness in the way we do. Even if he could Adam would only have been lonely for one day and it was not a day of sitting around reflecting upon his situation. God kept Adam busy on that day. The more detailed account of the creation in the second chapter of Genesis explains that

Now out of the ground the LORD God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field…

(Genesis 2:19-20 ESV)

Some have argued that this cannot be understood to be a literal day because there is no way that Adam could name all of the animals in one day. While the chronology of the early chapters of Genesis is hotly debated and can become somewhat complex I would like to just point out two things that may be relevant to this criticism. First, the text does not say that Adam named every single creature on the planet. He gave names to the livestock, the birds, and to the beasts of the field. The authority or “naming rights” are clearly his and are not limited to this one day where he apparently names the creatures that were in the garden. Second, we need to remember that Adam did not have a fallen mind and so we do not know what kind of capacity he had for such work.

If we pay close attention to the passage we will notice that Adam’s desires do not drive God’s activity in creating Eve. The passage above is enclosed in an envelope structure. Verse 18 says,

Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”

This is followed by the passage above where Adam names the animals and concludes in verse 20 with,

…But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him.

The naming of the animals is framed within these “bookends” where God declares that it is not good for man to be alone and then the confirmation that he is indeed alone. There are a lot of things going on in this text but for our purposes we can see that Adam is unique among the creatures and he is given dominion (implied by the naming rights). Of course he does become aware of his lack of a companion through this process. Verse 18 is the first mention in the scripture that it is not good for man to be alone and it comes not from Adam but from the mouth of God. This is prior to any record of Adam looking at the animals and coming to any conclusions about his singular position.

Adam says nothing about loneliness to God. We do not know if he felt lonely prior to God organizing the parade of animals or not. It is clear that God intended to create Eve before the naming of the animals because He says back in verse 18 “I will make him a helper fit for him.” In displaying the animals God brings Adam to recognize there is none who are suitable to be his helper. The creation of woman was part of the original perfect plan of creation. Adam was to be fruitful and multiply as commanded by God and by marching the animals before Him God is showing Adam the reason for the upcoming (already planned) special act of creation and preparing him for the very intimate culmination of His creative activity. The flow of the narrative is not that Adam looked around, didn’t find anyone to keep him company, expressed his loneliness and then God intervened to correct the situation. Instead, we see God working through the process of granting dominion to Adam, bringing him to understand his uniqueness and thus the uniqueness and the significance of the wife that will be provided.

After Adam has reviewed the animals it seems that Adam has become aware of his uniqueness and that there was no other like him. All of this sets up the final and most intimate act of initial creation.

So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. (Genesis 2:21-22 ESV)

Unlike all of the other creatures who have been created from dirt the woman is taken from the side of the man. She does not come out of man in the sense of springing forth but is taken from a living and vital part of the man. No two of any other creatures shares this kind of intimate connection. God then brings the woman to man and he names her. Her name recognizes the profound connection between the two.

Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.”

(Genesis 2:23 ESV)

The phrase “This at last” does have the sense of “finally… what I have been waiting for” which may be the reason why so much emphasis seems to be put on Adam’s being lonely and desiring to have a companion. Certainly, we can imagine him wondering if a suitable companion was going to be found as he worked through the naming of the animals. Eve was not, however, the result of God reacting to a desire or request from Adam. Rather, God prepared the man and allowed him to participate in an intimate way in the final creative act that ultimately served as a blessing to him.

The scripture says that Christ is the lamb slain before the foundation of the world (Rev. 13:8). This means that even before Adam and Eve were created God was acting with sin and redemption in mind. Through Eve will come the savior (Gen. 3:15). The savior will save for Himself a people (1 Pet. 2:9). It then follows that the relationship of Christ to His church should be in view even as we read the early chapters of Genesis (Eph. 1:3-5). We therefore need to realize that even this first marriage between Adam and Eve is intended to represent the profound mystery of the union of Christ and His Church (Eph. 5:32).

Eve was not created just because Adam was lonely. She is an important part of God’s plan of creation as well as His plan of redemption. Adam certainly came to understand that there was no suitable companion for him among the animals but it was God who brings about the circumstances where he comes to see this. We should be careful not to minimize her importance by only thinking of her in terms of Adam’s loneliness.

Book Review: Mark Dever- The Church: The Gospel Made Visible

The Church: The Gospel Made Visible

By Mark Dever / B&H Academic

What are Christians supposed to believe? How should we live out the gospel? Followers often debate these basic questions. What can we make of such differences? In this primer on the sufficiency of Scripture, Dever shows how God's Word guides us in assembling for corporate worship, teaches us about life and doctrine, and more. 224 pages, softcover from B&H.

Many Christians, though they may regularly participate in the ministry of the Church, never really take the time to think through what exactly the Church is or how it should function. In the midst of the cultural assault on both the Bible and the Gospel many believers are happy just to find anyplace where they can go and hear biblical teaching. Denominational distinctives and differences in how various churches handle membership, discipline, and decision making have seemingly begun to fade into the background. Of course, as soon as there is some kind of issue to be resolved all of those various distinctives come into play in a very practical way. In this book Mark Dever calls our attention to the biblical teaching regarding the nature and function of the Church and how it is related to the Gospel itself.

The book is divided into three parts, each of which has chapters that are focused on a specific element of the study of the Church (ecclesiology).

Part 1: What Does the Bible Say?

1.      The Nature of the Church

2.      The Attributes of the Church, One, Holy, Universal, Apostolic

3.      The Marks of the Church

4.      The Membership of the Church

5.      The Polity of the Church

6.      The Discipline of the Church

7.      The Purpose of the Church

8.      The Hope of the Church

Part 2: What Has the Church Believed?

9.      The History of the Idea of the Church

10.  The History of the Ordinances of the Church

11.  The History of the Organization of the Church

Part 3: How Does it All Fit Together?

12.  A Protestant Church: Putting Together the Marks of the Church

13.  A Gathered Church: Putting Together the Membership of the Church

14.  A Congregational Church: Putting Together the Structure of the Church

15.  A Baptist Church: Should We Have Baptist Churches Today?

16.  Conclusion: Why Does This Matter?

Dever’s passion for the topic is apparent as you read this book. It is a serious examination of the topics involved but Dever writes with a pastor’s heart. He is writing from a Baptist perspective but his explanations of the differences in church organization and why they exist is handled in an effective and fair way. He seeks to honor the unity of the Church proper while recognizing the importance of denominational and local churches as individual and distinct gatherings of believers.

The book is well argued and well documented. Even when I had a slightly different view than what he was arguing for I found myself compelled by his explanations to think and study the issues more carefully. I especially appreciated his analysis of the texts used to support congregationalism and his emphasis on the inseparable relationship between Christ, the Gospel, and the Church. From a practical perspective the chapter on why there should be Baptist churches today and why the doctrine of the Church matters were timely and well done.

Dever’s skillful handling of the biblical teaching and the historical sources leads to a substantial but accessible overview of one of the most important yet sadly neglected doctrines in the Bible. He reminds us that The Church is not just a functional category but it is an integral part of God’s plan of salvation. The book is well argued and yet is not overly technical. It is a good overview of the biblical teaching on the nature and function of the Church. It may be particularly helpful to those who are curious about the differences between and reasons for the various types of church organization such as episcopal, presbyterian, congregational, etc. I recommend it to anyone with an interest in the doctrine of The Church and to every Christian who has never thought about it before.

Practical Theology

What do you think of when you hear the word “theology”? Unfortunately for many people the word conjures up visions quite removed from their daily life. It is often assumed to be a word more closely associated with a library than a living room, a classroom rather than a workplace, and ideas rather than people. The truth of the matter though is that in the Christian life one cannot separate the knowledge we have of God and our practical everyday walk. As we consider the inexhaustible wisdom of God’s revelation of Himself in His Word we are drawn to think more deeply upon Him. The result is not impractical or academic but rather calls attention to the majesty and greatness of God and His Word. Unfortunately most Christians neglect a disciplined study of the things of God and prefer a more devotional and experiential approach. Often this is accompanied by the assumption that theological study is unnecessary for the average person and is the calling of only a small subset of people within the Church.

Sadly, this sets up a false separation between growing in knowledge and living the Christian life as if the two were not interdependent. The result is that many people are deprived of a deeper interaction with God and a strengthened confidence in the truth of the Bible as objective and unchanging truth. By learning about God and His truth we come to know the Lord in a more intimate way.

Theology (the study of what is true about God) need not be stiff, academic, or detached. I read two great articles today at the housewife theologian website that address the need for women in particular to be engaged in theological study. These articles, How Well Do YouReally Know the Person You Love and Reflections on Women and Theology do a wonderful job of calling attention to an important issue in the Church today. Disciplined Bible study and theological reflection should be encouraged for all Christians regardless of their demographics. The Bible does not categorize us based upon our demographic or market segments. These are just a couple of a number of articles over there that not only deal with important topics but are also great examples of how to communicate theological truth in a balanced, practical, and accessible way. 

I encourage you to read them.