Programs, systems, and methods sit well in the ivory towers of monasteries or in the wooden arms of icons. Head knowledge comes from the pages of a theology text. But the invitation to know God—really know him—is always an invitation to suffer. Not to suffer alone, but to suffer with him. “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it” (Mark 8:34-35).
…If I'm to be held steady in the midst of my suffering, I want to be held not by a doctrine or a cause but by the most powerful Person in the universe.
Amazing love, how can it be? That God should plunge the knife in his heart for me—all the while, me, dry and indifferent, cool and detached. That he, the God of life, should conquer death by embracing it. That he should destroy the power of sin by letting it destroy him.
— Joni Eareckson Tada, When God Weeps
Interesting that there is no comment to this posting since whenever it was added. Why not? Suffering is a word and concept that the Biblical follower in the New Testament tradition (and might I say in the "Protestant" tradition) doesn't want to acknowledge. It's painful. It's also all about pain. We don't like to hurt.
ReplyDeleteCatholics have a long tradition of acknowledging pain and suffering, but, of course, their theology ascribes a works salvation that derives some level of salvation from not only suffering, but self-inflicting suffering, such as whipping oneself.
But I think that the quote by Ms Tada is lacking something. There is a whole world of sharing that is more than my personal suffering, and even more powerful that the concept of my God who loves me and cares about my suffering. God gave us community. No, even more,He commanded us to be in community. Suffering is never to be borne alone. It is something to be shared. When one part of the Body suffers, it all suffers.
Suffering then is a triunity of involvement. I suffer, G-d understands my suffering thru His Messiah that He gave us, and the fellowship around me will suffer with me as it anguishes at my pain.
To live alone without brethren I can't understand. I don't know how to suffer all alone.