Suffering Part 2

Most of my thoughts today come straight from 1 Peter. I think if it were a book today it might be named "How to Suffer Well-Always for the Sake of Doing Good". After reading this letter through, one could tell Peter has obviously experienced suffering. Peter also has an unwavering hope that all of his suffering was not in vain and ours won't be either...if done right. It is kind of funny writing on this subject because I haven't really suffered. I am so blessed to have a wife, a home, a great family, a job, food, clothing, and both sets of Grandparents still alive. Sure, I've experienced some difficult situations, but none as tough as the Christians Peter was writing to. I feel almost as if I am reviewing a movie that I haven't seen or a book I haven't read. But it is this fact scares/excites/motivates me. I would not by any means wish suffering upon myself or anyone else. I would much rather give God glory in preaching or in leading worship than through suffering. But, if that's what it takes for me to realize that I have nothing without God and cannot place my hope anywhere else, so be it. Peter goes so far to state that "We were called" to suffer for doing good. Put another way, it is God's will that we suffer for doing good. It is God's will that we suffer?! Furthermore, we must give glory to God when we do! I am scared for what God is going to call me to suffer through. I am scared it's going to be difficult. I am scared it is going to test my faith. So my prayer now is, when suffering does come, either for doing good or because creation is subjected to futility, I will give God all the glory for letting me be an instrument of his mercy.

Suffering

This week will begin a new series on suffering. As I wrote last week, I have been reading extensively through 1 Peter which is a letter all about suffering well for the sake of the Gospel. I recently read a blog by Tim Keller who stated the five things the local church needs to address and deal with in order to grow.

-Be in the business of Culture-making not culture following
-A renewal of apologetics
-A greater variety of church models
-Develop a far better theology of suffering
-A critical mass of churches in major cities around the world

I will attempt to tackle suffering this week and hope to get your thoughts on a few of the issues. Today I'll deal with the culture's thoughts on suffering.

Typically, Americans don't suffer well...here in the bible belt anyway (kind of ironic). Suffering of any kind is looked on not as a building of character or integrity, but as something no one in their life should ever experience. For most Americans, even after a natural disaster or terrorist attack, the idea of suffering angers us and causes Toby Keith to write lyrics like, "We'll put a boot in your a@# it's the American way". Suffering is viewed as unjust (more than likely it is), unfair, wrong and blameworthy. However, I don't disagree with any of those ideas, it is the way in which people react to the idea of suffering. People turn to the legal system and sue each other, they resort to irrational behavior and language and find anyway possible to blame whatever they are experiencing on someone or something else. The very definition of suffering has behind it the idea that one is undergoing something difficult. And to me, this screams the exact opposite of our microwavable, "Easy Button" culture. "Anything difficult...no thanks. I'll lie to my spouse, cheat on my taxes, and gossip about my so-called friends. That's easier. I'll avoid any chance that I might actually undergo something difficult." Suffering well is hard. It's not easy. It has caused countless Christians to lose their faith in God. What do you think? Has the church bought into the culture's idea that we should avoid suffering at all costs?

Bible Translations

I grew up reading the NIV. I really never knew anything different. However, the one thing I did know was that the KJV was outdated, sounded ridiculous, and was more difficult to read. Recently I have been listening to a few preachers that study and preach from the ESV (English Standard Version). So, I started reading it and the differences and nuances I found in it were so refreshing. The ESV is actually much closer to the actual Greek translation than the NIV. Let me give you an example. Caleb and Laura and I were reading through 1 John in preparation for LEGO groups this Sunday and the beginning of Chapter 3 reads like this in the NIV. "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!" Here it is in the ESV. "See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God" The actual Greek reads this way, word for word. "See from what foreign origin the love has given to us the Father that children of God we should be called." The translation I just gave you would be considered the Interlinear-word for word in the Greek. The image at the bottom gives you most major translations and where they fall in relation to interlinear or thought for thought. What translation do you read?

Quiet Time 3

So many times I open the word of God and have no clue what to read or what I should read. I usually gauge what I am going to read by the number of times I have read a certain passage or by what I feel like I need to hear (so selfish). "Romans...nahh...don't really feel like reading about knowing what I should do and not doing it. James...don't really feel like reading about 'practical Christian living'. 1 John...I've been pretty loving lately...I feel like being encouraged. How about Philippians?" Even as selfish as I can be sometimes, God is always faithful and exposes in me something I really needed to hear, or builds up my spirit. Often times what I have found God is doing in me through his word is preparing for something to come. I'm a bit scared this week as I have been reading 1 Peter. If you haven't read through 1 Peter lately, it is all about suffering well for the sake of the gospel. I'm scared in that, God is shaping my thoughts, my emotions, and my heart for a time to come when this could be the case. I've read 1 Peter quite a few times, and as I am spending more and more time in silence with God, he continues to reveal his word to my heart in a new, exciting and scary way.

Quiet Time 2

As you might have guessed, I've already missed a couple of days-pretty pathetic. Why is that so difficult? What Christians consider the most important thing in life, the thing which we strive to give our life to, and I can't take 10 minutes out of my day to spend in thought about it! This morning I picked back up and spent my quiet time before I read-no commentaries, no podcasts, just me and the word of God. I was reminded of how precious this time is. I realized very quickly this morning that I have been so dependent on other people, commentaries, and others opinions to tell me about the words of God. This morning was so refreshing to let the Holy Spirit work in my heart and allow God to open my eyes to what he is doing in me.

Quiet Time

How often do you spend time in complete solace just listening? I think there is extreme value in this and it is something that I don't do nearly enough. This week I am going to make a much more concerted effort to turn off my cell phone, iPod, and computer and focus on listening to God this week. This is such a simple concept yet so difficult to do. One of the reasons I don't do it more often is that I am so accustomed to speaking to God and rely heavily on the words I have to say to Him. It's as if what I am going to say must be profound enough for Him to hear-as if he doesn't know what is on my heart anyway. I'm going to dedicate at least 15 minutes a day to trying this-I'll let you know how it goes.

The Big Red Tractor

What if the church actually did what we were charged with? We should stop being gaurds and start being gardeners. Let me know your thoughts on the video.