Jun 20, 2010
Communion in Suffering
Posted by Michael Howarth in Theology | Comments (0)
I recently read a quote by a man named Alvin Reid that intrigued me greatly: "We must revisit the biblical teaching that we are never more like the prophets or Jesus than when we are rejected." It intrigued me because it implies a special communion brought about by the shared suffering of Christ and his people. We've all heard that suffering can lead us to greater intimacy with God but can suffering and rejection be seen AS intimacy with God? Does scripture display this? I believe it does and that is what we'll explore in this post. We are offered an opportunity that is both beautiful and humbling; God allows us, even in our suffering, to commune with Christ. Perhaps I should say, especially in our suffering.
Jesus put it very bluntly: the gospel will bring persecution. (Matt. 10:16) It is in that suffering, rejection, and trial that God invites us to deep fellowship with Christ. Jesus says that our acknowledgement of him has a direct connection to his acknowledgement of us. (Matt.26:32) I don't know about you, but I don't have a problem acknowledging my faith in Christ openly. However, I do find myself at times blunting the power of the gospel due to its radical otherness; it runs contrary to the wisdom of the world. The teaching of scripture shows us that Christians are not at home in this world, the Kingdom of God is our home. (1 Peter 2:11) Many times, I find it hard to keep my heart mindful of this and to put my hope in the glory to come. When my hope is properly seated, it helps me to understand that this life is a vapor and rejection for Christ’s sake is an honor.
Is there someone who has suffered more than Jesus? Anything above judgment and punishment for you and I is grace. The breath I breathe is grace, the sun I see is grace, the love ones I have around me are grace. Jesus on the other hand did not deserve any of the judgment or scorn he received, yet as a friend stated recently: "He went quietly to the cross."
He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
yet he opened not his mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
so he opened not his mouth.
Isaiah 53:7
Does the world know such servant hood? This is why Paul says the gospel "Is foolishness to those who are perishing." (1 Cor.1:18) It is completely alien to the bent natures we are born with and the tooth and claw, survival of the fittest systems of society. Yet this is the path we are called to as believers. Will we openly and joyfully receive outright rejection for the sake of the gospel? I hate to say this but I spy a lurking ulterior motive in my heart. One that wants to be part of a cool contemporary church because I hope it will be an easier pill for unbelievers to swallow and will allow me to remain hip and relevant to the culture. The hideous extreme of this is when the gospel is diluted and twisted and becomes simply "life enhancement". This is not a critique of how church is done but more on how our hearts view the gospel. The cross is not about happiness in this life, it’s about righteousness before God. The gospel is unmovable and unmistakably foreign. It will at times bring us to places where we are openly mocked, awkwardly cut off in conversation and at odds with family members and friends.
"For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead." Phil. 3:9
How incredible that Paul is not only willing but eager- desirous- to share in the sufferings of Christ. He doesn't view his suffering as God's abandonment and he doesn't tone down his message in the face of fierce opposition and persecution. He counts his education, his worldly accomplishments and his societal status as refuse compared to knowing Christ and sharing in his sufferings. In a very real sense he is saying, "Leave me whipped and naked, shackled in a pit for the sake of the gospel and I will be thankful, I will rejoice."
Furthermore:
"...and when they had called in the apostles (Peter, et al.), they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ." Acts 5:40-42
You and I are not in danger of physical shackling or imprisonment but we are nevertheless in danger of being in bondage to the fear of man. Do we see rejection for the gospel's sake as something to rejoice over or as the thing we are quietly yet intensely trying to avoid at all times? Will the power of the gospel in us be tempered and tamed by the prospect of rejection or will we continually repent to the cross where Christ counted us as worthy of the rejection and pain? Will we count him as worthy of the rejection we will face? Do we embrace it as sacred communion with our Lord?
Suffering for the gospel is communion with Christ.
“Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets."
Posted by Michael Howarth in Theology
