Why Are We Surprised When We Suffer for Christ?

I am no expert in suffering. Quite frankly, I do not know that I have ever truly suffered for Jesus Christ. While many brothers and sisters in Christ suffer overseas in places like North Korea and the Middle East, I live in the relative freedom of the USA. I do not know why this is the case; it's just where God decided that I would be born.

It both fascinates and saddens me that so many Christians act surprised when we are actually called upon to suffer for the cause of Christ. I'm mainly referring here to American Christians (I cannot speak with knowledge about this topic as it relates to other countries). When Christians are treated in the USA with even a little bit of contempt the response is predictable. Christians will basically say, "How dare they?" and act stunned that anyone would ever act in such a manner.

(This post stems from an earlier one entitled Sorry, But I Can't Stop Asking Questions.)

This type of reaction by Christians toward suffering tells us two things. First, and most troubling, it shows us that these Christians either do not know what the bible says about this issue or they simply do not believe what it says.

Romans 8:16-17, "The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 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."

Philippians 1:29, "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."

I Peter 2:21, "For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps."

The list of bible verses goes on and on.

The second thing Christians being surprised by suffering shows us is that they are confusing cultural conservatism with living for Christ. While the Republican Party says we should stand up for our rights, the kingdom of Christ is about sacrificing our rights. The culture warriors insist on self-defense while Jesus calls us to lives of non-violence.

In the end, I believe the main reason American Christians are shocked at having to suffer even a little bit is because we are addicted to comfort. We are used to living lives of relative ease. We get bothered when our smart phones don't work just right. We are indignant when the drive-thru is too slow. We think we are going to die if the air conditioning goes out.

We need to take scripture seriously. Jesus has called us to lives of suffering. This does not mean that we seek it out, but rather that we accept it when it comes upon us. Instead of being surprised, we must understand that this is what it is to walk in our Lord's footsteps.

On the Ceremonially Unclean Side of the River

As many of you know, our family had the privilege of serving the Lord in Varanasi, India in 2006-2007. Varanasi is one of the holiest cities in all of Hinduism. You've probably seen photos such as the one above. The Hindus are ceremonially bathing in the Ganges River in the hopes of washing their sins away. Large stone steps, referred to as ghats, line the city side of the river. Literally thousands of people pilgrimage to V-town every day to dip in the Ganges.

The far side of the river is barren. I don't have a photo of it because there isn't anything to see other than a mud bar and some small trees. The far side is considered ceremonially unclean by the Hindus. Somewhat ironically, and appropriately, the Indian Christians of the city hold their baptisms on the far side. What the Hindus consider impure, the Christians embrace.

The Christians often baptize of the far side because they face less persecution there. This is completely understandable; they will face enough persecution as it is. There's no reason to foolishly invite more by trying to baptize on the ghat side. As a bonus, the far side, while considered ceremonially impure by the Hindus, is actually much cleaner because there's nothing over there.

The baptisms on the far side of the Ganges remind me of Hebrews 13:11-13:

"For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured."

In many ways, the Indian Christians of Varanasi have run to Christ outside the gate. When they leave Hinduism for Christianity they often face all sorts of persecution (some worse than others). The far side of the river baptisms are a perfect illustration of living outside the gate with Christ. They have given up much for His great cause. They suffer with Him. They see that it's worth it.

It's odd living here in the USA. I often wonder what it truly is to go outside the gate to live with Christ. I've never suffered in any significant way for my Lord. I'm not complaining, but it certainly seems like an anomaly compared to what most believers face around the world today.

To some extent we all suffer a little when we reject the things of the world. However, in the United States this isn't really that big of a deal. We American Christians almost never face actual persecution for following Jesus.

I suppose the best thing to do is to be ready to suffer when the time comes. We'll all likely to be called to reside outside the gate sooner or later.

Missions in I Peter

The book of I Peter teaches us much about living as exiles in this world. Not surprisingly, the apostle deals with the theme of suffering several times in this epistle. What about missions? Does Peter write anything that will help us share the gospel more effectively? The answer is yes. Peter gives us valuable information to share about the church. Specifically, the church is a priesthood (to read the first post in this series, click here).

In order to fully share the good news of Jesus Christ, we must tell what the church is and does. Although this is secondary to what Christ has accomplished for us, it is still critical. The reason is that anyone who accepts Christ is also immediately ushered into the church. The new believer needs to know what this thing is that he is a part of.

Peter writes the following short but key passages:

"As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." I Peter 2:4-5

"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." I Peter 2:9

In these passages Peter says that the church is a "holy priesthood" and a "royal priesthood." We are told that we are able to "offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God" and "proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."

Priests have direct access to God. Priests have a relationship with Him. Priests are active. Priests offer acceptable sacrifices. New believers need to know that God expects them to be active in their relationship with Him, in their relationships with other believers, and in their proclamation of the gospel to the world.

A problem with much missions and evangelism today is that it offers no biblical definition of what the church should be and do. Instead, new Christians quickly learn through observation that they are expected to attend Sunday School, attend worship services, listen to sermons, join a church, put money in the offering plate, attend Wednesday evening activities, etc., etc., etc. These expectations create passive new believers.

Thanks to Peter we have a biblical way of teaching new Jesus-followers what it is to actively live for Jesus. Let's make sure that they understand that they are priests with all the responsibilities and privileges that carries.


To read any or all posts in this series on missions, click here.

Missions in Hebrews

"For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured." Hebrews 13:11-13

The book of Hebrews appears to be a series of sermons/teachings that exhorts early Jewish Christians not to fall away from the faith. The consistent message is, "Jesus is better than anything else." In the midst of these exhortations to remain steadfast, can we learn anything about missions? As always, the answer is yes (to read the first post in this series, click here).

Some NT books tell us much about how to do missions work. Hebrews is not one of them. However, this epistle does give us much helpful information as to the content of what we should be sharing. In the face of this world's pleasures, the author of Hebrews informs us that Jesus is better than anything else, including all the world has to offer. That is the big picture of this book.

It is always a challenge to select a "most important" passage for missions in any book of the bible. I admit that in some ways it is artificial. Therefore, I'll just say that Hebrews 13:11-13 is very important for a full presentation of the gospel. This passage is a reminder that Jesus is worth suffering for.

These verses at first point back to the sacrificial system of the OT. The bodies of the animals used for the sin offering on the Day of Atonement were burned outside the camp. They were completely rejected, not to be consumed by the priests. Like the rejected animal bodies, Jesus (our atonement) was rejected outside the camp. He was crucified outside the city walls at Calvary.

Verse 13 is the tipping point. All believers are called upon to go to Jesus outside the gate. This is speaking of rejecting the pleasures and comforts of this world in favor of Christ. This decision will have consequences that usually include suffering.

One problem with much witnessing, at least in the Western world, is that the gospel presentation does not include a counting of the cost. We must forthrightly tell non-believers that a life with Christ may very well be a life of suffering. Despite this, it is a much better life. Only when they understand that following Christ goes hand-in-hand with suffering do they have a full understanding of the gospel.

Let's be faithful in sharing that the Christian life takes place outside the gate with Jesus.


To read any or all posts in this series, please click here.

In Chronic Pain

For the past several weeks I've been experiencing chronic pain in my left thigh and lower back. I'm not sure what the cause is, but I believe it has something to do with my sciatic nerve. To be blunt, it hurts a lot.

Compounding the difficulty is that I'm currently working about 60-65 hours per week. Most of that requires me to be on my feet on a concrete floor. I'm grateful for the job, but the combination of (sciatic?) pain and concrete is not a good one. I feel like I should invest in shares of ibuprofen companies.

There are various forms of physical therapy that help relieve this pain. However, they are all fairly expensive. We have medical insurance but have to meet a deductible before it kicks in. Therefore, for now at least I'm not going down that path.

I know God is in control of this situation. He is sovereign. I'm trying not to ask why this is happening, but it can be a struggle sometimes when I can barely do my job.

I'm writing this post to ask for your prayer. Please simply ask that God's will be done. I'd love it if God would take the pain away fully and immediately, but sometimes He has much better plans than that.

The pain has gotten to the point that when I get home I pretty much collapse on the couch. This is not good. I need to be more active at home in the few hours I have with my family.

Thank you for praying.

Missions in Colossians

“Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church…” Colossians 1:24

What is Paul talking about in the above verse? And why is this the most important verse in Colossians related to world missions? (To read the first post in this series, please click here).

Paul writes this epistle to a church he has never met. The apostle is troubled because some false teachers have crept into the church, spreading teachings about Christ that attempt to lesson who he is. Paul pens Colossians in order to combat the false teachings by explaining the magnificence and preeminence of Jesus Christ (see for example 1:15-1:18).

Soon after reading 1:15-1:18 we come to 1:24. At first reading this verse may seem strange or even heretical. Is Paul claiming that Christ’s sufferings were somehow lacking in their saving power? Does the apostle believe that his own sufferings in some way add to what Jesus accomplished? The answers are a resounding No and No.

What, then, is Paul saying? Paul is emphasizing that through his own afflictions the Colossian believers can better understand what Jesus did for them. The Colossian church did not even exist at the time of Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection. They now know about what Jesus did on the cross, but they cannot sense it at an experiential level.

They do appear to know, however, of Paul’s sufferings. For example, at the time he wrote this letter, Paul was likely under house arrest in Rome. Through Paul’s willingness to suffer for the cause of Christ, the Colossian Christians both gain a better sense of Jesus’ sufferings and see that Jesus is worth suffering for.

Why is this important to world missions? It is important because those spreading the gospel are often called upon by God to suffer for the gospel. We see this in Paul’s life repeatedly. In Acts 9:15-16 we read of Paul, “But the Lord said to him, ‘Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.’” Later in Acts Paul even gets stoned for the cause of Christ.

Throughout history we have seen Christian missionaries suffer for the sake of the gospel. As we see in Colossians 1:24, this suffering on the part of the gospel herald helps the hearers better understand our Lord’s sufferings. It also gives the message that Jesus is worth dying for.

One of my modern heroes is Adoniram Judson. He and his wife Ann were some of the first American missionaries to the Far East. Judson suffered many years of terrible anguish in Burma to see the people there come to Christ. It is clear that this was God’s plan for him. (To read an excellent biography of Judson, click here).

The scriptures tell and show us over and over that those who are faithful in sharing the good news will probably end up suffering for the good news in one way or another. It’s all part of God’s providential way of making the gospel come to life for those in need of it.

We must understand that there is a cost to world missions. It is a worthwhile cost.

(To read any or all of this series, please click here).

Therefore Let Us Go To Him Outside the Camp

"So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured." Hebrews 13:12-13

It is a great and wonderful truth that Jesus suffered for us. He did so under unspeakable circumstances. Our Savior in every way died in horrid pain outside the gate. As on the Day of Atonement when the bodies of the sacrificial animals were not eaten but instead were burned outside the camp, our atonement - Jesus - was murdered outside for us.

This is the great exchange that scripture speaks of so clearly. He allowed himself to be tortured and slaughtered in order to make us holy. This is simply stunning.

The author to the Hebrews doesn't stop there. After describing what Christ has done, he calls upon us to join Jesus outside the camp. If the camp signifies the comfort, safety, acceptance, and pleasures of the world, then when we venture outside to Christ, we are also opening ourselves up to "the reproach he endured." This reproach is suffering. We certainly won't all suffer alike, but we at least embrace the idea that followers of Christ generally face persecution with Christ.

In the O.T., those considered ceremonially unclean had to stay outside the camp; the world may think of us as metaphorically unclean, or at least really weird, because we do not embrace its ideals. Because we are outsiders, or "exiles" as Peter writes, we will probably face forms of social rejection at a minimum and possibly far worse.

I wonder how many of us desire to live fully for Christ but also want to remain inside the camp. Or maybe we desire to sort of stand with one foot inside and one foot outside. The author doesn't supply us with that option. The call is to embrace what Jesus endured, rejecting the fleeting pleasures that the world has to offer. Running to Christ is likely also running to suffering. The two go together.

I wonder if I, a Christian and an American, really understand this. For many people around the globe, the moment they embrace Christ is the moment they embrace suffering. For us in the USA at least, we face a not so subtle danger. We can be lulled to sleep by the lack of outright persecution and fall into the trap of trying to embrace both Christian living and capitalistic, democratic comfort. The two just don't go together.

We must remember the great hope we have in all this. While we will face persecution if we desire to live godly lives, we also have the promise of the city that is to come. We read of this in Hebrews 13:14, immediately following the above two verses. The ruler of that city is also the ruler of the universe. He is the one who embraced rejection outside the earthly city. May we all embrace him by embracing that same rejection outside the camp during our short stay on this earth.

"To Die is Gain: The Triumph of John and Betty Stam"

I love biographies of missionaries. It is exciting to see the way God moves in various places all around the world. When we read of missionaries, we see God using regular people to do amazing things through His grace for His kingdom.

I just finished reading another inspiring book about missionaries. To Die is Gain: The Triumph of John and Betty Stam is a gripping tale of a young couple who gave their lives in martyrdom for Christ.

While in their late 20's, the Stams moved to rural China - with China Inland Mission - to share the gospel with the millions of lost there. Despite the dangers of both bandits and communists, they went where it wasn't safe to go. The Stams were willing to do this even though they had an infant girl (Helen).

In God's grand plan, communist revolutionaries suddenly took over the town where they were living in 1934. After a couple of days in captivity, the Stams were marched to a hillside and beheaded.

In God's amazing providence, Helen was spared. Some brave Chinese Christians found Helen and smuggled her over 100 miles to safety.

I encourage you to read this book because it reminds us of what God will do with people completely given over to Him. Both John and Betty abandoned the cares of the world to follow Christ wherever He would lead them.

One of the fascinating aspects of this little book (about 130 pages) is that it contains copies of much original correspondence from both John and Betty to their families and friends. We get to know them both through these original writings.

This book has been through over 30 editions since 1935. In light of that, it seems that it would be easy to find. Unfortunately, I think I purchased one of the last reasonably priced copies from Amazon.com.

It's worth the search. I encourage you to look for it and buy it. Another option is to check your local library. With so many editions, there is a good chance the library has it.

To read about the Stams without getting this book, click here.

Pakistan Flood Photos

Click here to see photos of the disastrous flooding in Pakistan. Let us help however we can.

My Son Bobby on the News

Most of you know that three years ago our son Bobby was diagnosed with a form of lymphoma. He endured several very difficult months of chemotherapy followed by much more time of recovery. We praise the Lord that today Bobby remains cancer free. We also thank the Lord for carrying us through that trial.

Our local Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) has asked Bobby to be their "hero" for this year as they strive to raise funds for more research into blood cancers. Tonight the LLS held a kickoff for their fundraising. The fun part was that it took place at our local minor league baseball stadium. Bobby was given the honor of throwing out the first pitch at tonight's Sand Gnats game.

On top of all this, some reporters from a local TV affiliate attended the kickoff. They interviewed Alice and Bobby. Read the news article here.

"Surprised by Suffering"

Suffering hurts.

We've probably all been there to one degree or another. Suffering causes us to ask what we really believe. We may wonder why we have to suffer. Suffering also lends itself to questions of death and life after death.

We all need to take time to be certain what we believe about these issues before we find ourselves in the middle of suffering. When we are in the midst of great pain (whether physical, emotional, or both), we are in no position to try to decide what we believe.

R.C. Sproul has written a helpful book on the topic of suffering. Surprised by Suffering: the Role of Pain and Death in the Christian Life is really more like two books in one. In the first half of the book, Sproul focuses his attention on suffering in this present life. He offers sound biblical arguments that should lead to greater understanding of this difficult issue.

In the second half of this text, Sproul switches his attention to life after death, in particular for the Christian. After shooting down popular secular ideas of what the afterlife might look like, Sproul lets the bible inform us. He shows that the bible teaches that to die is gain. Then, looking in Revelation and other books, he shows us why. I appreciate his biblical description of heaven.

If you or someone you know wants to think through these issues, this book would be a good place to begin.

Order it here.

Haiti, Compassion, and Humility

As the initial shock of the horror in Haiti begins to wear off, the question of "Why?" will begin to come to the forefront. This is where we Christians have a wonderful opportunity to show humility and gracefully share the hope of the gospel. Too often, however, we instead stick both feet in our mouths.

So how should we respond to the question of "Why?"

First, let's be certain to answer compassionately. Any answer we give should show great compassion for the immense suffering of the people of Haiti. As Jesus showed compassion for the hurting, we should do the same. This includes helping in tangible ways by sending money, supplies, etc. It also includes prayer.

Second, let's answer with humility. We have to be careful not to assume to know God's thoughts and ways when it comes to disasters like this. I've found that Christians tend to answer the "Why?" question in two faulty ways. On the one hand, some Christians immediately conclude that a disaster of this sort is an act of judgment by God upon wherever a disaster occurs. How they know this, I have no idea. Additionally, this conclusion displays a great amount of hubris because we all deserve to be struck by an earthquake. The second faulty response other Christians give to the "Why?" question is to imply that God was not really in control of it; they answer as if it just sort of happened. This is faulty because we know that God is omnipotent - nothing occurs outside of His sovereign will and control. So, what do we say? We should honestly say that we do not know why this specific earthquake happened.

Third, let's answer by sharing the love of God in the gospel. We know that the worst thing that ever happened on this earth was the execution of the only perfect One - Jesus Christ. Although this earthquake, Hurricane Katrina, the tsunami of 2004, the 9/11 attacks, etc. were terrible, it was the killing of Christ that was the most terrible event in history. Let's share with people what God did that day on the cross. God suffered that day. He suffered worse than anyone else ever has - including even those in Haiti right now.

We do not know the mind of God on specific tragedies. Let's not claim to know it. Instead, let us show compassion, humility, and love as we discuss this issue. Let's use it as an opportunity to share the gospel - the news that God suffered for man in order to rescue those who do not deserve rescuing.

Most of the World Faces Religious Restriction

This is probably no surprise, but new data from the Pew Research Center indicates that most of the people of the world face some sort of religious restriction.

According to the report, "64 nations - about one-third of the countries in the world - have high or very high restrictions on religion. But because some of the most restrictive countries are very populous, nearly 70 percent of the world's 6.8 billion people live in countries with high restrictions on religion, the brunt of which often falls on religious minorities." Click here for the full report.

The chart below (click directly on the chart to increase its size) shows restriction in the world's 25 most populous countries. It is interesting - and troublesome - that the people of China and India, by far the two largest countries, face significant restriction, albeit different forms.

I expect the United States to rise in both governmental restrictions and social hostilities in the years ahead. This will probably be a good thing for the church.

What is a Biblical Response to Muslims?

Instead of trying to argue Muslims into Christianity, maybe we should follow a biblical approach by being willing to lovingly die for them.

Jesus tells us in John 12:24, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain."

Click here to watch a short video of Christian who recently gave his life to save Muslims. I have no doubt that those who he saved will be much more willing to now listen to the gospel message.

Seeing Providence in the Good and the Bad

I love God's providence.

Providence is God's controlling all things that occur for His glory and for our good. Providence is, quite simply, God's loving sovereignty in action. The verse that may best sum up providence is the well-known Romans 8:28, which tells us, "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." (ESV)

I will admit, however, that in my flesh I see providence very selectively. On a moment-by-moment basis, I see the good things that happen to me as providential, but the bad things as, well, non-providential. Of course, I'm mistakenly relying on my own rationality to tell me what I think is "good" and what is "bad." For example, if I drive through Savannah with no traffic problems, no accidents, no flat tires, no speeding tickets, and no breakdowns, I freely and thankfully admit that this is God's providence in action. However, if my car breaks down, I get a ticket, or I end up stuck in traffic, I rarely see this as God's providence. When "bad" things happen, I too often temporarily morph into some sort of functional atheist.

The bible tells us to view all of life as being part of God's providence. In particular, the scriptures exhort us to view our sufferings as being causes of joy. The reason for this is that suffering draws us closer to Christ and matures us in Christ. For a couple of examples:

Romans 5:3-5, "More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us."

James 1:2-4, "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."

If bad things happening to us - some of which is real suffering and some of which probably is not - brings us closer to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, then we should correctly view these things as acts of providence on the part of God.

Since God is completely sovereign and completely good, this means that He providentially controls all of our activities. We should, therefore, consider all things that happen to us (good or bad) to be gifts of the providential hand of our Lord.

Persecution Continues in India

The persecution of Christians in India is nothing new. However, in the Indian state of Orissa the persecution has been particularly intense for the past year. This continues as we near the one year anniversary of the spark (the death of a Hindu leader that was falsely blamed on Christians) of these troubles.

Let us remember our Christian brothers and sisters overseas who are suffering for the cause of Christ. Hebrews 13:3, "Remember the prisoners as if chained with them -- those who are mistreated -- since you yourselves are in the body also."

To read more about the persecution sin Orissa, click here.

"Filling Up the Afflictions of Christ"

The bible has much to say about suffering. I must admit that I struggle with much of what the bible says about suffering. I believe it; I just don't like to suffer.

For example, the bible tells us:

"More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." Romans 5:3-5 (ESV)

"Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus." II Timothy 2:3

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness." James 1:2-3

John Piper has written a new book that focuses on suffering. In particular, Piper's thesis focuses on the relationship between suffering and missions. Piper says that missions work will not only bring suffering upon those sharing Christ, but that the suffering of the missionaries is the means by which the gospel spreads. The reason for this? Those who suffer for the sake of the gospel show unbelievers in a tangible way something about the reality of the sufferings of Jesus Christ in His life and (especially) His death.

The book's title comes directly from Colossians 1:24, which says, "Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church."

In Filling Up the Afflictions of Christ, Piper focuses on the lives of William Tyndale, John Paton, and Adoniram Judson. He shows that God used the great sufferings of these men to propagate the gospel (albeit in different ways) to those who had never heard it.

If you have never read about these three men, then I encourage you to purchase this book (click here). If you have read about these men, then I would encourage you to check this book out of the library and give it a quick read (it is short - only about 120 pages).

On a personal level, I liked this book because Adoniram Judson is one of my heroes. His suffering and endurance are beyond what I can comprehend. If you want to learn much more about Judson than Piper discusses, then I highly encourage you to read a great biography about Judson entitled To the Golden Shore. It is long (530 pages), but worth it.

A Hard Look at Suffering

A few years ago, not long after we returned to the U.S.A. from India, I dealt with some hard issues (on my previous blog) related to suffering. This was during the time that our son Bobby was undergoing chemotherapy treatments for cancer. These were difficult questions at the time, and they remain that way now. Please click on the links below to read the different questions and how I think the bible answers them. I'm interested to know what you think.

By the way, we praise the Lord for healing our son!


Why Does My Son Have to Suffer?

Question #1: Why Does My Child Have to Suffer?

Question #2: Does God Want My Child to be Healed?

Question #3: Why Does a Good, Omnipotent God Allow Suffering?

Question #4: Does God Cause or Allow Suffering?

Question #5: What Does Our Suffering Say About the Character of God?

Question #6: How Should We Respond to Suffering?

A Wise Word on Suffering - Adoniram Judson

Pierced for Our Transgressions

(Click on the diagram for a larger view.)


Isaiah 53:4-6 (NASB):

4 Surely our griefs He Himself bore,
and our sorrows He carried;
yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken,
smitten of God, and afflicted.

5 But He was pierced through for our transgressions,
He was crushed for our iniquities;
the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him,
and by His scourging we are healed.

6 All of us like sheep have gone astray,
each of us has turned to his own way;
but the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all
to fall on Him.

Scourging: Part of What I Deserve and Part of What Christ Bore

(Click directly on the diagram to see a larger view.)