The Cost

Suffering for God

We allknow about pain. Like it or not, pain is always an integral part oflife. There are some things that simply cannot be achieved withoutsuffering. The phrase "pain is an excellent teacher" is perhapsthe most true statement I've heard and applied to my life. Humansfear pain, because it is hurt that lasts. It does not always go awayimmediately, and it stays even longer in our heads than on ourbodies. Pain breaks us down, kicks us in the teeth, and can evendestroy us. Only by learning from pain, after experiencing it, can wegrow and toughen up.

Jesusunderstood this perfectly. From the very beginning, there were peoplewho rejected and despised him for being nothing more than who he was.They did not want to believe that he could be Jesus, because he didnot come the way they expected him to. The Jewish people expected himto come as a warlord, striking down the Romans and restoring theJews. However, he came onto the earth as the son of a carpenter, bornfrom a teenaged virgin. Not exactly the most ordinary of occurrences.But during his ministry, Jesus suffered and was rejected by manypeople. He ultimately bore the ultimate price, and went to the crossfor us. I don't know if you know, but crucifixion—well, suffice tosay, it's a very horrible thing. It was the punishment reserved forthe worst kinds of people—thieves, murderers, and apparently Jesus.

Bonhoeffersays this in Chapter 4 of The Cost of Discipleship:"To endure the cross is not a tragedy; it is the suffering which isthe fruit of an exclusive allegiance to Jesus Christ. . .rejectionfor Christ's sake" (pg. 88).

Manypeople who are Christians get cold feet about their faith, for anynumber of reasons. Social rejection, persecution, lack of courage,even the potentiality of death or torture. It takes all that we have,and then some, to "bear our cross" constantly for Jesus.

So,this term "bear our cross" has been used a lot. What does itactually mean?

Well,during the New Testament era, a cross was a symbol of suffering, madefamous by crucifixions. It brought images of intense pain andsuffering, even death, to mind. By telling the Disciples to carrytheir crosses and follow him, Jesus is basically saying that theyneed to put to death their own plans and desires to follow him and dohis will every single day. In the same way, we are called to put ourold, sinful selves onto crosses, and follow Jesus' will for ourlives. 

That,of course, means that pain and suffering are inevitable. AsBonhoeffer says, "It (our cross) is not the sort of suffering whichis inseparable from this mortal life, but the suffering which is anessential part of the specifically Christian life."

Letme tell you one thing right off the bat: the Christian life is notthe easy, minimal effort road that gets you comfortably through life.It is the battlefield covered in smoke, barbed wire, landmines, andblood, with the constant chattering of gunfire all around. 2 Timothy3:12 makes it quite clear that, "Indeed, all who desire to live agodly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." Make no mistake, bychoosing to follow Christ, you are not taking the easy road. You willbe tested and tried 24/7 for the rest of your life. As a Christian,you will experience discomfort, fear, rejection, doubt, anxiety, and allmanner of other problems. Following Jesus is not a statement we maketo gain social repute. Following Jesus is us drawing a sword againstsocietal norms and customs of the world, and readying to fight forour lives.

So,why do it if all it's going to bring you is trouble?

Becauseof one simple reason: I would rather suffer in this earthlylife—where things can be forgotten, and pain can eventually goaway, and I can do God's will and impact others—then suffer foreternity after living a limited life of comfort and acceptance. Veryfew things worth doing are ever easy in the long run. Those thingsthat give us the most reward and satisfaction are things we muststrive hard for, and be patient in, sacrificing time, energy,resources, and other personal wants, to achieve. In fact, the Bibleeven tells us to consider it a joywhenwe go through trials! "Consider it pure joy, my brothers andsisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you knowthat the testing of your faith produces perseverance" (James1:2-3). Trials and pain makes us stronger if we desire to overcomeit. Ever heard the phrase "what doesn't kill you makes youstronger"? Again, very true words. Painful situations can onlyserve to strengthen you and toughen you up. You just have to bewilling to rise up one more time, and keep trudging forward. A lot ofthe time, when troubles come our way, we don't know why. We don'tunderstand. But we can choose to have faith in God, and follow himthrough it all. Faith cannot grow without being cut at at least a fewtimes. In martial arts, we have a particular mentality when it comesto taking punches and kicks. That mentality is: "Take thepunch/kick, because it's better to learn to take them now, then toneed to know how later." Even if you can dodge whatever comes yourway, the sensei will make you learn to take punches, because youeventually will have to get hit. That's just a fact. It's better to have a skill and notneed it, then to need a skill and not have it. We can't avoid badstuff forever. But Jesus promises us that it is worth it. He died forus, to give us a shot at eternal life with him, in a perfect place.So honestly, what do we have to fear? Man can't do anything to usthat won't end up glorifying God in some way. Every time someonebrings persecution against us, and we respond as God has commanded usto, with love and patience and joy, that will draw attention. Peoplewill start to wonder. Questions will start to be asked. Curiositywill spike. People will admire us for how we act and behave. TheBible tells us to let our light shine before man, so that they willsee our actions and glorify God on account of us (Matthew 5:16). Weare called to be lights on a hill. Lights on hills don't generally gounnoticed for long. And they don't always attract positive kinds ofcompany. But we know, as Christians, that even when trials come ourway, Jesus has already overcome the world. With God on our side, whatcan people do to us?

Theroad we are to take as Christians can be summed up this way: "theroad which is clean contrary to all that you choose or contrive ordesire—that is the road you must take." To that, Jesus calls us.And to that road, we must be his disciples, his pilgrims, hiswarriors. If we do this, we can be sure that even though we suffer,we suffer for the ultimate purpose, and that is to glorify God, andset an example for others to follow.  

"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." -John 16:33 (ESV)

Hey guys! I hope you all are having an awesome week, and that you enjoyed this chapter. I had to keep it short, cuz of busy schedules and whatnot (do I use that word too much? I think I do), but I'm gonna try something different: if you have a topic you want me to touch on, shout it out, and I'll go through whatever pops up and hopefully have a chapter up about it by next week. 

Anyway, that's all for now. God bless! Stay strong :)