The objective of this lesson: to stress the fact that focusing life on faith in God is NOT the means of escaping suffering.
In today's texts, note this: Christians were not promised a physical existence free from suffering. Note both texts were written to Christians. The primary point of Romans 8:18-39 is that evil opposition, even if it causes suffering, cannot remove a Christian from God's love. The suffering Christians in Rome were told (1) when compared to the glory yet to come, suffering in this physical world is not even a close second. (2) God will use His Spirit to help Christian weakness by allowing the Spirit to intercede on behalf of the weak Christian. (3) God can use any experience the Christian endures in this world to produce salvation. (4) The worst experiences in this world cannot force God to stop championing the person who chooses to remain with God. It does NOT say faith in God removes the possibility of physical suffering.
Consider the primary points of Romans 8:18-39 rather than beginning with the details. Note this scripture is talking to Christians who endured suffering (see Romans 8:18, 24,25.)
Note in 1 Peter 4:12-19 these suffering Christians were not to be surprised that they were enduring a "fiery ordeal" (sounds like a very unpleasant experience!). (2) They were to rejoice that they could suffer for Christ (see Acts 5:41). (3) The end result of enduring suffering for Christ is blessing (v. 14). (4) Christians should be ashamed if they suffer for evil acts, but unashamed if they suffer for godliness (vv. 15, 16). (5) Suffering is a part of preparation for judgment (vv. 17, 18). (6) Suffering for doing right is a way to entrust yourself to the will of a Creator who keeps His promises. Again, it does NOT say faith in God removes the possibility of physical suffering.
Again consider the primary points of 1 Peter 4:12-19 rather than beginning with the details. Again, call attention to the fact that this scripture is addressed to Christians who were suffering (also see 1 Peter 3:13-17).
American Christians often experience significant difficulty in distinguishing between the "American dream" and "God's promises." This culture has a large middle class and a significant upper class. This culture declares everyone has opportunity to change classes. Opportunity to all exists! Opportunity is basically defined in material terms. In this culture, "I" have the right to "pursue happiness." Happiness is typically defined in material terms. This "right" also experienced a subtle change--it is no longer the "right" to "pursue" happiness, but the "right" to "have and experience" happiness. In this culture, suffering is the opposite of happiness. Consequently, it is not correct for "me" to suffer. If "I" suffer, "something is not right!" Someone must be held responsible! It must be the fault of a pharmaceutical company, a doctor, a hospital, an emergency response team, a driver, a corporation, a service organization, the government, the lack of government, etc. Everyone in this world can suffer but "me." If "I" suffer, something is terribly wrong! Typically, either government has failed "me," the church has failed "me," or God has failed "me." Never does any American suffer because suffering is part of the nature of this world! Always suffering occurs because of a failure. Always it is wrong for "me" to suffer.
Too often American Christians confuse the goals of their nation/culture with God's promises. If they are not consciously careful, they will interchange expectations. Our culture says we have the "right" to "pursue" happiness. Our culture defines happiness in terms of materialistic purposes. Our culture includes in those materialistic purposes freedom from pain. Our culture made the subtle but significant change from the "right" to "pursue" happiness to the entitlement of having happiness. Jesus did not belong to this world. Christians do not belong to the world (see 1 Peter 2:11 and Hebrews 11:13-16). If this world rejected Jesus, it will reject those who follow Jesus (see Jesus' admonitions to the twelve in John 15:20 and in Matthew 10:34-39; and note Paul's first century observation as he neared execution in 2 Timothy 3:12.)
In some ways we are little different from the centuries of people who preceded us. Suffering produced by struggle was a common experience. People suffered pain. People were victimized by unfortunate circumstances or events. People died. Adult lifespans were relatively brief. Birth did not guarantee continued life. Everyone wanted to escape life's pain and weakness. Some turned to what now are referred to as mystery religions. Some turned to magical powers. Some turned to astrology. Some turned to recognized gods or goddesses. Some turned to self-indulgence. The key was to be found in manipulating existing spiritual powers to escape fate. Or, the key was possessing power so one could attempt to control his/her environment. Or, the key was acquiring the lifestyle of wealth that would allow one to escape the plight and victimization of the poor. Or, the key was turning other's plight into your amusement.
There has never been an age or a nation in which the pain of injustice and the pain of suffering were not a reality. The greatest enemies of people in every age involved (1) suffering and (2) death. A significant preoccupation of people in every age was seeking a way to escape unjust suffering and death. Often the efforts of the many people focused on a means of manipulating deity in a manner that accomplished human desires or objectives. The focus: manipulate the gods to protect yourself from all the bad things that surrounded you.
However, at least one thing is different in the America of now. We think we can produce a culture in which there is no suffering. Suffering ceased to be an inescapable reality in the minds of some Americans. We can find a cure. Or, we can produce a ready supply of transplants. Or, we can produce a medication. Or, we can fix it. Listen to our political rhetoric. Watch and listen to our commercials. Look at the ways we separate society from sickness and death. As long as we can pretend "bad things" are unnecessary occurrences that should not touch main stream society, we can hold to the belief that a free-from-suffering culture/society is possible. It is astounding when suffering enters uninvited into our personal world and cannot be forced to leave! Talked to anyone lately whose suffering makes him/her feel alone, or abandoned, or unwanted, or a misfit in a healthy world? Encountered anyone lately who wants nothing to remind him/her of his/her mortality?
Our American view differs primarily in the conviction that we either have the means to eliminate suffering or we can find the means to eliminate suffering. The American people generally think the existence of injustice and suffering are marks of failure. We are confident that we can eliminate that form of failure.
What distinguishes the Christian from anyone who lets something else be his/her god is not freedom from suffering. It is attitude toward suffering. The attitude of the Christian toward suffering was so distinctly different in the first century that the pagan world all around them was amazed. The first century Christian's example was Jesus. Jesus' death declared God accomplished His ultimate objective through human suffering! What a new and novel understanding of God and divine purpose! Christians understood this distinction. Thus they looked at suffering for God's purposes in Christ as an honor, as a privileged opportunity to express appreciation for what God did for them in Jesus. Consider Acts 4:21-31; 5:40,41; and 1 Peter 4:14-16. To endure pain and persecution for doing what they learned was God's definition of right in Jesus was a privilege. When humbly following God produces unjust suffering, the Christian understands there is blessing in pain (see 1 Peter 3:17,18). This rejects suffering that is produced because a person or group reacts to injustice by using disrespectful, combative, insulting attitudes that return evil for evil (see Romans 12:19-21 and 1 Peter 3:14-16).
Christians are not different because they are delivered from suffering. They are different because (1) they see suffering as opportunity to reveal the genuineness of belonging to Jesus and (2) they see suffering as an opportunity to declare [by behavior and words] the genuineness of their hope.
Thought and Discussion Questions
For the basic thoughts in this summary, see paragraph one in the lesson.
For the basic thoughts in this summary, see paragraph two in the lesson.
Freedom from suffering is not promised in either scripture. Neither scripture suggests that faith in God removes the possibility of physical suffering. Basically we are told that suffering cannot force God to release us. If we choose to remain with God, suffering cannot kidnap us from God. In contrast, it provides us opportunity to declare who we are and the hope that sustains us.
Too often American Christians confuse the American dream with God's promises.
Americans seek to eliminate all forms of pain and to escape death.
Americans often conclude that we can remove all forms of suffering from the human experience.
They were to view such suffering as opportunity to show their distinctiveness and declare their hope.
The contrast should be between suffering produced because we hurt others and suffering produced because we do good to others as we serve Jesus Christ. People should not resent us because we speak or behave poorly. If people resent us, it should be because we do good as we seek to serve God through Jesus Christ.
The response to this question will be as individual as are the students in the class. The ultimate association of pain and blessing is Jesus' sacrificial death.
Link to Student Guide
Lesson 3