Mar 6, 2010
The Storms of Life: God, Hard Times, and the Cost of Discipleship
Bonnie over at Faith Barista has some great thoughts from the past week about where trouble fits into God’s plans. It’s quite a controversial topic, especially when folks start to tie personal tragedies and other crises with the plans of God for their lives. It’s tempting to think that God throws trouble at us
Bonnie wrapped up her post, which you should read in full, with the following statement:
“I don’t totally think that God puts trouble into our plans.
I think God does His work in spite of the trouble.”
I wrote the following in the comments:
“While I agree completely with the thought that God would not bring affliction to us, I think he does ask us to make difficult choices and to pass through hard times as a result of them. I don’t know how that all works out exactly, but Paul, for instance, was told point blank that he would be arrested in Jerusalem, but he also knew he had to go. In other words, God asks us to pass through hard times even if he’s not necessarily the source of the hard times, and he will not abandon us.”
Bonnie appreciated the comment and asked me to elaborate on this a bit more, which I’m happy to do.
There are two kinds of difficulties we need to discuss here: Trouble and the difficulties that come from discipleship. Let’s take a brief look at both of them.
Trouble and the Problem of Evil in the World
This is a tough topic, but in brief, I would say that evil springs from the sin in our world and in people in particular. God does not tempt us or smite people, at least in light of the New Testament we see a God who no longer sends hail and such from heaven.
I know there’s a whole bunch of troubling OT passages that make this a tough topic, but I think we can agree on a few things:
- God desires all people to be saved and warns people about the consequences of their actions.
- We’ll never completely understand things such as the flood or the conquest of Canaan. We can take cracks at explaining these events, but we’ll never be fully satisfied with the mystery of these passages. It’s hard to figure out just how involved God was in these events.
- Jesus reveals God’s commitment to self-sacrifice and reconciliation.
- The future that God pictures for us is one free from suffering and characterized by peace.
In other words, when something bad happens to us, it’s most likely not a good thing to blame God for “bringing” it to us. There are any number of reasons why bad things happen. Sometimes we place ourselves in bad situations, other times we are the victims of someone else’s sin, and still other times we suffer because we live in an imperfect world that is tainted by sin and cries out for the restoring touch of the creator.
The Difficulties that Come from Discipleship
While God does not send calamity or terrible things to us, he does push us toward the path he himself traveled: that of costly discipleship where we count the cost and take up our crosses. God may send us to calamity—what we could call the cross. God is not vengeful and angry, but he does ask us to give up our lives for the sake of knowing him more deeply and in order to tell others about his good news.
As we let go of what is fading we can posses what lasts forever. However, choosing the path of discipleship may be uncomfortable and may even lead us into uncomfortable or hard situations.
While God does not afflict us, our comfort is not his primary concern. He wants us to know him intimately, to depend on him, and to let go of the useless things we trust in. Guiding us to that goal is often messy and hard.
Jesus didn’t spare his disciples from difficulties. In fact, he predicted that they would suffer because of their allegiance to him. That isn’t to say that God brought trouble to their lives directly, but that God sent them out to complete his work and there’s no doubt that God’s mission is hazardous and difficult.
That’s the cost of discipleship.
Ed,
You took the bull by it’s horns and avoided giving Sunday School answers.
I particularly loved how you juxtaposed these 2 summarizing points:
“#2… We can take cracks at explaining these events, but we’ll never be fully satisfied with the mystery of these passages. It’s hard to figure out just how involved God was in these events.”
“#3… Jesus reveals God’s commitment to self-sacrifice and reconciliation.”
There’s a key in unlocking how we look at those troubling OT passages: how do we view God? What do we really believe about Him?
If it’s not so positive, then I think we’ll see that emphasis in our interpretation.
And if is positive, that image will come out as well.
I think that is part of the mystery — how we each experience God — and if that god we experience is Jesus, then that personal relationship will influence our read of God in the Scriptures.
[...] response, Ed wrote up a post on In A Mirror Dimly, and I cheered. He did an excellent job delineating two things that are often scrunched [...]
Bonnie, that’s a great insight. Jesus reveals the Father to us, so I think you’re right on the money with that one.
That helps. I knew the answer, but it is good to hear it again. By reading the rational reasons calmly stated, I am once again reminded of the personality of our Lord and the reality we face in life on this side of heaven. That encourages me and right now I need that encouragement. Thank you.
Wow, Ed. I’ve just been catching up on this dialogue–came over from Bonnie’s. I’m so grateful for people like you and Bonnie who don’t shy away from these tough questions.
Yes, Paul said we would have trials. He struggled with his own thorn. Sorrow is part of this fallen world. Having faith means accepting that we won’t always understand. The flood and other difficult stories in the Bible illustrate just that. Easily said, not so easily accepted, I know. Going through a trial can test all that we hold true about God’s nature.
I like what Bonnie said about the promise that He will be there with us in those difficult times. That is my greatest comfort.
Thanks Laura. There certainly aren’t easy answers, but that doesn’t change the presence of God. I’ve been musing about Mark 11 lately. At a time when Jesus knows he’s going to be killed soon, he told his disciples that they could ask for anything in prayer and God would give it to them. My mind is spinning trying to make sense of that one!
Found my way back to this thread from Ed’s post on The Cost of Discipleship today. Good thoughts, all. I’d only add (for clarity) that we need to be careful about what we label as “our cross.” Lots of folks–including me, sometimes–think we’re bearing crosses, but too often they’re ones we’ve picked up for our selves–not ones Jesus has given to us. Bonhoeffer is pretty clear that the cross Jesus gives us is a cross of discipleship. It involves living in Him and bearing witness to Him. The other things we struggle to bear are usually the result of living in a cursed and dying world, and are valuable to the extent we allow them to help strengthen our trust in Him.
Richard,
Thanks. That’s an excellent point. Discipleship is linked with obedience, choosing to follow Jesus. The difficulties we hit along the path of discipleship are different from the fallen elements of this world.
Blessings!