2011 New Year's Resolution, Part 3
I'm sure I could think up random possibilities for New Year's resolutions ad nauseum. Perhaps you'd love to think up some New Year's resolutions for me! At any rate, I will offer one more idea for thinking Christians who might still be looking for an idea to implement this year.
Idea #3 -- Embrace a Bit More Suffering than Usual
The American dream has been driven by a success-driven mentality. The myths of American "individualism" and the "self-made person" reject suffering and poverty as curses to be avoided.
Funny, isn't it? The generation of my grandparents knew poverty and tended to suffer a lot -- at least in their youth. My grandmother was the next-to-youngest of 9 kids. She never had a moment of leisure. They had a farm that required all hands on deck all the time. Although they never went without, their life was anything but luxurious. My grandfather grew up in physical depravity. His father deserted them before be was born. One Christmas he and his two siblings had to choose between Christmas presents and a Christmas tree. They didn't have money for both.
After they married, they lived in small houses and worked hard. With a life of frugality and modesty, they were able to help others in need and bless their own family. But this did not come without suffering. Many American Christians hold on to the idea of blessing while forgetting the price of suffering that must be paid to get there.
Jesus can tell us how expensive grace is. The immense blessing of God's redemption is only available through the suffering of Jesus.
But the suffering doesn't stop with Jesus. You see, if we just accept grace and try to live in the blessing of God's provision, we miss the call to discipleship and to mission. God doesn't just want to save us. He wants to save the entire world. And saving others does not come cheap. Extending grace to others requires sacrifice. (For a reminder of this, see the preceding paragraph.)
Jesus does not simply call us to blessing. He calls us to share his sufferings. If you don't believe me, read Paul. Read the Book of Romans. Listen to the suffering Christians endure as they await the resurrection.
Some Christians in North America think that suffering is persecution and that, since we live in a "Christian nation," we get a free ride, and exemption from suffering. They seem to think we can go straight to glory while skipping the sacrifice. In other words, they think that Jesus sacrificed so that we don't have to.
Ahem. Excuse me. That is ridiculous. And a gross misunderstanding of scripture.
Try that one on this year. I'm not asking you to move into an impoverished barrio in Mexico City or to adopt 3 HIV orphans from Africa. I honestly don't know what this might mean in your life. But please consider this as a resolution. Try opening yourself just a bit to suffering -- not because we like suffering, but because we realize that this is the only way to save the world.
Idea #3 -- Embrace a Bit More Suffering than Usual
The American dream has been driven by a success-driven mentality. The myths of American "individualism" and the "self-made person" reject suffering and poverty as curses to be avoided.
Funny, isn't it? The generation of my grandparents knew poverty and tended to suffer a lot -- at least in their youth. My grandmother was the next-to-youngest of 9 kids. She never had a moment of leisure. They had a farm that required all hands on deck all the time. Although they never went without, their life was anything but luxurious. My grandfather grew up in physical depravity. His father deserted them before be was born. One Christmas he and his two siblings had to choose between Christmas presents and a Christmas tree. They didn't have money for both.
After they married, they lived in small houses and worked hard. With a life of frugality and modesty, they were able to help others in need and bless their own family. But this did not come without suffering. Many American Christians hold on to the idea of blessing while forgetting the price of suffering that must be paid to get there.
Jesus can tell us how expensive grace is. The immense blessing of God's redemption is only available through the suffering of Jesus.
But the suffering doesn't stop with Jesus. You see, if we just accept grace and try to live in the blessing of God's provision, we miss the call to discipleship and to mission. God doesn't just want to save us. He wants to save the entire world. And saving others does not come cheap. Extending grace to others requires sacrifice. (For a reminder of this, see the preceding paragraph.)
Jesus does not simply call us to blessing. He calls us to share his sufferings. If you don't believe me, read Paul. Read the Book of Romans. Listen to the suffering Christians endure as they await the resurrection.
Some Christians in North America think that suffering is persecution and that, since we live in a "Christian nation," we get a free ride, and exemption from suffering. They seem to think we can go straight to glory while skipping the sacrifice. In other words, they think that Jesus sacrificed so that we don't have to.
Ahem. Excuse me. That is ridiculous. And a gross misunderstanding of scripture.Jesus suffered and calls us to suffer with him as we save others. If you enter into the lives of messy, messed-up people, you will suffer. As you hear the pain of others, you will bear some of that yourself. When you experience the reality of human life, you will come face to face with despondency and despair.
But if your faith can stand the test, you will say, "Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus." You will learn that redemption comes through suffering -- and not just through Jesus' pain. We suffer so that others can know the love of God. Try that one on this year. I'm not asking you to move into an impoverished barrio in Mexico City or to adopt 3 HIV orphans from Africa. I honestly don't know what this might mean in your life. But please consider this as a resolution. Try opening yourself just a bit to suffering -- not because we like suffering, but because we realize that this is the only way to save the world.
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